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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT #4                        FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(3)
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED JUNE 30, 2000)                   REGISTRATION NO. 333-31894

                       ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

                                 $1,000,000,000
                 4 7/8% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007
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         This prospectus supplement relates to the offer and sale from time to
time by certain selling securityholders of our 4 7/8% Convertible Subordinated
Notes due 2007 and the shares of our class A common stock into which the
convertible notes are convertible.

         This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with the
prospectus dated June 30, 2000, which is to be delivered with this prospectus
supplement. The definitions for any capitalized terms used in this prospectus
supplement are included in the prospectus.

                             SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

         The information in the table included under the heading "Selling
Securityholders" in the prospectus is superceded in part by the information
appearing in the following table:



                                                    PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
                                                     OF CONVERTIBLE        SHARES OF CLASS A
                                                   NOTES BENEFICIALLY         COMMON STOCK         SHARES OF CLASS A
                                                    OWNED AND OFFERED        OWNED PRIOR TO           COMMON STOCK
                      NAME                               HEREBY               THE OFFERING         OFFERED HEREBY (1)
                                                                                          

Class  1C Company, Ltd., The                         $  1,500,000                                         33,011

Convexity Partners L.P.                              $    400,000                                          8,803

McMahan Securities Co., L.P.                         $    600,000                                         13,204

NMS Services (Cayman) Inc.                           $  7,187,000                                        158,165

Security Trend Partners                              $    500,000                                         11,004



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                                                    PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
                                                     OF CONVERTIBLE        SHARES OF CLASS A
                                                   NOTES BENEFICIALLY         COMMON STOCK         SHARES OF CLASS A
                                                    OWNED AND OFFERED        OWNED PRIOR TO           COMMON STOCK
                      NAME                               HEREBY               THE OFFERING         OFFERED HEREBY (1)
                                                                                          

TQA Master Fund                                      $  1,500,000                                         33,011

The Travelers Indemnity Company                      $  5,483,000              120,664                   120,665

The Travelers Insurance Company - Life               $  3,505,000               77,134                    77,135

The Travelers Insurance Company Separate             $    412,000                9,066                     9,067
Account TLAC

Travelers Series Trust Convertible Bond              $    400,000                8,802                     8,803
Portfolio

UBS Warburg LLC                                      $    200,000                                          4,401

Other current and future holders of                  $(21,687,000)             215,666                  (477,267)
convertible notes (2)


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         (1)      Assumes a conversion price of $45.44 per share and the payment
                  of cash in lieu of fractional shares.

         (2)      Information concerning other selling securityholders,
                  including current holders of convertible notes for which we
                  have not received current information regarding their holdings
                  of convertible notes and class A common stock, or information
                  reflecting transfers of their convertible notes and class A
                  common stock to other selling securityholders, will be
                  included in supplements to this prospectus, if required. For
                  purposes of this table, we have assumed that such holders do
                  not beneficially own any other shares of class A common stock,
                  other than the shares issuable upon conversion of the
                  convertible notes.

 SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 7 OF THE PROSPECTUS FOR CERTAIN RISKS YOU
 SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE YOU PURCHASE ANY CONVERTIBLE NOTES OR SHARES OF CLASS A
                                 COMMON STOCK.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or determined
whether the prospectus or this prospectus supplement is truthful or complete.
Nor have they made, nor will they make, any determination as to whether anyone
should buy these securities. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.


            The date of this prospectus supplement is March 23, 2001



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