Exhibit 10.1

 

FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Non-Qualified Stock Option Contract

 

Fisher Communications, Inc. (“Company”) hereby grants to
                                 (“Optionee”) a non-qualified option to purchase
                 (                ) shares of the Common Stock of the Company,
subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

1. TERM. This option contract is effective from the date stated below until the
earlier of (i) the close of business ten years from such date or (ii) such other
date as may apply pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Standard Provisions relating to
retirement, death, disability or other termination of employment.

 

2. PURCHASE PRICE. Optionee may purchase the shares covered by this option
contract at a price of                                                  
($            ) per share.

 

3. LIMITATIONS ON EXERCISE (VESTING). Except as otherwise provided in the
Standard Provisions, this option may be exercised (or, as stated herein, shall
“vest”) as follows:

 

  (i) On or after                                         , up to but not
exceeding 20% of the total number of shares covered by this option;

 

  (ii) On or after                                         , up to but not
exceeding 40% of the total number of shares covered by this option;

 

  (iii) On or after                                         , up to but not
exceeding 60% of the total number of shares covered by this option;

 

  (iv) On and after                                         , up to but not
exceeding 80% of the total number of shares covered by this option;

 

  (v) On and after                                         , up to the full
total number of shares covered by this option.

 

4. STANDARD PROVISIONS. Each provision stated in the attached FISHER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. STANDARD PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO STOCK OPTIONS (“Standard
Provisions”) is incorporated by reference into this option contract.

 

Dated this              day of                         ,         .            
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.           OPTIONEE

By:

               

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FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

STANDARD PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED

UNDER THE FISHER COMMUNICATIONS INCENTIVE PLAN OF 2001

 

1. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. As an option vests pursuant to paragraph 3 of the option
contract, Optionee may exercise up to the total number of shares that have
vested, subject to a minimum purchase of 10 shares at any one time. Shares that
have vested may be purchased at any time until the option contract terminates.
All unexercised options will terminate upon the expiration of the option
contract term.

 

2. METHOD OF EXERCISE. To exercise an option, in whole or in part, the Optionee
shall deposit with the Chief Executive Officer of Fisher Communications, Inc.
(“Company”) a written notice identifying the option by date and designating the
number of shares as to which Optionee is exercising the option, accompanied by
payment in full for the number of shares being purchased.

 

3. OPTION NOT TRANSFERABLE. Options are not transferable except by will or by
the laws of the descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of the
Optionee, only the Optionee, the holder of the Optionee’s power of attorney or
the Optionee’s guardian may exercise an option.

 

4. EXPIRATION OR EARLY TERMINATION OF OPTION CONTRACT.

 

  (a) If the Optionee retires under normal retirement policies of the Company or
a subsidiary having reached age 65, the option may be exercised at any time
prior to its expiration date, but in any event no later than the fifth
anniversary date of the Optionee’s termination of employment.

 

  (b) If the Optionee dies while in the employment of the Company or a
subsidiary, the option may be exercised at any time prior to its expiration date
by the person(s) to whom the Optionee’s rights pass by will or by operation of
law, without regard to any limitations relating to continued employment or
installment vesting.

 

  (c) If the employment of the Optionee terminates because of a disability
within the meaning of Section 2(c) of the Plan, the option may be exercised at
any time prior to its expiration date without regard to any limitations relating
to continued employment or installment vesting.

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  (d) If the employment of the Optionee terminates for any reason other than the
Optionee’s normal retirement, death or disability within the meaning of
Section 2(c) of the Plan, the option may be exercised at any time prior to its
expiration date or the expiration of three months after the date of such
termination of employment, whichever is the shorter period, but only to the
extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the option at the date of such
termination.

 

  (e) If the Optionee dies after the date the Optionee’s employment with the
Company or a subsidiary is terminated, then the option may be exercised during
the applicable post-termination exercise period by the person(s) to whom such
rights pass by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, but only to the
extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the option at the date of the
Optionee’s termination of employment.

 

5. RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. Neither the Optionee nor Optionee’s legal
representative, heir, legatee or distributee shall be deemed to be the holder
of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject
to an option, until after the stock is issued.

 

6. PROVISIONS OF THE FISHER COMMUNICATIONS INCENTIVE PLAN OF 2001. The option is
subject to all of the provisions of the Fisher Communications Incentive Plan of
2001 and, to the extent provided in such Plan, to all constructions,
interpretations, rules and regulations which may from time to time be
promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the Plan.