8-K

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                       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): July 11,2001


                       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

         As summarized in the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1, EchoStar
Communications Corporation ("EchoStar") announced today that, subject to
customary regulatory approval, it has increased its equity stake in Starband
Communications Inc. ("Starband") to 32% and has acquired four out of seven seats
on the Starband Board of Directors. In exchange, EchoStar will invest an
additional $50 million in Starband. Further, EchoStar will lease transponder
capacity to Starband from a next generation satellite. EchoStar's equity stake
will increase to 60% upon commencement of the construction of the next
generation satellite.


                                   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



Dated: July 11, 2001               By: /s/ Michael R. McDonnell
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                           Michael R. McDonnell,
                                           Senior Vice President and Chief
                                           Financial Officer



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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



EXHIBIT
NUMBER            DESCRIPTION
- -------           -----------
               

  99.1            Press Release, dated July 11, 2001, issued by EchoStar
                  announcing increased equity stake in Starband Communications
                  Inc.

EX-99.1

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


                    ECHOSTAR ASSUMES CONTROLLING EQUITY STAKE
                                   IN STARBAND

     AGREEMENT INCLUDES ADDITIONAL $50 MILLION INVESTMENT AND COMMITMENT TO
                        LAUNCH NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE


MCLEAN, VA., LITTLETON, COLO., AND PETAH TIKVA, ISRAEL - JULY 11, 2001 -
StarBand Communications Inc., EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH)
and Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq: GILTF) today announced that EchoStar
has increased its equity stake in StarBand to a 32 percent ownership position,
which will increase to 60 percent upon commencement of the construction of
StarBand's next generation satellite. EchoStar, the parent company of DISH
Network(TM), the nation's fastest growing pay television provider, is an
original investor and one of the largest distribution channels for StarBand -
the nation's first two-way, always-on, high-speed satellite-delivered Internet
service. This agreement continues EchoStar's strategy to offer a complete
bundled package of Internet, programming and interactive television services to
its more than 6 million U.S. DISH Network customers.

In exchange for its increased equity stake, EchoStar will invest an additional
$50 million in cash in StarBand. EchoStar has also made a commitment to launch a
next generation satellite that will serve the growing consumer demand for
high-speed Internet access and improve cost efficiencies for both companies.
Gilat will provide EchoStar with proprietary satellite design technology and the
engineering expertise necessary to construct and operate the satellite, which
will be uniquely suited for two-way, high-speed Internet access. Construction of
the satellite is expected to begin by the end of this year.

"We are very excited that EchoStar has reinforced its commitment to StarBand
with increased funding and critical infrastructure investment," said Zur
Feldman, StarBand's co-chairman and CEO. "EchoStar's DISH Network is a company
that provides StarBand with strong distribution, satellite expertise, attractive
product bundling opportunities and first-hand knowledge about how to grow
quickly and efficiently."

Feldman continued, "EchoStar's financial commitment, together with the recently
released StarBand Model 360(TM) satellite modem, will allow us to build on our
momentum and enable StarBand to focus on delivering the high-speed Internet
revolution to all U.S. consumers, no matter where they live."

"This is an important milestone for StarBand, EchoStar and Gilat," said Yoel
Gat, Gilat's chairman and CEO. "It highlights EchoStar's commitment to
satellite-delivered, high-speed Internet. It also reinforces Gilat's global
strategy to provide the most advanced VSAT technology on a wholesale basis to
the consumer and SOHO markets through StarBand in North America and through
other operators throughout the world."

"Our investment in StarBand is an investment in the future of our customers,"
said Charlie Ergen, chairman and CEO of EchoStar. "StarBand is a true national
solution for consumers seeking high-speed Internet and satellite TV, all on a
single dish and at one price. StarBand was first to market last year with
two-way satellite delivery of the Internet and has since proven reliability of
its technology and the strength of consumer demand."

EchoStar will have four out of seven seats on the StarBand Board of Directors,
and Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. will have the three remaining board seats.
Gilat has designated current StarBand directors, Yoel Gat, chairman of Gilat,
Zur Feldman, CEO of StarBand, and Brian Friedman of ING Furman Selz Investments
as directors of StarBand.



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StarBand recently announced the launch of its third-generation product, the
StarBand Model 360(TM) satellite modem, a sleek, consumer-friendly product that
provides greater connectivity options than its predecessor, the StarBand Model
180(TM). DISH Network retailers will begin selling the StarBand Model 360(TM)
later this month. For more information on how to purchase StarBand Internet
service, visit www.dishnetwork.com or www.starband.com.

StarBand, EchoStar and Gilat's boards of directors have approved the
transaction. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval and is
expected to close within a month.

ABOUT ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

DISH Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation. DISH Network
is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite TV system that is
capable of offering over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio
programming, as well as fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware and installation.
DISH Network was ranked number one in overall customer satisfaction among
cable/satellite TV subscribers by J.D. Power and Associates in 1999 and 2000.
EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX), which contains the largest
non-financial companies on the Nasdaq Stock Market. DISH Network currently
serves over 6 million customers.

ABOUT GILAT SATELLITE NETWORKS LTD.

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., with its global subsidiaries Spacenet Inc., Gilat
Europe and Gilat Latin America, is a leading provider of telecommunications
solutions based on VSAT satellite network technology. The Company provides
satellite-based, end-to-end enterprise networking and rural telephony solutions
to customers across six continents, and markets interactive broadband data
services. SkyBlaster(tm), Skystar Advantage*, DialAw@y IP(tm) and FaraWay(tm)
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. or its
subsidiaries. Visit Gilat at www.gilat.com.

ABOUT STARBAND COMMUNICATIONS INC.

StarBand Communications Inc. is America's first nationwide provider of two-way,
always-on, high-speed Internet access via satellite to residential customers.
Founded in early 2000, StarBand's investors and strategic partners include
EchoStar Communications Corporation, Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., Microsoft
Corporation, and ING Furman Selz Investments. StarBand has exclusive rights to
Gilat's two-way, high-speed Internet technology to consumers in the United
States and Canada. StarBand Communications is based in McLean, Virginia. Visit
StarBand at www.starband.com. StarBand is a trademark and service mark of
StarBand Communications Inc.



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                                      # # #

MEDIA CONTACTS:

STARBAND COMMUNICATIONS:
Sandy Colony
(703) 245-6410
sandy.colony@starband.com

GILAT MEDIA CONTACT:
Stan Schneider, Schneider Communications
954-435-3310;
stan@schneidercom.com

GILAT INVESTOR CONTACT:
Magda Gagliano, RF Binder Partners
212-593-6319; magda.gagliano@rfbinder.com

ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
Judianne Atencio
303-723-2010
judianne.atencio@echostar.com

Marc Lumpkin
303-723-2020
marc.lumpkin@echostar.com