<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ECHOSTAR SATELLITE BROADCASTING CORPORATION AS
OF AND FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                          29,894
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   98,344
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,272
<INVENTORY>                                     53,540
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               188,417
<PP&E>                                         646,801
<DEPRECIATION>                                 112,609
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,001,872
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          340,556
<BONDS>                                      1,034,372
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                   (398,716)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,001,872
<SALES>                                        449,819<F1>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               460,188
<CGS>                                          280,235<F2>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  488,956
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                55,881
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 4,900
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              57,305<F3>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (84,649)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       283
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (84,932)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (84,932)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 (84,932)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 (84,932)
<FN>
<F1>Includes sales of programming.
<F2>Includes costs of programming.
<F3>Net of amounts capitalized.
</FN>