<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION 
AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED 
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED 
SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THOSE 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          31,079                  31,079
<SECURITIES>                                    42,122                  42,122
<RECEIVABLES>                                   20,075                  20,075
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,117)                 (1,117)
<INVENTORY>                                     44,246                  44,246
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               210,865                 210,865
<PP&E>                                         582,010                 582,010
<DEPRECIATION>                                (26,767)                (26,767)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,081,489               1,081,489
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          119,068                 119,068
<BONDS>                                        849,189                 849,189
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           18,098                  18,098
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           408                     408
<OTHER-SE>                                      87,458                  87,458
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,081,489               1,081,489
<SALES>                                         55,323<F1>             165,211<F1>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                57,038                 172,079
<CGS>                                           43,935<F2>             142,040<F2>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   77,936                 215,613
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                14,570                  38,505
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   521                     587
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              19,996<F3>              53,180<F3>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (35,468)                (82,089)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,950                  29,796
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (22,518)                (52,293)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (22,518)                (52,293)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.56)                  (1.31)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.56)                  (1.31)
<FN>
<F1>Includes sales of programming.
<F2>Includes the cost of providing programming.
<F3>Net of amounts capitalized.
</FN>