<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF DISH, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF
SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND
CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THOSE FINANCIAL 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>                                          12,259                  12,259
<SECURITIES>                                       239                     239
<RECEIVABLES>                                   20,075                  20,075
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,117)                 (1,117)
<INVENTORY>                                     44,246                  44,246
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               146,990                 146,990
<PP&E>                                         521,804                 521,804
<DEPRECIATION>                                (26,749)                (26,749)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 744,354                 744,354
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          210,509                 210,509
<BONDS>                                        476,619                 476,619
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      49,999                  49,999
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   744,354                 744,354
<SALES>                                         55,323<F1>             165,211<F1>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                55,507                 165,887
<CGS>                                           43,935<F2>             142,040<F2>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   77,069                 214,010
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 7,970                  19,846
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   521                     587
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,055<F3>              24,146<F3>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (29,532)                (67,969)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    11,391                  25,340
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (18,141)                (42,629)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (18,141)                (42,629)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 (18,141)                (42,629)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 (18,141)                (42,629)
<FN>
<F1>Includes sales of programming.
<F2>Includes the cost of providing programming.
<F3>Net of amounts capitalized.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>