FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * MOSKOWITZ DAVID K   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP [DISH] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP, Gen Counsel and Sec. (Last) (First) (Middle) 9601 SOUTH MERIDIAN BOULEVARD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/07/2004 (Street) ENGLEWOOD, CO 80112 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Class A Common Stock 12/07/2004   M   118,000 A $ 2.125 461,970 D   Class A Common Stock               32,984 I I (1) Class A Common Stock               17,333 I I (2) Class A Common Stock               8,184 I I (3) Class A Common Stock               1,328 I I (4)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 2.125	12/07/2004		M			14,117	(5)	(6)	Class A Common Stock	14,117	$ 0	0	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 2.125	12/07/2004		M			7,058	(5)	(6)	Class A Common Stock	7,058	$ 0	0	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 2.125	12/07/2004		M			23,704	(7)	(6)	Class A Common Stock	23,704	$ 0	0	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 2.125	12/07/2004		M			7,305	(8)	(6)	Class A Common Stock	7,305	$ 0	16,679	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$ 2.125	12/07/2004		M			65,816	(9)	(6)	Class A Common Stock	65,816	$ 0	78,184	D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
MOSKOWITZ DAVID K 9601 SOUTH MERIDIAN BOULEVARD ENGLEWOOD, CO 80112	X		EVP, Gen Counsel and Sec.

Signatures

David K. Moskowitz		12/14/2004
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The shares were contributed by the reporting person to a charitable foundation. The reporting person is a member of the Board of Directors for the charitable foundation and has both investment control and voting power for the foundation. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares.
(2)	By 401(k).
(3)	The shares are held by the reporting person in trust for the benefit of the children of Charles W. Ergen, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares.
(4)	The shares are being held by the reporting person as custodian for his minor children.
(5)	The shares underlying the option vested at the rate of 20% per year, commencing on June 20, 1996.
(6)	Each portion of the option expires five years from the date on which that portion of the option first becomes exercisable.
(7)	The shares underlying the option vested at the rate of 20% per year, commencing on December 22, 1996.
(8)	The shares underlying the option vested at the rate of 20% per year, commencing on August 1, 1997.
(9)	The shares underlying the option vested at the rate of 20% per year, commencing on February 12, 1998.

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