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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.30


                                 PROMISSORY NOTE


Amount: $20,000,000                                   Date: November 19, 1999
                                                            Wilmington, Delaware

SECTION 1. PROMISE TO PAY.

           SECTION 1.1 For value received, Crown Media, Inc., a Delaware
           corporation (hereafter called "Maker"), hereby promises to pay on
           demand to the order of HC Crown Corporation, a Delaware corporation
           ("Payee"), at such place as Payee may, from time to time specify in
           writing, the principal amount outstanding under this Note together
           with all accrued interest.

           SECTION 1.2 The extension of funds under this Note is subject to the
           sole discretion of Payee and the principal and interest amount
           outstanding under this Note shall not exceed Twenty Million Dollars
           ($20,000,000).

SECTION 2. INTEREST.

           During the term of this Note, interest on the outstanding balance
           hereunder shall accrue and be payable at 130% of the short-term
           Applicable Federal Rate ("AFR"). This rate will be adjusted monthly
           based on the rate appearing in the CCH Federal Tax Weekly periodical.
           Interest will be compounded on an annual basis.

SECTION 3. REPAYMENT.

           SECTION 3.1 Subject to Maker's right of prepayment as set forth
           herein, the obligation evidenced by this Note shall be repaid on the
           basis of interest only installments. Such payments shall accrue as of
           the end of each calendar quarter occurring during the term hereof and
           shall be paid on or before forty-five (45) days after the end of each
           such calendar quarter. Maker shall pay to Payee a single principal
           payment (together with all accrued and unpaid interest) as of the
           Maturity Date.

           SECTION 3.2 Maker shall have the privilege, without premium or
           penalty, at any time and from time to time, to prepay this Note in
           whole or in part.

           SECTION 3.3 In the event Maker fails to pay any sum under the term
           hereof within fifteen (15) days after the same becomes due, a late
           charge of five percent (5%) per month of the amount past due shall,
           along with the past due amount, be due and payable to Payee.

SECTION 4. RESPECTING INTEREST.

           In the event the interest provisions of this Note shall result,
           because of (a) the reduction of principal, or (b) any other reason
           related or unrelated to such interest provisions at any time during
           the life of the loan or any combination of (a) and (b), in an
           effective rate of interest which, for any period of time, exceeds the
           limits of the usury or any other law applicable to the loan evidenced
           hereby, all sums in excess of those lawfully collectible as interest
           for the period in question shall, without further agreement or notice
           between or by any party hereto, be applied to principal immediately
           upon receipt of such monies by Payee with the same force and effect
           as though Maker had specifically designated such extra sums to be so
           applied to principal and Payee had agreed to accept such extra
           payment(s) as a premium-free prepayment.



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SECTION 5. INFORMATION.

           Maker shall deliver to Payee not later than 15 days after written
           request:

           (i)      A balance sheet of Maker as of the end of the most recently
                    ended fiscal year together with the consolidated statements
                    of income corresponding to the same; and

           (ii)     A balance sheet of Maker as of the end of the most recently
                    ended fiscal quarter (together with the consolidated
                    statements of income corresponding to such period), and, if
                    Payee so requests, each such statement shall be certified by
                    the chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer
                    of Maker as to fairness of presentation, generally accepted
                    accounting principles and consistency (subject only to
                    normal year-end adjustments).

SECTION 6. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

           Each of the following shall constitute an event of default hereunder
           (an "Event of Default"):


          (i)       The failure of Maker to make any payment of interest
                    hereunder when the same is due and payable or to pay the
                    principal balance in the lump sum or balloon payment when
                    the same is due and payable, and such failure to pay
                    continued for a period of ten (10) days or more after
                    written notice thereof from Payee;

          (ii)      The failure of Maker to provide timely financial information
                    or certification as required by Section 5 if such failure
                    continues for a period of thirty (30) days or more after
                    such information or certification is due and Payee has made
                    a written demand upon Maker for the same; or

          (iii)     A determination by Payee from time to time that a
                    substantial or materially adverse change in the financial
                    condition of Maker has occurred, whereupon default may be
                    declared immediately without notice or opportunity to cure
                    by Maker.

SECTION 7. REMEDIES.

           Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and at any time thereafter
during the continuance of such Event of Default hereunder, Payee shall have the
right to declare the entire unpaid amount of principal and interest hereunder
immediately due and payable in full without presentation, demand or protest,
each of which is hereby waived by Maker.

SECTION 8. WAIVERS.

           SECTION 8.1 The failure by Payee to exercise any right or remedy
           available hereunder in the Event of Default shall in no event be
           construed as a waiver or release of the same. Likewise, Payee shall,
           by any act or omission or commission, be deemed to waive any right
           hereunder unless such waiver is evidenced in writing and signed by
           Payee, and then only to the extent specifically set forth in such
           writing. Moreover, a waiver with respect to any one event shall not
           be construed as continuing or as a bar to or waiver of Payee's rights
           or remedies with respect to any subsequent event.





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           Section 8.2 Maker expressly waives presentment for payment, notice of
           dishonor, protest, notice of protest, diligence of collection, and
           each other notice of any kind, and hereby consents to any number of
           renewals or extensions of time for payment hereof, which renewals and
           extensions shall not affect the liability of Maker.

           Section 8.3 Maker hereby waives and releases all errors, defects and
           imperfections in any proceeding instituted by Payee under the terms
           hereof as well as all benefits that might accrue to Maker by virtue
           of any present or future laws exempting any property, real, personal
           or mixed, or any part of the proceeds arising from any sale of such
           property, from attachment, levy or sale under execution, or providing
           for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or
           extention of time for payment; and Maker agrees that any real estate
           that may be levied upon pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue
           hereof, or any writ of execution issued thereon, may be sold upon any
           such writ in whole or in part or in any other manner desired by
           Payee.

SECTION 9. NOTICES.

           Each notice required to be given to any party hereunder shall be in
           writing and shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given for all
           purposes when sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt
           requested, to the party at its respective address as follows:

                 MAKER:   Crown Media, Inc.
                          6430 S. Fiddlers Green Circle
                          Englewood, Colorado 80111
                          Attn: Mike Conger

                 PAYEE:   HC Crown Corporation
                          103 Foulk Road, Suite 214
                          Wilmington, DE 19803
                          Attn: David C. Eppes, Vice President and Controller

SECTION 10. ASSIGNABILITY.

           Section 10.1 This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
           benefit of Maker and Payee and their respective successors and
           assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement, or any portion
           thereof, may not be assigned by Maker without the written consent of
           Payee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

           Section 10.2 In order to accomplish the intent and purpose of Section
           10.1, the terms "Maker" and "Payee" shall include, as applicable,
           each respective successor and assign of each.

SECTION 11. MODIFICATIONS.

           This Note may be modified only by means of an agreement in writing
signed by Maker and Payee.

SECTION 12. GOVERNING LAW.

           This Note shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of
the State of Delaware without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.





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SECTION 13. HEADINGS.

           The heading preceding the text of each Section hereof is inserted
solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute a part of this
Note, nor shall the same affect the meaning, construction of effect hereof.

SECTION 14. SEVERABILITY.

           If any provision of this Note or the application thereof is declared
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the
remaining provision hereof shall be unaffected and remain valid and enforceable
to the fullest extent permitted by law.

                           [SIGNATURE ONLY TO FOLLOW]


           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned officer of Maker has executed
this Note as of the day and year first above written intending such act to be
the act and deed of Maker and thereby legally binding Maker to the terms hereof.



                                                CROWN MEDIA, INC.

                                                By:    /s/ WILLIAM J. ALIBER
                                                       ---------------------
                                                Name:  William J. Aliber
                                                       ---------------------
                                                Title:    CFO
                                                       --------------------





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