<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>