-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WfKCmZ7SoHc2xzYVU5xl47hZANn9/5oshVL/9vnr3zZkRNV+iFPNYLKPjAZETTak
 7228BOvctNUZjWFIP1AS2A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-03-000907.txt : 20030513
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-03-000907.hdr.sgml : 20030513
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030513121302
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-03-000907
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030509
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030513

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KELLY MICHAEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001110592

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26176
		FILM NUMBER:		03694585

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		414 EAGLE ROCK AVENUE
		CITY:			WEST ORANGE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07052

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		414 EAGLE ROCK AVENUE
		CITY:			WEST ORANGE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07052

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-05-09</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer>        <issuerCik>0001001082</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>DISH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
        <rptOwnerCik>0001110592</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KELLY MICHAEL</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>Sr VP-DISH Network Srvice Corp</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-09</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>50000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>33.0671</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-09</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>50000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>33.0817</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>307010</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">3,500 shares are indirectly owned as a result of a gift to his minor children who share the reporting person's household.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by his children, and this report should not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">3,000 shares were contributed by the reporting person to trusts for the benefit of the reporting person's children.  The reporting person is the trustee for the trusts and retains investment and voting power over the trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">2,760 shares owned by Mr. Kelly represents the total number of shares purchased by the reporting person through EchoStar Communications Corporation's 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Michael Kelly</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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