PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT #4                       FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(B)(3)
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED JANUARY 25, 2002)         REGISTRATION NO. 333-68618

                       ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                                 $1,000,000,000
                 5 3/4% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2008
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



         This prospectus supplement relates to the offer and sale from time to
time by certain selling securityholders of our 5 3/4% Convertible Subordinated
Notes due 2008 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 January 25, 2002, and supplement no. 1 to the prospectus dated
March 7, 2002, supplement no. 2 to the prospectus dated April 9, 2002, and
supplement no. 3 to the prospectus dated June 19, 2002 each of 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Securityholders" in the prospectus is superceded in part by the information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)
               ----                                 ------------------      -----------------      -------------------
                                                                                           
Jefferies and Company Inc.                           $   4,297,000                                         99,261

Highbridge International LLC                         $  15,500,000                                        358,050

Lyxor Master Fund                                    $   2,500,000                                         57,750

Salomon Brothers Asset Management, Inc.              $   8,225,000                                        189,998

Zurich Institutional Benchmarks Master
Fund Ltd.                                            $     512,000                                         11,827

Other current and future holders of                  $(439,430,360)                                   (10,150,851)
convertible notes (2)


- ----------

         (1)      Assumes a conversion price of $43.29 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 11 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 August 15, 2002