EXHIBIT 99.3

         KANSAS CITY, MO, January 10, 2000 - Golden Sky Systems,  Inc. announced
today that it has  completed  an  amendment  to its bank  credit  facility.  The
amendment,  which was  effective as of December 31, 1999,  waives the  Company's
third  quarter 1999  covenant  violations  and amends  certain  future  covenant
requirements.  Pursuant  to the  amendment,  the  Company  may  borrow  up to an
additional $20.0 million under the bank credit facility prior to March 31, 2000.
Any such incremental borrowings, which are secured by letters of credit provided
by certain of the Company's shareholders,  must be repaid by March 31, 2000 from
the  proceeds  of  either a private  or public  equity  offering.  The  required
repayment date may be deferred until May 31, 2000 under certain conditions. Upon
repayment, the Company will have potential incremental borrowing capacity during
the year ending  December 31, 2000 equal to the lessor of the proceeds  received
from either a public or private  equity  offering or $20.0  million.  Coincident
with the amendment of the bank credit  facility,  the Company entered into stock
subscription  agreements  with certain of its  shareholders  for an aggregate of
$20.0 million of Company preferred stock.

                  Golden Sky Systems, Inc. (www.gssdirectv.com),  a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Golden Sky DBS,  Inc., is an  independent  provider of programming
services from DIRECTV,  the nation's leading direct broadcast satellite company.
Golden  Sky  currently  provides  DIRECTV   programming  to  more  than  345,000
subscribers  and has  approximately  70 offices  throughout  the  United  States
serving 57 rural  markets.  DIRECTV offers  subscribers  access to more than 200
channels via satellite, including cable and broadcast networks, sports packages,
movies, and other premium services,  using an 18-inch satellite antenna dish and
digital receiver.