<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ACCOMPANYING RESTATED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF SEPT. 30, 1996 AND THE RELATED RESTATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 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> 220,501 220,501 <PP&E> 582,010 582,010 <DEPRECIATION> (27,767) (27,767) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,092,125 1,092,125 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 133,804 133,804 <BONDS> 849,189 849,189 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 18,098 18,098 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 408 408 <OTHER-SE> 83,458 83,458 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,092,125 1,092,125 <SALES> 40,687<F1> 150,575<F1> <TOTAL-REVENUES> 42,402 157,393 <CGS> 28,299<F2> 126,404<F2> <TOTAL-COSTS> 69,300 206,977 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 14,570 38,505 <LOSS-PROVISION> 521 587 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19,996<F3> 53,180<F3> <INCOME-PRETAX> (41,468) (88,089) <INCOME-TAX> 14,950 31,796 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (26,518) (56,293) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (26,518) (56,293) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.66) (1.41) <EPS-DILUTED> (.66) (1.41) <FN> <F1>Includes sales of programming. <F2>Inlcudes the cost of providing programming. <F3>Net of amounts capitalized. </FN>