SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 31, 2002
ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
| NEVADA (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
0-26176 (Commission File Number) |
88-0336997 (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 5701 S. SANTA FE DRIVE LITTLETON, COLORADO (Address of principal executive offices) |
80120 (Zip Code) |
|
| Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | (303) 723-1000 |
ECHOSTAR DBS CORPORATION
| COLORADO (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
333-31929 (Commission File Number) |
84-1328967 (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 5701 S. SANTA FE DRIVE LITTLETON, COLORADO (Address of principal executive offices) |
80120 (Zip Code) |
|
| Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | (303) 723-1000 |
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On December 31, 2002, EchoStar Communications Corporation announced that its subsidiary, EchoStar DBS Corporation, has elected to retire all of its outstanding 9 1/4% Senior Notes due 2006, three years early pursuant to its optional early redemption right. See Press Release, dated December 31, 2002, “EchoStar Announces Early Redemption of 9 1/4% 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: December 31, 2002 | 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 Early Redemption of 9 1/4% Senior Notes” dated December 31, 2002. |
EXHIBIT 99.1
ECHOSTAR ANNOUNCES EARLY REDEMPTION OF
9 1/4 % SENIOR NOTES
Littleton, Colo., Dec. 31, 2002 — EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH) announced today that its subsidiary, EchoStar DBS Corporation, has elected to retire all of its outstanding 91/4 % Senior Notes due 2006, three years early pursuant to its optional early redemption right. In accordance with the terms of the indenture governing the notes, the $375 million principal amount of the notes will be repurchased effective Feb. 1, 2003, at 104.625 percent, a total of approximately $392 million. Interest will be paid through the Feb. 1, 2003, redemption date. The trustee for the notes is the U.S. Bank Trust National Association.
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 over 8 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
###