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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,
 CSg1A9zeadi9HIVkwu0LIgud7zjEmgOsp5QDCIIvVNhpT1Sr/6RlGg+W52rwMBCg
 hcAYghS3ZG4hcdE3XVDxUg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000904548-04-000003.txt : 20040113
<SEC-HEADER>0000904548-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040113163445
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000904548-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040113

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ERGEN CANTEY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001138538

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26176
		FILM NUMBER:		04523023

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

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

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:			ERGEN CHARLES W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000904548

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26176
		FILM NUMBER:		04523024

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9601 S. MERIDIAN BLVD.
		CITY:			ENGLEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80112
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3037231600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		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"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-17</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001001082</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DISH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000904548</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ERGEN CHARLES W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
<reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>9601 South Meridian  Boulevard</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2/><rptOwnerCity>Englewood, </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>80112</rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001138538</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ERGEN CANTEY</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>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>592902</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownership
Nature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>73000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>519902</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common  Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAm
ounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16800</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>I</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>17998</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>I</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>646</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><valu
e>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>I</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>110</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>I</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1715334</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>I</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDeri
vativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The shares are held as custodian for the reporting persons' minor children. </footnote><footnote id="F2">By 401(k).</footnote><footnote id="F3">Held by Ms. Cantey Ergen in 401(k).</footnote><footnote id="F4">Held by Ms. Cantey Ergen.</footnote><footnote id="F5">As trustee for EchoStar Communications Corporations 401(k) plan.  The reporting person has voting power, but not dispositive and disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities. </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Mr. Charles W. Ergen</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ms. Cantey Ergen</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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