<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF ECHOSTAR SATELLITE BROADCASTING 
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 THOSE 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>                                          74,501                  74,501
<SECURITIES>                                    44,991                  44,991
<RECEIVABLES>                                   19,297                  19,297
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (848)                   (848)
<INVENTORY>                                     48,386                  48,386
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               246,316                 246,316
<PP&E>                                         410,264                 410,264
<DEPRECIATION>                                (19,906)                (19,906)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 928,190                 928,190
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           53,228                  53,228
<BONDS>                                        806,528                 806,528
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      64,271                  64,271
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   928,190                 928,190
<SALES>                                         69,234<F1>             109,888<F1>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                69,354                 110,380
<CGS>                                           62,072<F2>              98,105<F2>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   87,025                 136,959
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                14,197                  18,008
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 (569)                      41
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              19,990<F3>              25,774<F3>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (31,868)                (44,587)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    11,031                  16,096
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (20,837)                (28,491)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (20,837)                (28,491)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 (20,837)                (28,491)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 (20,837)                (28,491)
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES SALES OF PROGRAMMING.
<F2>INCLUDES THE COST OF PROVIDING PROGRAMMING.
<F3>NET OF AMOUNTS CAPITALIZED.
</FN>