EXHIBIT 32.1

                    CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                            Section 906 Certification


Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, the undersigned officer of EchoStar
Communications Corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies that to the best of
his knowledge the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended
December 31, 2003 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section
13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that
the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.



                                      Dated: March 29, 2004


                                      Name: /s/ Charles W. Ergen
                                            ------------------------------------
                                      Title: Chairman of the Board of Directors
                                               and Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement
required by Section 906, has been provided to the Company and will be retained
by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its
staff upon request.