<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF JUNE 30, 1996 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996             JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                          78,425                  78,425
<SECURITIES>                                    44,991                  44,991
<RECEIVABLES>                                   20,416                  20,416
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (848)                   (848)
<INVENTORY>                                     48,386                  48,386
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               225,773                 225,773
<PP&E>                                         446,687                 446,687
<DEPRECIATION>                                (19,906)                (19,906)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 996,765                 996,765
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           58,550                  58,550
<BONDS>                                        806,528                 806,528
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           17,797                  17,797
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           406                     406
<OTHER-SE>                                     109,321                 109,321
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   996,765                 996,765
<SALES>                                         69,234<F1>             109,888<F1>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                73,524                 114,991
<CGS>                                           62,072<F2>              98,105<F2>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   87,581                 137,677
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                20,552                  23,935
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 (555)                      66
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              27,141<F3>              33,184<F3>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (34,609)                (46,621)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,055                  16,846
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (22,554)                (29,775)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (22,554)                (29,775)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.57)                  (0.75)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.57)                  (0.75)
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES SALES OF PROGRAMMING.
<F2>INCLUDES THE COST OF PROVIDING PROGRAMMING.
<F3>NET OF AMOUNTS CAPITALIZED.
</FN>