<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF PEGASUS COMMUNICATION CORPORATION AS OF DECEMBER
31, 1997 AND JUNE 30, 1998 (UNAUDITED) AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
OF OPERATIONS AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997
(UNAUDITED) AND JUNE 30, 1998 (UNAUDITED). THIS INFORMATION IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001015629
<NAME> PEGASUS COMMUNICATION CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>  1 
<CURRENCY>   U.S. DOLLAR 
       
<S>                             <C>                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                          3-MOS                              6-MOS  
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998                       DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998                       JUN-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1                                1        
<CASH>                                      37,218,433                       37,218,433
<SECURITIES>                                         0                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                               17,597,509                       17,597,509
<ALLOWANCES>                                   405,000                          405,000
<INVENTORY>                                  2,481,545                        2,481,545
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            82,846,074                       82,846,074
<PP&E>                                      59,963,040                       59,963,040
<DEPRECIATION>                              28,593,635                       28,593,635
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             806,621,407                      806,621,407
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       60,449,550                       60,449,550
<BONDS>                                    350,236,223                      350,236,223
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                      118,418,130                      118,418,130
<PREFERRED>                                  3,000,000                        3,000,000
<COMMON>                                       158,961                          158,961
<OTHER-SE>                                 110,163,295                      110,163,295
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               806,621,407                      806,621,407
<SALES>                                     46,739,357                       75,523,049
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            46,739,357                       75,523,049
<CGS>                                                0                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               55,616,801                       90,702,655
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              (39,878)                         (33,171)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          10,339,353                       16,315,091
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           (19,176,919)                     (31,461,526)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    50,000                          125,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       (19,226,919)                     (31,586,526)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                                0
<CHANGES>                                            0                                0
<NET-INCOME>                              (19,226,919)                     (31,586,526)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (1.59)                           (3.14)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (1.59)                           (3.14)
                                                                             


</TABLE>