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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2




                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

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                                 $1,000,000,000

                 4 7/8% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of December 8, 1999

                                  by and among

                       ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

                                       and

               DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORPORATION


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         This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of December 8, 1999 by and among EchoStar Communications
Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation, Banc of America Securities LLC, Bear, Stearns &
Co Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc. ING Barings Furman Selz LLC and CIBC World Markets
Corp., (each an "INITIAL PURCHASER" and collectively, the "INITIAL PURCHASERS").
The Company proposes to issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers (the "INITIAL
PLACEMENT") $750,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 4 7/8% Convertible
Notes due 2007 (the "FIRM NOTES"). The Company also proposes to issue and sell
to the Initial Purchasers not more than $250,000,000 principal amount of its
4 7/8% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "ADDITIONAL NOTES" and,
together with the Firm Notes, the "NOTES"). As an inducement to the Initial
Purchasers to enter into the purchase agreement, dated as of December 2, 1999
(the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), and in satisfaction of a condition to the Initial
Purchasers' obligations thereunder, the Company agrees with the Initial
Purchasers, (i) for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the
benefit of the holders from time to time of the Notes whose names appear in the
register maintained by the Registrar in accordance with the provisions of the
Indenture (as defined in Section 1 hereof) (including the Initial Purchasers),
as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

         Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have their
respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this
Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following
meanings:

         "ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

         "AFFILIATE" of any specified person means any other person which,
directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such specified person. For purposes of this definition, control of
a person means the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction
of the management and policies of such person whether by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.

         "AGREEMENT" means this Registration Rights Agreement.

         "CLOSING DATE" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

         "COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "COMMON STOCK" means the class A common stock of the Company, par value
$0.01 per share, issuable upon the conversion of the Notes.

         "COMPANY" means EchoStar Communications Corporation.

         "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

         "HOLDER" has the meaning set forth in Section 2 hereof.


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         "INDENTURE" means the Indenture, dated as of December 8, 1999, between
the Company and the Trustee, relating to the Notes, as the same may be amended
from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

         "INITIAL PLACEMENT" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

         "INITIAL PURCHASERS" means, collectively, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation, Banc of America Securities LLC, Bear, Stearns & Co.
Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., ING Barings Furman Selz LLC and CIBC World Markets
Corp.

         "LOSSES" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(d) hereof.

         "MAJORITY HOLDERS" means the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of securities registered under a Shelf Registration Statement.

         "NOTES" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

         "PROSPECTUS" means the prospectus included in any Shelf Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act), as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf
Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements to the Prospectus,
including post-effective amendments.

         "SHELF REGISTRATION" means a registration effected pursuant to Section
3 hereof.

         "SHELF REGISTRATION PERIOD" has the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.

         "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a "shelf" registration statement
of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof that covers some
or all of the Transfer Restricted Securities as applicable, on an appropriate
form under Rule 415 under the Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by
the Commission, amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, and in each case, including the Prospectus
contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
reference therein.

         "SUPPLEMENT DELAY PERIOD" means any period commencing on the date of
receipt by a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities of any notice from the
Company of the existence of any fact or event of the kind described in Section
4(b)(2) hereof and ending on the date of receipt by such Holder of an amended or
supplemented Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus, as contemplated by
Section 4(h) hereof, or the receipt by such Holder of written notice from the
Company (the "ADVICE") that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and the
receipt of copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.

         "TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES" means each Note and the Common Stock
issuable upon conversion thereof until (i) the date on which such Note or the
Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof has been effectively registered
under the Act and disposed of in


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accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which such
Note or Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof is distributed to the
public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act (or any similar provision then in
effect) or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Act or (iii) the date
on which such Note (A) is converted into Common Stock in accordance with the
terms and provisions of the Indenture or (B) otherwise ceases to be outstanding.

         "TRUSTEE" means the trustee with respect to the Notes under the
Indenture.

         "UNDERWRITER" means any underwriter of Notes in connection with an
offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.

SECTION 2. HOLDERS

         A person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(each, a "HOLDER") whenever such person becomes the registered holder of such
Transfer Restricted Securities under the Indenture and includes broker-dealers
that hold Transfer Restricted Securities (i) as a result of market making
activities and other trading activities and (ii) which were acquired directly
from the Company or an Affiliate.

SECTION 3. SHELF REGISTRATION

         The Company shall within 90 days of the date of original issuance of
the Notes, file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its reasonable best
efforts to cause to be declared effective under the Act on or prior to 270 days
(plus any additional days allowed as a result of a Supplement Delay Period)
after the date of original issuance of the Notes, a Shelf Registration Statement
relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the
Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected
by such Holders and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement.

         The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration
Statement continuously effective in order to permit the Prospectus forming part
thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years from the date of
original issuance of the Notes or such shorter period that will terminate when
(i) all the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) the
date on which, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, all of the Transfer
Restricted Securities then held by the Holders may be sold by such Holders in
the public United States securities markets in the absence of a registration
statement covering such sales or (iii) the date on which there ceases to be
outstanding any Transfer Restricted Securities (in any such case, such period
being called the "SHELF REGISTRATION PERIOD"). The Company shall be deemed not
to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration
Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any
action that would result in Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered
thereby not being able to offer and sell such securities during that period,
unless (i) such action is required by applicable law, (ii) such action is taken
by the Company in good faith and for valid business reasons (not including
avoidance of the Company's obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or
divestiture of assets, so long as the Company promptly thereafter complies with
the requirements of Section 4(h) hereof, if applicable or (iii) such action is
taken because of any fact or circumstance giving rise to a Supplement Delay
Period.


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SECTION 4. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

         In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, the following
provisions shall apply:

         (a) The Company shall ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement
and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any
amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement
and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
(iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement, and any
amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, does not include an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.

         (b) (1) The Company shall advise the Initial Purchasers and the Holders
of Transfer Restricted Securities named in any Shelf Registration Statement,
and, if requested by the Initial Purchasers or any such Holder, confirm such
advice in writing when a Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto
has been filed with the Commission and when the Shelf Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective.

             (2) The Company shall advise the Initial Purchasers and the Holders
of Transfer Restricted Securities named in any Shelf Registration Statement,
which have provided in writing to the Company a telephone or facsimile number
and address for notices, and, if requested by the Initial Purchasers or any such
Holder, confirm such advice in writing:

             (i) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements
         to the Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein
         or for additional information;

             (ii) of the initiation by the Commission of proceedings relating to
         a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
         Statement;

             (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
         suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement;

             (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect
         to the suspension of the qualification of the securities included
         therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening
         of any proceeding for such purpose; and

             (v) of the existence of any fact and the happening of any event
         (including, without limitation, pending negotiations relating to, or
         the consummation of, a transaction or the occurrence of any event which
         would require additional disclosure of material non-public information
         by the Company in the Shelf Registration Statement as to which the
         Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving confidential or
         which renders the Company unable to comply with Commission
         requirements) that, in the opinion of the Company, makes untrue any
         statement of a material fact made in its Shelf Registration Statement,
         the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any document
         incorporated by reference therein or requires the making of any changes
         in the Shelf


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         Registration Statement or the Prospectus so that, as of such date, the
         statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, provided,
         that the foregoing obligation shall only arise if the Company has been
         notified by the Trustee or Transfer Agent that the Shelf Registration
         Statement is being used to effect transfers of Transfer Restricted
         Securities as provided by Section 4(o) below.

         Such advice may be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of
the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made.

         (c) The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement at
the earliest possible time.

         (d) The Company shall use its best efforts to furnish to each selling
Holder named in any Shelf Registration Statement who so requests in writing and
who has provided to the Company an address for notices, without charge, at least
one conformed copy of such Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto, including financial statements and, if the Holder so requests
in writing, all exhibits and schedules (including those incorporated by
reference).

         (e) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to
each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities named in any Shelf Registration
Statement and who has provided to the Company an address for notices, without
charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus)
contained in such Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto as such Holder may reasonably request; subject to any notice by the
Company in accordance with Section 5(b) hereof, the Company consents to the use
of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders for the purposes of offering and resale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by the Prospectus in accordance with the applicable
regulations promulgated under the Act.

         (f) Prior to any offering of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or
cooperate with the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities named therein and
their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of
such Transfer Restricted Securities for offer and sale under the securities or
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions of the United States as any such Holders
reasonably request in writing not later than the date that is five business days
prior to the date upon which this Agreement specifies that the Shelf
Registration Statement shall become effective; provided, however, that the
Company will not be required to qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would
subject it to general or unlimited service of process or to taxation in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.


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         (g) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold pursuant to any Shelf
Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations
and registered in such names as Holders may request in writing at least two
business days prior to sales of securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration
Statement.

         (h) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph
(b)(2)(v) hereof, the Company shall promptly prepare a post-effective amendment
to any Shelf Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the related
Prospectus or file any other required document so that as thereafter delivered
to purchasers of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered thereby, the
Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that
in the event of a material business transaction (including, without limitation,
pending negotiations relating to such a transaction) which would, in the opinion
of counsel to the Company, require disclosure by the Company in the Shelf
Registration Statement of material non-public information for which the Company
has a bona fide business purpose for not disclosing, then for so long as such
circumstances exist, the Company shall not be required to prepare and file a
supplement or post-effective amendment hereunder.

         (i) Not later than the effective date of any such Shelf Registration
Statement hereunder, the Company shall cause to be provided a CUSIP number for
the Notes registered under such Shelf Registration Statement, and provide the
applicable trustee with certificates for such Notes in a form eligible for
deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

         (j) The Company shall make generally available to its security holders
in a regular filing on Form 10-Q or 10-K, an earnings statement satisfying the
provisions of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period
commencing after effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, provided
that the Company shall be allowed to fulfill its obligations pursuant to this
Section 4(j) by publicly filing such reports on the Commission's EDGAR database.

         (k) The Company may require each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities, which are to be sold pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement,
to furnish to the Company within 20 business days after written request for such
information has been made by the Company, such information regarding the Holder
and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to time
reasonably require for inclusion in such Shelf Registration Statement and such
other information as may be necessary or advisable in the reasonable opinion of
the Company and its counsel, in connection with such Shelf Registration
Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to be
named as a selling Holder in the Shelf Registration Statement as of the
effective time of such Shelf Registration Statement (or in the first prospectus
supplement filed thereafter in the case of an expedited filing that the Company
expects to file and obtain effectiveness within 30 days of this Agreement), and
no holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to use the
prospectus forming a part thereof for offers and resales of Transfer Restricted
Securities at any time, unless such Holder has returned a completed and signed
notice and questionnaire to the Company by the deadline for response set forth
therein. The Company shall not be required to take any action to name such
Holder as a selling Holder in


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the Shelf Registration Statement until such Holder has returned a completed and
signed notice and questionnaire to the Company. Following its receipt of such
notice and questionnaire, the Company will, as promptly as possible, but not
prior to the next required amendment or supplement to the Shelf Registration
Statement, include the Transfer Restricted Securities covered thereby in the
Shelf Registration Statement (if not previously included). No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall be entitled to the benefit of any Special Interest
(as set forth in the Notes) under the Indenture and the Notes or be entitled to
use the Prospectus unless and until such Holder has furnished the information
required by this Section 4(k) and all such information required to be disclosed
in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such
Holder not materially misleading.

         (l) The Company shall, if requested, promptly incorporate in a
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Shelf Registration
Statement, such information as the Majority Holders reasonably agree should be
included therein in order to effect their distribution of the Notes and shall
make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment as soon as notified of the matters to be incorporated in such
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to take any action pursuant to this Section 4(l)
that would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, violate applicable law or
to include information the disclosure of which at the time would have an adverse
effect on the business or operations of the Company and/or its subsidiaries, as
determined in good faith by the Company.

         (m) The Company shall enter into such agreements and take all other
reasonably appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the
registration or the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities, and in
connection therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the
same to contain indemnification and contribution provisions and procedures no
less favorable than those set forth in Section 7 (or such other provisions and
procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders), with respect to all parties to
be indemnified pursuant to Section 7 from Holders of Notes to the Company.

         (n) The Company shall upon receipt of a reasonable request in writing
therefor:

             (i) make reasonably available at reasonable times prior to the
         effectiveness of the related Shelf Registration Statement for
         inspection by representatives of the Holders of Transfer Restricted
         Securities to be registered thereunder and any attorney, accountant or
         other agent retained by the Holders, at the office where normally kept
         during normal business hours, all financial and other records,
         pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees
         to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders'
         attorneys, accountants or other agents in connection with any such
         Shelf Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence
         examinations; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and
         information gathering shall be coordinated by one counsel designated by
         the Holders and that such persons shall first agree in writing with the
         Company that any information that is designated in writing by the
         Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such
         information shall be kept confidential by such person, unless such
         disclosure is made in connection with a court


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         proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to
         the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying
         obligation of confidentiality;

             (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof
         (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be
         reasonably satisfactory to the Majority Holders), addressed to each
         selling Holder covering such matters (in form, scope and substance) as
         those matters set forth in Section 9(e)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of the
         Purchase Agreement;

             (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters (or, in the case of any person
         that does not satisfy the conditions for receipt of a "cold comfort"
         letter specified in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72, an
         "agreed-upon procedures letter") and updates thereof from the
         independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if
         necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
         subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company
         for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required
         to be, included in the Shelf Registration Statement), addressed where
         reasonably practicable to each selling Holder of Transfer Restricted
         Securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in
         customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
         "cold comfort" letters in connection with primary underwritten
         offerings; and

             (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably
         requested by the Majority Holders, including those to evidence
         compliance with Section 4(h).

             The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of
         this Section 4(n) shall, if reasonably requested by the Majority
         Holder, be performed upon the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration
         Statement and the effectiveness of each post-effective amendment
         thereto.

             (v) The Company may offer securities of the Company other than the
         Notes under the Shelf Registration Statement, except where such offer
         would conflict with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

         (o) The Company shall provide instructions to the Trustee or Transfer
Agent, as applicable, to notify the Company of any requested transfer of
Transfer Restricted Securities using the Shelf Registration Statement and to
only effect such transfer upon confirmation from the Company or its counsel that
the Shelf Registration Statement conforms to the requirements of Section 4(a)
above.

SECTION 5. HOLDERS' AGREEMENTS

         Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities severally but not
jointly, by the acquisition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, agrees:

         (a) To furnish the information required to be furnished pursuant to
Section 4(k) hereof within the time period set forth therein.


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         (b) That upon receipt of a notice of the commencement of a Supplement
Delay Period, it will keep the fact of such notice confidential, forthwith
discontinue disposition of its Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement, and will not deliver any Prospectus forming a part
thereof until receipt of the amended or supplemented Shelf Registration
Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, as contemplated by Section 4(h) hereof,
or until receipt of the Advice. If a Supplement Delay Period occurs, the Shelf
Registration Period shall be extended by the number of days which the Supplement
Delay Period comprises; provided that the Shelf Registration Period shall not be
extended if the Company has received an opinion of counsel (which counsel, if
different from counsel to the Company referred to in Section 9(e) of the
Purchase Agreement, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Majority Holders of
the Transfer Restricted Securities named in the Shelf Registration Period and
which opinion shall be in writing if the Majority of the Holders so request) to
the effect that the Transfer Restricted Securities can be freely tradeable
without the continued effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement.

         (c) If so directed by the Company in a notice of the commencement of a
Supplement Delay Period, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities will
deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than
permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus
covering the Transfer Restricted Securities.

         (d) Sales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement shall only be made in the manner set forth in such
currently effective Shelf Registration Statement.

SECTION 6. REGISTRATION EXPENSES

         The Company shall bear all expenses incurred in connection with the
performance of its obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof and will reimburse
the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel
designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in
connection with any Shelf Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing
or anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Holder shall pay all
underwriting discounts and commission of any underwriters with respect to any
Transfer Restricted Securities sold by it.

SECTION 7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

         (a) In connection with Shelf Registration Statement and to the extent
permitted by law, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder
of Transfer Restricted Securities covered thereby (including each Initial
Purchaser), the directors, officers, employees, partners, representatives and
agents of each such Holder and each person who controls any such Holder within
the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or
other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Shelf Registration Statement as
originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any preliminary Prospectus
or Prospectus, or in any


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amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of, or are based upon, the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that (i) the Company will not be liable in any case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of, or is based upon, any such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein and (ii) the Company will not be liable to any indemnified
party under this indemnity agreement with respect to the Shelf Registration
Statement or Prospectus to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or
liability of such indemnified party results solely from an untrue statement of a
material fact contained in, or the omission of a material fact from, the Shelf
Registration Statement or Prospectus, which untrue statement or omission was
corrected in an amended or supplemented Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus, if the person alleging such loss, claim, damage or liability was not
sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of
the amended or supplemented Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus if the
Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such indemnified party and if
delivery of a prospectus is required by the Act and was not so made. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.

         (b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser) severally agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Company, (ii) each of its directors, (iii)
each of its officers who signs such Shelf Registration Statement and (iv) each
person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity
from the Company to each such Holder, but only with reference to written
information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
such Holder specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the
foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which any such Holder may otherwise have. In no event shall any
Holder, its directors, officers or any person who controls such Holder be liable
or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount
received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount
paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount
of any damages that such Holder, its directors, officers or any person who
controls such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7
of notice of the commencement of any action, the indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof;
but the failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from
liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not
otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to assume the defense of


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any such claim and to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party's choice at the
indemnifying party's expense to represent the indemnified party in any action
for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall
not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel
retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below);
provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's election to appoint
counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party
shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and
the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of
such separate counsel (and local counsel) if (i) the use of counsel chosen by
the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such
counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in,
or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party, and the indemnified party reasonably concluded that there
may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii)
the indemnifying party did not employ counsel satisfactory to the indemnified
party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice
of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party authorized the
indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying
party. The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified
party from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities by reason of
any settlement of any action (i) effected with its written consent or (ii)
effected without its written consent if the settlement is entered into more than
twenty business days after the indemnifying party has received a request from
the indemnified party for reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in
any case where such fees and expenses are at the expense of the indemnifying
party) and, prior to the date of such settlement, the indemnifying party has
failed to comply with such reimbursement request. Notwithstanding the
immediately preceding sentence, if at any time an indemnified party has
requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and
expenses of counsel, an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of the nature contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence
effected without its consent if such indemnifying party (i) reimburses such
indemnified party in accordance with such request to the extent that it
considers such request to be reasonable and (ii) provides written notice to the
indemnified party substantiating the unpaid balance as unreasonable, in each
case, prior to the date of settlement. An indemnifying party shall not, without
the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened
claim, action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or contribution may
be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or
potential parties to such claim or action), unless such settlement, compromise
or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to
act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.

         (d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of
this Section 7 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party, shall to the extent permitted by law have a
joint and several obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively "LOSSES") to
which such indemnified party may be


                                       11
<PAGE>   13

subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified
party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the Shelf Registration
Statement that resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in no case shall
any Initial Purchaser be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess
of the purchase discount or commission applicable to such Note, as set forth in
Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement. If the allocation provided by the
immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits, but also the relative
fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party,
on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits
received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the sum of (x) the total
net proceeds from the Initial Placement (in each case, before deducting
expenses) as set forth in Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement and (y) the total
amount of additional interest that the Company was not required to pay as a
result of registering the securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement
that resulted in such Losses. Benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall
be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts and commissions as set
forth in Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement, and benefits received by any other
Holders shall be deemed to be equal to the value of the Transfer Restricted
Securities sold by such Holders under the Shelf Registration Statement. Relative
fault shall be determined by reference to whether any alleged untrue statement
or omission relates to information provided by the indemnifying party, on the
one hand, or by the indemnified party, on the other hand. The parties agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata
allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of
this Section 7, each person who controls a Holder within the meaning of either
the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of
such Holder shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each
person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who has signed the Shelf Registration
Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and
conditions of this paragraph (d).

         (e) The provisions of this Section 7 shall remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or
the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to
in Section 7 hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities or Exchange Notes.


SECTION 8. RULE 144A AND RULE 144

         The Company agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company (I) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make
available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder or beneficial owner of
Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any
prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such
Holder or


                                       12
<PAGE>   14

beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in
order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule
144A, and (ii) is subject to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act, to make
all filings required thereby in a timely manner in order to permit resales of
such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144.

SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS

         (a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

         (b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of the
Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding aggregate principal
amount of Notes; provided, however, that with respect to any matter that
directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder,
the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser
against which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or consent is to
be effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing (except the foregoing proviso), a
waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof, with respect to a
matter, which relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are
being sold pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and does not directly or
indirectly affect the rights of other Holders, may be given by the Majority
Holders, determined on the basis of Notes being sold rather than registered
under such Shelf Registration Statement.

         (c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

             (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such
         holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section
         9(c), which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the
         address of such Holder maintained by the registrar under the Indenture

             (ii) with a copy in like manner to Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
         Securities Corporation;

             (iii) if to the Initial Purchasers, initially at the respective
         addresses set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and

             (iv) if to the Company, initially at its address set forth in the
         Purchase Agreement.

         All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given when received.


                                       13
<PAGE>   15

         Upon the date of filing of a Shelf Registration Statement notice shall
be delivered to Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, on behalf
of the Initial Purchasers (in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A) and shall
be addressed to: Attention: Louise Guarneri (Compliance Department), 277 Park
Avenue, New York, New York 10172.

         The Initial Purchasers or the Company by notice to the other may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.

         (d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of, and be binding upon, the successors and assigns of each of the parties
hereto, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by
the Company thereto, subsequent Holders of Notes. The Company hereby agrees to
extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of Notes and any such Holder
may specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original
party hereto.

         (e) Counterparts. This agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         (f) Headings. The headings in this agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

         (g) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to
agreements made and to be performed in said State (without reference to the
conflict of law rules thereof).

         (h) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity,
legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and the
remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected
thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties
shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

         (i) Notes Held by the Company, etc. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Notes is required
hereunder, Notes held by the Company or its Affiliates (other than subsequent
Holders of Notes if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be Affiliates solely
by reason of their holdings of such Notes) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.

         (j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.


                                       14
<PAGE>   16

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.

                                   ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION



                                   By: /s/ David K. Moskowitz
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  David K. Moskowitz, Esq.
                                       Title: Senior Vice President and General
                                              Counsel


                                   DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
                                      SECURITIES CORPORATION



                                   By: /s/ J. Tracy Mehr
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  J. Tracy Mehr
                                       Title: Vice President



                                       15
<PAGE>   17

                                    EXHIBIT A

                               NOTICE OF FILING OF
                          SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT



To:      Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
         277 Park Avenue
         New York, New York  10172
         Attention:  Louise Guarneri (Compliance Department)
         Fax: (212) 892-7272

From:    EchoStar Communications Corporation
         4 7/8% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2007


         Date:                        , 199
               ----------------------      --

         For your information only (NO ACTION REQUIRED):

         Today, ______, ____, we filed a Shelf Registration Statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                       16