-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SY8gK0OX3XrBgL0SVtPWtvkVROfhBEXF9Rd0Yp6q83WejMsWXY4DPHaK+rPzdQLM
 JGCaM5EZ3wQoEI0Vs9Okpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001090527-03-000011.txt : 20030718
<SEC-HEADER>0001090527-03-000011.hdr.sgml : 20030718
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030717181354
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001090527-03-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030717
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030718

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:		03792007

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5701 S. SANTA FE DRIVE
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80120
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(303) 723-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5701 S. SANTA FE DRIVE
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80120
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-17</periodOfReport>
    <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>2003-07-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>33.109</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwner
ship></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>33.109</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>33.109</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2000-06-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-06-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><s
haresOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Nolan Daines</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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