1 As filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2001 Registration No. 333- -------- ================================================================================ UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ---------- FORM S-8 ---------- REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) NEVADA 88-03369997 (State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 5701 SOUTH SANTA FE DRIVE LITTLETON, COLORADO 80120 (Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices) ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION 2001 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN (Full Title of Plan) DAVID K. MOSKOWITZ SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION 5701 SOUTH SANTA FE DRIVE LITTLETON, COLORADO 80120 (Name and address of agent for service) (303) 723-1600 (telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Proposed Proposed maximum maximum Amount offering aggregate Amount of Title of to be price offering registration securities to be registered registered per share price fee - --------------------------- ---------- --------- ---------- ------------ Class A Common Stock, 250,000 shares $26.43(1) $6,607,500(1) $1,652(1) par value $0.01 per share
(1) Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, the maximum offering price, per share and in aggregate, and the registration fee were calculated based upon the last sale price of the Company's Class A Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market System on July 26, 2001.

2 PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE. The following documents, which have heretofore been filed by EchoStar Communications Corporation, a Nevada Corporation (the "Company"), with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), Commission file number 0-26176, are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement: (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000; (b) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001; (c) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001; (d) The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated May 22, 2001, May 24, 2001, June 14, 2001 and July 12, 2001; and (e) The description of the Class A Common Stock contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, declared effective June 20, 1995 by the Commission, pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act. In addition, all documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a Post- Effective Amendment to this Registration Statement indicating that all securities offered under the Registration Statement have been sold or de-registering all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such documents. ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES. Not applicable. ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL. The Company's consolidated financial statements dated as of December 31, 1999 and 2000, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, Commission File No. 0-26176, have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving said report. ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Chapter 78.7502(1) of the Nevada revised Statutes allows the Company to indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to any action (except an action by or in the right of the Company, a "derivative action"), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of EchoStar, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, against expenses including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if he acted in a good faith manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. Under chapter 78.7502(2), a similar standard of care applies to derivative actions, except that indemnification is limited solely to expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with - 2 -

3 the defense or settlement of the action and court approval of the indemnification is required where the person is seeking advance payment of indemnifiable expenses prior to final disposition of the proceeding in question. Under chapter 78.751, decisions as to the payment of indemnification are made by a majority of the Board of Directors at a meeting at which a quorum of disinterested directors is present, or by written opinion of special legal counsel, or by the stockholders. Provisions relating to liability and indemnification of officers and directors of the Company for acts by such officers and directors are contained in Article IX of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, Exhibit 4.2 hereto, and Article IX of the Company's Bylaws, Exhibit 4.3 hereto, which are incorporated by reference. These provisions state, among other things, that, consistent with and to the extent allowable under Nevada law, and upon the decision of a disinterested majority of the Company's Board of Directors, or a written opinion of outside legal counsel, or the Company's stockholders: (1) the Company shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if he conducted himself in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; and (2) the Company shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Company unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper. ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED. Not applicable. ITEM 8. EXHIBITS. Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit 4.1* Specimen Share Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, Registration No. 33-91276) 4.2* Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1(a) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2000, Commission File No. 0-26176) 4.3* Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1(b) to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, Registration No. 33-91276) 4.4** 2001 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan - 3 -

4 5.1** Opinion of Nicholas R. Sayeedi (opinion re: legality) 23.1** Consent of Nicholas R. Sayeedi (included in Exhibit 5.1) 23.2** Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP 24** Power of Attorney - ---------- * Incorporated by reference. ** Filed herewith. ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS. (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement; (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post- effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. - 4 -

5 SIGNATURES The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Littleton, State of Colorado, on August 1, 2001. ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION By: /S/ MICHAEL R. MCDONNELL ------------------------------------------------- Michael R. McDonnell Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature Title Date /s/ CHARLES W. ERGEN Chairman of the Board, August 1, 2001 - ------------------------------- and Chief Executive Officer Charles W. Ergen (Principal Executive Officer) /s/ MICHAEL R. MCDONNELL Senior Vice President August 1, 2001 - ------------------------------- Chief Financial Officer Michael R. McDonnell (Principal Financial Officer) /s/ DAVID K. MOSKOWITZ Senior Vice President, General August 1, 2001 - ------------------------------- Counsel, Secretary and Director David K. Moskowitz /s/ JAMES DEFRANCO * Director August 1, 2001 - ------------------------------- James DeFranco /s/ O. NOLAN DAINES * Director August 1, 2001 - ------------------------------- O. Nolan Daines /s/ RAYMOND L. FRIEDLOB * Director August 1, 2001 - ------------------------------- Raymond L. Friedlob /s/ CANTEY ERGEN * Director August 1, 2001 - ------------------------------- Cantey Ergen /s/ PETER A. DEA * Director August 1, 2001 - ------------------------------- Peter A. Dea
* By: /s/ MICHAEL R. MCDONNELL ------------------------- Michael R. McDonnell Attorney-in-Fact - 5 -

6 EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION - ------- ----------- 4.1* Specimen Share Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, Registration No. 33-91276) 4.2* Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1(a) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2000, Commission File No. 0-26176) 4.3* Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1(b) to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, Registration No. 33-91276) 4.4** 2001 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan 5.1** Opinion of Nicholas R. Sayeedi (opinion re: legality) 23.1** Consent of Nicholas R. Sayeedi (included in Exhibit 5.1) 23.2** Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP 24** Power of Attorney
- ---------- * Incorporated by reference. ** Filed herewith.

1 EXHIBIT 4.4 ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION 2001 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN I. Purpose The EchoStar Communications Corporation Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") provides for the grant of Stock Options to Nonemployee Directors of EchoStar Communications Corporation (the "Company") in order to advance the interests of the Company through the motivation, attraction and retention of its Nonemployee Directors. II. Non-Incentive Stock Options The Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be nonstatutory stock options ("NSOs") which are intended to be options that do not quality as "incentive stock options" under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). III. Administration A. Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or by a committee of two or more directors (the "Committee"). The Committee or the Board, as the case may be, shall have full authority to administer the Plan, including authority to interpret and construe any provision of the Plan and any Stock Option granted thereunder, and to adopt such rules and regulations for administering the Plan as it may deem necessary in order to comply with the requirements of the Code or in order to conform to any regulations or to any change in any law or regulation applicable thereto. The Board may reserve to itself any of the authority granted to the Committee as set forth herein, and it may perform and discharge all of the functions and responsibilities of the Committee at any time that a duly constituted Committee is not appointed and serving. All references in this Plan to the "Committee" shall be deemed to refer to the Board of Directors whenever the Board is discharging the powers and responsibilities of the Committee. B. Actions of Committee. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee in good faith (including determinations of Fair Market Value) shall be final and binding upon all Participants, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Committee shall, in addition to their rights as directors, be fully protected by the Company with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation. IV. Definitions A. "Stock Option." A Stock Option is the right granted under the Plan to a Nonemployee Director to purchase, at such time or times and at such price or prices ("Option Price") as are determined pursuant to the Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in the Plan. B. "Common Stock." A share of Common Stock means a share of authorized but unissued or reacquired Class A Common Stock (par value $.01 per share) of the Company.

2 C. "Fair Market Value." If the Common Stock is not traded publicly, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on any date shall be determined, in good faith, by the Board or the Committee after such consultation with outside legal, accounting and other experts as the Board or the Committee may deem advisable, and the Board or the Committee shall maintain a written record of its method of determining such value. If the Common Stock is traded publicly, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on any date shall be the average of the representative closing bid and asked prices, as quoted by the National Association of Securities Dealers through NASDAQ (its automated system for reporting quotes), for the date in question or, if the Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ National Market System or is listed on a national stock exchange, the officially quoted closing price on NASDAQ or such exchange, as the case may be, on the date in question. D. "Nonemployee Director." A Nonemployee Director is a director of the Company who is not also an employee of the Company. E. "Participant." A participant is a Nonemployee Director to whom a Stock Option is granted. V. Option Grants A. Number of Shares. Upon the initial election or appointment of a Nonemployee Director to the Board, the Nonemployee Director shall be granted Stock Options to purchase ten thousand (10,000) shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section VI.B. hereof) effective as of the last day of the calendar quarter in which such person is elected or appointed to the Board of Directors. The Committee in its discretion shall have the ability to make further grants to Participants, provided that no Nonemployee Director may be awarded Stock Options to purchase more than ten thousand (10,000) shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section VI.B. hereof) in any twelve month period. B. Price. The purchase price per share of Common Stock for the shares to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of any Stock Option shall be 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the last day of the calendar quarter in which the Nonemployee Director receiving the Stock Option is elected, appointed or reelected to the Board of Directors, as the case may be. C. Terms. Each Stock Option shall be evidence by a written agreement ("Option Agreement") containing such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine, subject to the provisions of the Plan. VI. Shares of Common Stock Subject to the Plan A. Maximum Number. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be made subject to Stock Options shall be 250,000 authorized but unissued shares. If any shares of Common Stock subject to Stock Options are not purchased or otherwise paid for before such Stock Options expire, such shares may again be made subject to Stock Options. B. Capital Changes. In the event any changes are made to the shares of Common Stock (whether by reason or merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend in excess of ten percent (10%) at any single time, stock split, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or otherwise), appropriate adjustments shall be made in: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock theretofore made subject to Stock Options, and in the purchase price of said shares; and (ii) the aggregate number of shares which may be made subject to Stock Options. If any of the foregoing adjustments shall result in a fractional share, the fraction shall be disregarded, and the Company shall have no obligation to make any cash or other payment with respect to such a fractional share.

3 VII. Exercise of Stock Options A. Time of Exercise. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine the time when a Stock Option, or a portion of a Stock Option, shall become exercisable, and the time when a Stock Option, or a portion of a Stock Option, shall expire. Such time or times shall be set forth in the Option Agreement evidencing such Stock Option. A Stock Option shall expire, to the extent not exercised, no later than five years after the date on which it was granted. The Committee may accelerate the vesting of any Participant's Stock Option by giving written notice to the Participant. Upon receipt of such notice, the Participant and the Company shall amend the Option Agreement to reflect the new vesting schedule. The acceleration of the exercise period of a Stock Option shall not affect the expiration date of that Stock Option. B. Six-Month Holding Period. The shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of a Stock Option may not be sold or otherwise disposed of within six months after the date of the grant of the Stock Option. C. Exchange of Outstanding Stock. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a Participant to surrender to the Company shares of Common Stock previously acquired by the Participant as part or full payment for the exercise of a Stock Option. Such surrendered shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. D. Use of Promissory Note. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, impose terms and conditions, including conditions relating to the manner and timing of payments, on the exercise of Stock Options. Such terms and conditions may include, but are not limited to, permitting a Participant to deliver to the Company his promissory note as full or partial payment for the exercise of a Stock Option. E. Stock Restriction Agreement. The Committee may provide that shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Stock Option shall, under certain conditions, be subject to restrictions whereby the Company has a right of first refusal with respect to such shares or a right or obligation to repurchase all or a portion of such shares, which restrictions may survive a Participant's term as a director of the Company. The acceleration of time or times at which a Stock Option becomes exercisable may be conditioned upon the Participant's agreement to such restrictions. F. Termination of Director Status Before Exercise. If a Participant's term as a director of the Company shall terminate for any reason other than the Participant's disability, any Stock Option then held by the Participant, to the extent then exercisable under the applicable Option Agreement(s), shall remain exercisable after the termination of his director status for a period of three months (but in no event beyond five years from the date of grant of the Stock Option). If the Participant's director status is terminated because the Participant is disabled within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, any Stock Option then held by the Participant, to the extent then exercisable under the applicable Option Agreement(s), shall remain exercisable after the termination of his employment for a period of twelve months (but in no event beyond five years from the date of grant of the Stock Option). If the Stock Option is not exercised during the applicable period, it shall be deemed to have been forfeited and of no further force or effect. G. Disposition of Forfeited Stock Options. Any shares of Common Stock subject to Stock Options forfeited by a Participant shall not thereafter be eligible for purchase by Participant but may be made subject to Stock Options granted to other Participants. VIII. No Effect Upon Stockholder Rights Nothing in this Plan shall interfere in any way with the right of the stockholders of the Company to remove the Participant from the Board pursuant to the Nevada General Corporation Law and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.

4 IX. No Rights as a Stockholder A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option. Except as provided in Section VI.B., no adjustment shall be made in the number of shares of Commons Stock issued to a Participant, or in any other rights of the Participant upon exercise of a Stock Option by reason of any dividend, distribution or other right granted to stockholders for which the record date is prior to the date of exercise of the Participant's Stock Option. X. Assignability No Stock Option granted under this Plan, nor any other rights acquired by a Participant under this Plan, shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"), or the rules thereunder. In the event of the Participant's death, the Stock Option may be exercised by the Personal Representative of the Participant's estate or, if no Personal Representative has been appointed, by the successor or successors in interest determined under the Participant's will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution. XI. Merger or Liquidation of the Company If the Company or its stockholders enter into an agreement to dispose of all, or substantially all, of the assets or outstanding capital stock of the Company by means of a sale or liquidation, or a merger or reorganization in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, all Stock Options outstanding under the Plan as of the day before the consummation of such sale, liquidation, merger or reorganization, to the extent not exercised, shall for all purposes under this Plan become exercisable in full as of such date even though the dates of exercise established pursuant to Section VII.A. have not yet occurred, unless the Board shall have prescribed other terms and conditions to the exercise of the Stock Options, or otherwise modified the Stock Options. XII. Amendment The Board may, from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or discontinue the Plan, including where applicable, any modifications or amendments as it shall deem advisable in order to conform to any regulation or to any change in any law or regulation applicable thereto; provided, however, that no such action shall adversely affect the rights and obligations with respect to Stock Options at any time outstanding under the Plan; and provided further that no such action shall, without the approval for the stockholders of the Company, (i) materially increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be made subject to Stock Options (unless necessary to effect the adjustments required by Section VI.B.), or (ii) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan. Subject to the foregoing, the provisions of Article V of the Plan which set forth the number of shares of Common Stock for which Stock Options shall be granted, the timing of Stock Option grants and the Stock Option exercise price shall not be amended more than once every six (6) months other than to comport with changes in the Code, ERISA, or the rules thereunder. XIII. Registration of Optioned Shares The Stock Options shall not be exercisable unless the purchase of such optioned shares is pursuant to an applicable effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), or unless, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, the proposed purchase of such optioned shares would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Act and from the registration or qualification requirements of applicable state securities laws. XIV. Brokerage Arrangements The Committee, in its discretion, may enter into arrangements with one or more banks, brokers or other financial institutions to facilitate the disposition of share secured upon exercise of Stock Options including, without limitation, arrangements for the simultaneous exercise of Stock Options and sale of the shares acquired upon such exercise.

5 XV. Nonexclusivity of the Plan Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor the submission of the Plan to stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of authority of the Board to adopt such other or additional compensation arrangements of whatever nature as the Board may deem necessary or desirable or preclude or limit the continuation of any other plan, practice or arrangement for the payment of compensation or fringe benefits to Nonemployee Directors, which the Company now has lawfully put into effect. XVI. Effective Date This Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors and became effective on June 12, 2001.

1 EXHIBIT 5.1 [ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION LETTERHEAD] August 1, 2001 EchoStar Communications Corporation 5701 South Santa Fe Drive Littleton, Colorado 80120 Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") Gentlemen: I am a Legal Director of EchoStar Communications Corporation, a Nevada corporation formed in April 1995 (the "Company"), and have acted as such in connection with the authorization to issue up to 250,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock, par value of $0.01 per share (the "Common Shares"), issued or to be issued under the Company's 2001 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). I have reviewed originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction as copies of originals, of the various proceedings taken by the Company to effect such authorizations, and have examined such other agreements, instruments, documents and corporate records of the Company as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed. Based upon the foregoing and having regard for such legal considerations as I deem relevant, I am of the opinion that the Common Shares of the Company issuable pursuant to the Plan have been duly authorized for issuance and will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable when issued as provided in the Plan. I am admitted to practice only in the State of Colorado and do not purport to be an expert on the laws of any other jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Colorado and Federal securities law. I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement relating to the Plan. Very truly yours, ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION /s/ Nicholas R. Sayeedi -------------------------- Nicholas R.Sayeedi Legal Director

1 EXHIBIT 23.2 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of our report dated March 6, 2001, included in EchoStar Communications Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, and to all references to our Firm included in this Registration Statement. ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP Denver, Colorado, August 1, 2001.

1 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael R. McDonnell as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, to execute a Registration Statement on Form S-8 with respect to an issuance by EchoStar Communications Corporation, a Nevada corporation formed in April 1995 (the "Corporation") of up to 250,000 shares of the Corporation's Class A Common Stock, par value of $0.01 per share, pursuant to the Corporation's 2001 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan, and any and all amendments (including without limitation, post-effective amendments) or supplements thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby grants unto the attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith as fully as to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, thereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, this Power Attorney has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature Title Date /s/ JAMES DEFRANCO Director August 1, 2001 - --------------------------------- James DeFranco /s/ O. NOLAN DAINES Director August 1, 2001 - --------------------------------- O. Nolan Daines /s/ RAYMOND L. FRIEDLOB Director August 1, 2001 - --------------------------------- Raymond L. Friedlob /s/ CANTEY ERGEN Director August 1, 2001 - --------------------------------- Cantey Ergen /s/ PETER A. DEA Director August 1, 2001 - ---------------------------------