-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 o6H12SSbHLMei5gyWPnHkQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001090527-03-000004.txt : 20030514
<SEC-HEADER>0001090527-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20030514
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030514144324
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001090527-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030512
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030514

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001001082
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CABLE & OTHER PAY TELEVISION SERVICES [4841]
		IRS NUMBER:				880336997
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5701 SOUTH SANTA FE DRIVE
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80120
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3037231000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5701 SOUTH SANTA FE DRIVE
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80120

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DAINES O NOLAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001090527

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26176
		FILM NUMBER:		03698494

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5128 SOUTH MORROW PARK RD
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99206
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3037231040

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5128 SOUTH MORROW PARK RD
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99206
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-12</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001001082</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DISH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001090527</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAINES O NOLAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-12</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>40000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>6</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>48000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-12</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>40000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>32.5644</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>8000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>6</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-12</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>40000</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>6</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1999-02-17</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2004-02-17</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>40000</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The exercise price and number of shares have been adjusted to reflect the Company's two-for-one splits of the Company's stock, which took place in July 1999, October 1999, and March 2000.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>O. Nolan Daines</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----