Form: S-4

Registration of securities issued in business combination transactions

December 8, 1997

FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE

Published on December 8, 1997





5

THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

0001049664
SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
1,000


9-MOS 12-MOS
DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996
JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996
SEP-30-1997 DEC-31-1996
2,103 1,962
0 0
12,240 11,547
1,249 1,005
0 0
20,320 13,613
57,973 49,405
21,801 19,098
184,133 159,185
3,102 5,355
160,100 121,790
0 0
0 0
5,832 5,832
3,554 14,702
184,133 159,185
0 0
49,449 59,010
0 0
49,953 48,558
0 0
924 1,067
8,548 7,361
(4,374) 19,408
(1,790) 6,655
(2,584) 12,753
0 0
(1,090) 0
0 0
(3,674) 12,753
0 0
0 0