-----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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001090536-07-000016.txt : 20071119
<SEC-HEADER>0001090536-07-000016.hdr.sgml : 20071119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071119210431
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001090536-07-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071119
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071119

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:		9601 S. MERIDIAN BLVD.
		CITY:			ENGLEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80112
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3037231000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9601 S. MERIDIAN BLVD.
		CITY:			ENGLEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DUGAN MICHAEL T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001090536

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26176
		FILM NUMBER:		071258199

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3037231600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
		STREET 2:		9601 S. MERIDIAN BLVD.
		CITY:			ENGLEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80112
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
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    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-11-16</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001090536</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUGAN MICHAEL T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9601 SOUTH MERIDIAN BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ENGLEWOOD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Chief Technology Advisor</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-16</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>214</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.44</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.46</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>5200</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>32</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.58</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29838</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>541</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.61</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29297</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28867</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>40.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>430</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3030</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.109</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>68867</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-06-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>68867</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>431133</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">By 401(k).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares underlying the option vested at the rate of 20% per year, commencing on June 30, 2001.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael T. Dugan, by Brandon Ehrhart, his Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----