Century Communications Announces Fourth Quarter and Year Ended May 31, 1997 Results.

NEW CANAAN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 1997--Century Communications (NASDAQ SYMBOL: CTYA) announced results for the quarter and year ended May 31, 1997 today.

Total revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 were $170,525,000, an increase of 25.8% over the $135,554,000 in the comparable fiscal 1996 quarter.

Operating income before depreciation and amortization (excluding the impact of its Australian Pay TV Investments) was equal to 44.9% of revenues or $76,566,000, an increase of $10,161,000 or 15.3 % above the $66,405,000 of the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996. The net loss for the quarter was $40,038,000 (($.54) per share) after giving effect to the extraordinary loss on early retirement of debt of $7,582,000 (net of income tax benefit of $5,379,000). The loss before extraordinary item for the quarter ended May 31, 1997 was $32,456,000 (($.44)per share) comparable to a net loss (and loss before extraordinary item) of $35,429,000 (($.49) per share) for the quarter ended May 31, 1996.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 revenue from Century's cable television operations increased to $117,918,000 or 23.0% above the $95,871,000 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996. Operating income before depreciation and amortization in Century's cable television operations grew to $61,712,000 or 18.7% above the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996.

Total revenues for the year ended May 31, 1997 were $643,490,000, an increase of $148,216,000 or 29.9% over the year ended May 31, 1996. Operating income before depreciation and amortization and the impact of Century's investments in the Australian Pay TV Business was equal to 47.4% of revenues or $304,863,000, an increase of $52,342,000 or 20.7% above the $252,521,000 reported in the prior fiscal year. The net loss for the year was $141,875,000 (($1.96) per share) after giving effect to the extraordinary loss on early retirement of debt of $7,582,000 (net of income tax benefit of $5,379,000). The loss before extraordinary item for the year ended May 31, 1997 was $134,293,000 (($1.86) per share) comparable to a net loss (and loss before extraordinary item) of $102,117,000 ($(1.44) per share) for the year ended May 31, 1996.

Century's cable television operations produced revenue of $459,219,000, an increase of 24.6% over fiscal 1996. Operating income before depreciation and amortization of $247,200,000 was generated by its cable television operations, an increase of 23.2% over fiscal 1996.

The Company announced on August 13, 1997 that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase, from time to time, in open market and privately negotiated transactions, of up to an additional 5,000,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock, depending on prevailing market conditions.

The Company previously authorized the repurchase of up to 2,000,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock, of which 907,500 were purchased through August 12, 1997.

The authorization brings the total available shares for repurchase to 6,092,500 shares.

Century owns and operates 70 cable television systems in 25 states and Puerto Rico serving in excess of 1,273,000 basic subscribers. Century, through its approximately 32% owned subsidiary Centennial Cellular Corp. (NASDAQ: CYCL), owns, operates and invests in wireless telephone systems throughout the United States. Centennial's current wireless telephone interests represent approximately 10.1 million Net Pops. Approximately 6.5 million of these Net Pops are represented by the Company's wireless telephone systems located in the continental United States. The balance of approximately 3.6 million Net Pops represents the Company's interest in its wireless telephone systems in Puerto Rico. -0-

                CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

                         FYE 1997       FYE 1996
                         3 Months       3 Months
                         Ended          Ended
                         5/31/97        5/31/96         %Change

Revenues              $ 170,525,000  $ 135,554,000       25.8%

Operating Income
 Before Depreciation
 and Amortization and
 Australian Operations   76,566,000     66,405,000       15.3%

Operating Loss of
 Australian Operations   (4,615,000)   (23,278,000)     (80.2)%

Operating Income (Loss)   1,631,000     (8,583,000)     119.0%

Tax Benefit               7,039,000     12,244,000      (42.5)%

Loss Before
 Extraordinary Item     (32,456,000)   (35,429,000)      (8.4)%

Net Loss                (40,038,000)   (35,429,000)      13.0%

Loss Before
  Extraordinary Item
  Per Share                    (.44)          (.49)     (10.2)%

Net Loss Per Share             (.54)          (.49)      10.2%

Average Number Of
 Shares Outstanding      76,131,000     73,925,000


                CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

                           1997          1996
                           YEAR          YEAR
                           ENDED         ENDED
                          5/31/97       5/31/96          %Change

Revenues              $ 643,490,000  $ 495,274,000        29.9%

Operating Income Before
 Depreciation and
 Amortization and
 Australian Operations  304,863,000    252,521,000        20.7%

Operating Loss of
  Australian Operations (55,825,000)   (40,848,000)       36.7%

Operating Income          5,771,000     16,248,000       (64.5)%

Tax Benefit              30,658,000     34,326,000       (10.7)%

Loss Before
 Extraordinary Item    (134,293,000)  (102,117,000)       31.5%

Net Loss               (141,875,000)  (102,117,000)       38.9%

Loss Before
 Extraordinary Item
 Per Share                    (1.86)         (1.44)       29.2%

Net Loss Per Share            (1.96)         (1.44)       36.1%

Average Number of
 Shares Outstanding      74,675,000     73,748,000

CONTACT: Century Communications Corp.

Scott Schneider, 203/972-2000