


                                                               EXHIBIT 99.1 
  
  
  
  
  
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Contact: 
                               David K. Sentman 
                               Senior Vice President and 
                               Chief Financial Officer 
                               American Telecasting, Inc. 
                               Tel. (719) 260-5533 
  
  
                           AMERICAN TELECASTING, INC
                        ADOPTS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
  
  
      Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 30, 1999.  American Telecasting,
 Inc. ("ATI") (OTC Bulletin Board: ATEL) announced today that its Board of
 Directors has adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan.  
       
      As previously announced, on April 26, 1999, ATI, Sprint Corporation
 and DD Acquisition, Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sprint, entered
 into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to
 which Acquisition would be merged with and into ATI, with ATI being the
 surviving corporation of such merger (the "Merger").  ATI has adopted the
 Stockholder Rights Plan pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Merger
 Agreement. 
       
           Under the Stockholder Rights Plan, preferred stock purchase
 rights will be distributed as a dividend at the rate of one Right for each
 share of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on
 May 10, 1999.  Each Right entitles the holder to purchase from ATI one one-
 hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of
 ATI at an exercise price of $27.  The Rights will expire on the earlier of
 April 30, 2009 and the completion of the Merger. 
       
           The Rights will not be exercisable unless a person or group
 acquires, or announces the intent to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15%
 or more of ATI's Class A Common Stock.  The Rights are redeemable for $.001
 per Right at the option of the Board of Directors at any time prior to the
 close of business on the tenth business day after the announcement that a
 person or group has acquired, or intends to acquire, beneficial ownership
 of 15% or more of ATI's Class A Common Stock.  Prior to the date upon which
 the rights would become exercisable under the Plan, ATI's outstanding stock
 certificates will represent both the shares of Class A Common Stock and the
 Rights, and the Rights will trade only with the shares of Class A Common
 Stock. 
       
           Generally, if the Rights become exercisable by virtue of a person
 or group acquiring beneficial ownership of 15% or more of ATI's Class A
 Common Stock, then each stockholder, other than the acquiror, is entitled
 to purchase, for the exercise price, that number of shares of Class A
 Common Stock that, at the time of the transaction, will have a market value
 of two times the exercise price of the Rights.  In addition, if, after the
 Rights become exercisable, ATI is acquired in a merger or other business
 combination, or 50% or more of its assets or earning power are sold, each
 Right will entitle the holder to purchase, at the exercise price of the
 Rights, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company
 that, at the time of the transaction, will have a market value of two times
 the exercise price of the Rights. 
       
           The Stockholder Rights Plan contains provisions which permit
 Sprint and DD Acquisition to acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or more of
 ATI's Class A Common Stock; provided, that such shares are acquired
 pursuant to the Merger and the transactions contemplated by certain voting
 agreements entered into between Sprint and certain stockholders of ATI. 
       
           The Rights are designed to provide the Board of Directors
 sufficient time to evaluate proposed change-in-control transactions by
 encouraging potential acquirors to negotiate with the Board of Directors
 before attempting a tender offer for ATI.  The Rights are not intended to
 prevent transactions on terms that are fair to ATI's stockholders nor to
 deter any potential acquiror who is willing to complete a transaction on
 such terms. 
       
           All statements contained herein that are not historical fact are
 based on current expectations.  These statements are forward-looking and
 involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Actual results may differ
 materially.  All such statements should be considered with regard to the
 risk factors described in ATI's reports filed with the Securities and
 Exchange Commission.  The company cautions readers not to place undue
 reliance on any such forward-looking statement, which statements speak only
 as of the date made. 
       
                                 * * * * * 
       
           American Telecasting, Inc. is one of the largest operators of
 wireless cable television systems in the United States, serving
 approximately 107,500 video subscribers in 32 markets as of December 31,
 1998.  ATI also provides commercial high-speed Internet access in three
 markets and is a leader in testing MDS wireless broadband access services. 
 The company's wireless services use microwave frequencies licensed by the
 Federal Communications Commission. 
       


