8-K

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): August 4, 2003

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

ECHOSTAR DBS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

COLORADO	333-31929	84-1328967
(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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
SIGNATURES
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EX-99.1 Press Release

ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

     EchoStar Communications Corporation announced today that its subsidiary, EchoStar DBS Corporation, has elected to redeem $245 million principal amount of its 9 1/8 % Senior Notes due 2009, fully exercising its optional partial redemption right. The outstanding principal amount of the notes after this redemption will be $455 million. See Press Release, dated August 4, 2003, “EchoStar Announces Partial Redemption of 9 1/8% Senior Notes” attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

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: August 4, 2003	By:	/s/ Michael R. McDonnell
		Michael R. McDonnell
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number	Description
99.1	Press Release “EchoStar Announces Partial Redemption of 9 1/8% Senior Notes” dated August 4, 2003.

EX-99.1 3 d07906aexv99w1.txt EX-99.1 PRESS RELEASE EXHIBIT 99.1 ECHOSTAR ANNOUNCES PARTIAL REDEMPTION OF 9 1/8 % SENIOR NOTES LITTLETON, COLO., AUG. 4, 2003 - EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH) announced today that its subsidiary, EchoStar DBS Corporation, has elected to redeem $245 million principal amount of its 9 1/8 % Senior Notes due 2009, fully exercising its optional partial redemption right. The outstanding principal amount of the notes after this redemption will be $455 million. In accordance with the terms of the indenture governing the notes, the $245 million principal amount of the notes will be redeemed effective Sept. 3, 2003, at 109.125 percent of the principal amount, for a total of approximately $267 million. Interest on the notes will be paid through the Sept. 3, 2003, redemption date. The trustee for the notes is U.S. Bank National Association, telephone 1-800-934-6802. EchoStar DBS Corporation has elected to make the partial redemption to reduce its interest expense. The company also previously redeemed all of its 9 1/4 % Senior Notes effective Feb. 1, 2003. EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network satellite TV system provide over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming as well as advanced satellite TV receiver hardware and installation nationwide. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) which contains the largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Visit EchoStar's Investor Relations website at (www.echostar.com). DISH Network currently serves more than 8.5 million customers in the United States. DISH Network is located on the Internet at (www.dishnetwork.com). Investor Relations Contact: Jason Kiser, 303-723-2210, jason.kiser@echostar.com Press Contact: Marc Lumpkin, 303-723-2020, marc.lumpkin@echostar.com Steve Caulk, 303-724-7070, steve.caulk@echostar.com ### -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                      ECHOSTAR ANNOUNCES PARTIAL REDEMPTION
                             OF 9 1/8 % SENIOR NOTES


LITTLETON, COLO., AUG. 4, 2003 - EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:
DISH) announced today that its subsidiary, EchoStar DBS Corporation, has elected
to redeem $245 million principal amount of its 9 1/8 % Senior Notes due 2009,
fully exercising its optional partial redemption right. The outstanding
principal amount of the notes after this redemption will be $455 million.

In accordance with the terms of the indenture governing the notes, the $245
million principal amount of the notes will be redeemed effective Sept. 3, 2003,
at 109.125 percent of the principal amount, for a total of approximately $267
million. Interest on the notes will be paid through the Sept. 3, 2003,
redemption date. The trustee for the notes is U.S. Bank National Association,
telephone 1-800-934-6802.

EchoStar DBS Corporation has elected to make the partial redemption to reduce
its interest expense. The company also previously redeemed all of its 9 1/4 %
Senior Notes effective Feb. 1, 2003.

EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network satellite TV system
provide over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming as
well as advanced satellite TV receiver hardware and installation nationwide.
EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) which contains the largest
non-financial companies on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Visit EchoStar's Investor
Relations website at (www.echostar.com). DISH Network currently serves more than
8.5 million customers in the United States. DISH Network is located on the
Internet at (www.dishnetwork.com).


Investor Relations Contact: Jason Kiser, 303-723-2210, jason.kiser@echostar.com
Press Contact: Marc Lumpkin, 303-723-2020, marc.lumpkin@echostar.com
Steve Caulk, 303-724-7070, steve.caulk@echostar.com


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