SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         Washington, D.C. 20549

                __________________________________________
                                 FORM 8-K
                              CURRENT REPORT
                    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                       Securities Exchange Act of 1934

      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): DECEMBER 1, 1999


                   ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


         NEVADA                    0-26176                 88-0336997
  (State or other jurisdiction  (Commission              (IRS Employer
        of incorporation)        File Number)         Identification No.)


       5701 S. SANTA FE DRIVE
       LITTLETON, COLORADO                                   80120
      (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)

   Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (303) 723-1000


ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

EchoStar Communications Corporation ("EchoStar") announced on November 29,
1999 that it is offering $400 million aggregate principal amount of
Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2006, in accordance with Securities and
Exchange Commission Rule 144A.

                           SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                              ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION


                                  /s/ Doron Gorshein
Dated: December 1, 1999       By: _____________________________
                                  Doron Gorshein,
                                  Vice President and Associate General
                                  Counsel


                              EXHIBITS INDEX

Exhibit     Description ------- -----------

99.1        Press Release, dated November 29, 1999, issued by EchoStar
            announcing $400 Million Rule 144A Offering.

                                EXHIBIT 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
_____________________


CONTACT:    Judianne Atencio
            Director of Communications
            EchoStar Communications Corp.
            303/723-2010
            judianne.atencio@echostar.com


              ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION ANNOUNCES $400
                        MILLION RULE 144A OFFERING

Littleton, Colo., Monday, Nov. 29, 1999 - EchoStar Communications Corporation
(NASDAQ:DISH, DISHP) today announced that it is offering $400 million
aggregate principal amount of Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2006, in
accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 144A.  The net
proceeds of the offering are expected to be used to fund subscriber
acquisition costs, for capital expenditures in connection with the
construction and launch of additional satellites or for other general
corporate purposes (including potential acquisitions and debt service). The
notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be
offered or sold in the United States absent registration under such Act or an
applicable exemption from registration requirements.

EchoStar Communications Corp., includes three interrelated business units:

*   DISH Network TM is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite
    system that is capable of offering over 500 channels of digital video and
    CD-quality audio programming, fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware and
    installation. DISH Network was also ranked number one in customer
    satisfaction among satellite/cable TV subscribers by the J.D. Power and
    Associates 1999 Cable/Satellite TV Customer Satisfaction Study.

*   EchoStar Technologies Corporation designs, manufactures and distributes
    DBS set-top boxes, antennas and other digital equipment for the DISH
    Network and various international customers that include ExpressVu Canada
    and the Via Digital system in Spain.  ETC provides construction, oversight
    and project integration services for customers internationally. ETC also
    oversees EchoStar Data Networks Corporation in Atlanta, a leading supplier
    of MediaStream R technology for distributing Internet content over
    satellite networks.

*   Satellite Services provides the delivery of video, audio and data services
    to business television customers and other satellite users.  These
    services include satellite uplink, satellite transponder space usage and
    other services.  Satellite Services also administers Sky Vista, a direct
    broadcast satellite service offering popular digital satellite television
    programming to viewers in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S.
    territories in the Caribbean.

    DISH Network, which currently serves over 3.1 million customers, is a
    trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation. DISH Network is located
    on the Internet at www.dishnetwork.com.

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