<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>