<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF ECHOSTAR SATELLITE BROADCASTING
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF SEP 30, 1996 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEP
30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THOSE FIN STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          28,926                  28,926
<SECURITIES>                                    42,122                  42,122
<RECEIVABLES>                                   20,075                  20,075
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,117)                 (1,117)
<INVENTORY>                                     44,246                  44,246
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               269,763                 269,763
<PP&E>                                         521,804                 521,804
<DEPRECIATION>                                (26,749)                (26,749)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,018,548               1,018,548
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          120,472                 120,472
<BONDS>                                        849,189                 849,189
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      41,660                  41,660
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,018,548               1,018,548
<SALES>                                         55,323<F1>                 165,211<F1>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                55,507                 165,887
<CGS>                                           43,935<F2>                 142,040<F2>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   77,106                 214,065
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                13,879                  31,887
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   521                     587
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              18,262<F3>                  44,036<F3>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (35,478)                (80,065)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,954                  29,050
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (22,524)                (51,015)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (22,524)                (51,015)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 (22,524)                (51,015)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 (22,524)                (51,015)
<FN>
<F1>Includes sales of programming.
<F2>Includes the cost of providing programming.
<F3>Net of amounts capitalized.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>