UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )* --- ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATNS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) CL A - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 278762109 ---------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) December 31, 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: /X/ Rule 13d-1(b) / / Rule 13d-1(c) / / Rule 13d-1(d) *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). CUSIP No. 278762109 --------- 13G - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only). Nicholas-Applegate Capital Mgmt. 33-0124536 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member (a) / / of a Group (See Instructions) (b) / / - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC Use Only - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Citizenship or Place of Organization San Diego, California - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Shares (5) Sole Voting Power Beneficially 639000 Owned by -------------------------------------------------- Each Reporting (6) Shared Voting Power Person With: 0 -------------------------------------------------- (7) Sole Dispositive Power 775200 -------------------------------------------------- (8) Shared Dispositive Power 0 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 775200 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) / / - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 5.08 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IA - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 1. (a) Name of Issuer ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATNS --------------------------------------------------------------------- (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices 5701 S Santa Fe, Littleton, CO 80120 --------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 2. (a) Name of Person Filing Nicholas-Applegate Capital Management --------------------------------------------------------------------- (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence 600 West Broadway, 29 Floor, San Diego, CA 92101 --------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Citizenship Nicholas-Applegate Capital Management is a California Limited Partnership. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (d) Title of Class of Securities CL A --------------------------------------------------------------------- (e) CUSIP Number 278762109 --------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 240.13d-1(b) OR 240.13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: (a) / / Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). (b) / / Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (c) / / Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (d) / / Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8). (e) /X/ An investment adviser in accordance with section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E). (f) / / An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F). (g) / / A parent holding company or control person in accordance with section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G). (h) / / A savings association as defined in section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813). (i) / / A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3). (j) / / Group, in accordance with section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 775200 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (b) Percent of class: 5.08 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote 639000 ----------------------------------------------------------------- (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 775200 ----------------------------------------------------------------- (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following. / / ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION (a) The following certification shall be included if the statement is filed pursuant to section 240.13d-1(b): By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. (b) The following certification shall be included if the statement is filed pursuant to section 240.13d-1(c): By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. February 5, 1999 ---------------------------------------- Date Todd L. Spillane ---------------------------------------- Signature Todd L. Spillane, Vice President, Director of Compliance ---------------------------------------- Name/Title