<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 12/31/96
000 C000000 0000910031
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 WEITZ PARTNERS, INC.
001 B000000 811-7918
001 C000000 4023911980
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002 B000000 OMAHA
002 C000000 NE
002 D010000 68124
002 D020000 6008
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008 D01AA01 OMAHA
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008 D03AA01 68124
008 D04AA01 6008
011 A00AA01 WEITZ SECURITIES, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-35603
011 C01AA01 OMAHA
011 C02AA01 NE
011 C03AA01 68124
011 C04AA01 6008
012 A00AA01 WALLACE R. WEITZ & COMPANY
012 B00AA01 84-1858
012 C01AA01 OMAHA
<PAGE> PAGE 2
012 C02AA01 NE
012 C03AA01 68124
012 C04AA01 6008
013 A00AA01 MCGLADREY & PULLEN, LLP
013 B01AA01 NEW YORK
013 B02AA01 NY
013 B03AA01 10017
013 B04AA01 2416
014 A00AA01 WEITZ SECURITIES, INC.
014 B00AA01 8-35603
015 A00AA01 NORWEST BANK NEBRASKA, N.A.
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 OMAHA
015 C02AA01 NE
015 C03AA01 68102
015 E01AA01 X
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 5
019 C00AA00 WEITZFUNDS
020 A000001 STANDARD & POOR'S SECURITIES, INC.
020 B000001 13-2671951
020 C000001 18
020 A000002 INSTINET CORP.
020 B000002 13-2596491
020 C000002 12
020 A000003 FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY & CO.
020 B000003 52-1630477
020 C000003 5
020 A000004 GENESIS MERCHANT GROUP SECURITIES
020 B000004 94-3082467
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020 A000005 DEUTSCHE MORGAN GRENFELL/C.J. LAWRENCE INC.
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020 A000006 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
020 B000006 13-5108880
020 C000006 3
020 A000007 KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC.
020 B000007 13-1964616
020 C000007 3
020 A000008 SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO., INC.
020 B000008 13-2625874
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020 A000009 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH
020 B000009 13-5674085
020 C000009 3
020 A000010 CAPITAL INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES, INC.
020 B000010 75-1565705
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 A000001 NORWEST BANK NEBRASKA, N.A.
022 B000001 47-0322495
022 C000001 4622
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022 A000002 OLD KENT BANK
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022 B000008 95-1786286
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022 B000009 43-0538770
022 C000009 1382
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022 C000010 938
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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SIGNATURE MARY BEERLING
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> WEITZ PARTNERS VALUE FUND
<S> <C>
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 71,074,329
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 94,328,681
<RECEIVABLES> 827,959
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<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 67,248,816
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 8,230,622
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</TABLE>
