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): MAY 25, 1999 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 EchoStar Communications Corporation ("EchoStar") announced on May 25, 1999 that its Board of Directors has approved a 2-for-1 split of its common stock. Stockholders of record at the close of business on July 1, 1999 will be entitled to one additional share of common stock for each share they own on that date. New shares will be mailed or delivered on or about July 19, 1999, by the Company's transfer agent, American Securities Transfer & Trust, Inc. 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: May 25, 1999 By: /s/ DAVID MOSKOWITZ David Moskowitz, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary, and Director

EXHIBITS INDEX Exhibit Description 99.1 Press Release, dated May 25, 1999, issued by EchoStar announcing 2-for-1 stock split

[LOGO] ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Judianne Atencio Communications Director EchoStar Communications Corporation 303/723-2010 e-mail: judianne.atencio@echostar.com ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION ANNOUNCES 2-FOR-1 STOCK SPLIT LITTLETON, CO, MAY 25, 1999 -- EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH, DISHP) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 2-for-1 split of its common stock. Stockholders of record at the close of business on July 1, 1999, will be entitled to one additional share of common stock for each share they own on that date. New shares will be mailed or delivered on or about the effective date, July 19, 1999, by the Company's transfer agent, American Securities Transfer & Trust, Inc. The stock split will increase the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding from approximately 16.0 million shares to approximately 32.0 million shares and Class B common stock outstanding from approximately 29.8 million shares to approximately 59.6 million shares. ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP., INCLUDES THREE INTERRELATED BUSINESS UNITS: - - DISH Network-TM- is EchoStar's state-of-the-art DBS system that offers customers over 300 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming, fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware and installation. The DISH Network currently serves over 2.3 million customers. - - EchoStar Technologies Corporation (ETC, formerly HTS - Houston Tracker Systems, Inc.), designs, manufactures and distributes DBS set-top boxes, antennas and other digital equipment for DISH Network and various international customers that include ExpressVu Canada and Telefonica's Via Digital system in Spain. ETC also provides uplink-center design, construction oversight and project-integration services for customers internationally.

EchoStar Stock Press Release May 25, 1999 Page 2 - - Satellite Services provides the delivery of video, audio and data services to business television customers and other satellite users. These services include satellite uplink, satellite transponder space-usage and other services. Satellite Services also administers Sky Vista, a direct broadcast satellite service offering up to 27 channels of popular digital satellite television programming to viewers in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories in the Caribbean. DISH Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation. HTS is a trademark of Houston Tracker Systems, Inc. DISH Network is located on the Internet at: www.dishnetwork.com # # #