exv10w1






Exhibit 10.1




FORM OF SERVICES AGREEMENT




     This SERVICES AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of [                    ], 2008 (the
“Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Ascent Media Creative Sound Services,
Inc., a New York corporation (“Company”), and Ascent Media Group, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“Provider”).



     WHEREAS Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Sound One Corporation and POP Sound, Inc.,
are engaged primarily in the business of providing (i) sound supervision, sound design and sound
editorial services to create, and supervise the creation of, sound for feature films, television
content, commercials, movie trailers, and other entertainment products, (ii) music composition,
supervision, editing, scoring, recording and related services, (iii) mixing and re-recording
services, including the editing and combining of sound effects, dialogue and music, and (iv)
maintenance of and access to Company’s sound effects and music libraries (collectively, the
“Company Business”);



     WHEREAS, prior to the restructuring (“DHC Restructuring”) of Discovery Holding
Company, a Delaware corporation (“DHC”), pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement dated
June 4, 2008 (the “Reorganization Agreement”), among DHC, Discovery Communications, Inc., a
Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of DHC (“New Discovery Holdco”), Company,
Provider and Ascent Media Corporation, a newly-formed Delaware corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of DHC (“Spinco”), Provider was an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of DHC and
Company was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Provider;



     WHEREAS, in connection with the DHC Restructuring, (i) the ownership of Company was
restructured such that DHC retained its indirect ownership interests in Company but Company was no
longer a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Provider, (ii) the ownership of Provider was
restructured such that Provider became the wholly-owned subsidiary of Spinco and (iii) DHC
distributed pro rata to its stockholders all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Spinco,
as a result of which distribution Spinco became an independent, publicly traded company (the
“AMG Spinoff”);



     WHEREAS Company and Provider have determined that it is in their mutual interests for Company
to obtain services from Provider in connection with the Company Business and for Company to
compensate Provider for the performance of such services; and



     WHEREAS the parties desire to set forth in this Agreement the services to be performed by
Provider to Company and the basis upon which Provider will be compensated by Company.



     NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:



 









 





ARTICLE I




ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICES




     Section 1.1 Engagement. Company hereby engages Provider to provide to Company the Services in connection with the
Company Business, and Provider hereby accepts such engagement, on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement.



     Section 1.2 Services. Subject to Section 3.2 hereof, Provider will provide Company with respect to the Company
Business services of the types described below, or the functional equivalent thereof:




	 	(a)	 	the finance and accounting services described in Schedule 1.2(a) hereto;
	 
	 	(b)	 	the human resources services described in Schedule 1.2(b) hereto;
	 
	 	(c)	 	the information technology services described in Schedule 1.2(c) hereto;
	 
	 	(d)	 	the payroll services described in Schedule 1.2(d) hereto; and
	 
	 	(e)	 	the real estate management services described in Schedule 1.2(e) hereto;




(all or
any services provided by Provider to Company hereunder, collectively,
the “Services”).




     Section 1.3 Books and Records; Reporting. Provider will maintain books and records regarding provision of the Services to Company
pursuant to this Agreement in accordance with Provider’s standard business practices. Upon
Company’s reasonable request, Provider will give Company and its duly authorized representatives,
agents, and attorneys reasonable access to such books and records (or to true copies thereof),
during Provider’s regular business hours after reasonable advance notice; provided,
however, that Provider shall be entitled to limit or restrict such access to the extent
that, upon advice of Provider’s counsel, such limitation or restriction is necessary to comply with
applicable law, regulation, order or agreement, or to prevent the loss of attorney-client
privilege. Provider shall provide to Company from time to time during the Term the information and
data regarding the Services provided by Provider to Company hereunder that Provider provided to or
on behalf of the Company Business in the ordinary course prior to the Effective Date, and such
additional information regarding the Services as Company shall reasonably request. Provider will
maintain commercially reasonable accounting records and backup documentation relating to the
Services performed hereunder during the Term and for a period of at least two years following the
Term (the “Retention Period”) and Provider shall retain such accounting records and make
them available to Company’s auditors during the Retention Period during Provider’s regular business
hours after reasonable advance notice.



     Section 1.4 Company Data. Company shall own all right, title, and interest in and to all databases, employee information,
customer lists, research data, other Company Confidential Information and other information
compiled by Provider in the exercise of its obligations under this Agreement, in each case to the
extent specifically arising out of or relating to Company, its employees and the Company Business
(the “Company Data”). Provider shall maintain and secure the Company Data in a
manner that is substantially equivalent, in all material respects, to



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the manner in which Provider
maintained and secured analogous information for the Company Business in the ordinary course prior
to the Effective Date. Upon Company’s request and the expiration or termination of this Agreement,
Provider shall furnish the Company Data to Company in a commercially reasonable timeframe in the
format in which Provider maintained such Company Data during the Term and via a reasonable means of
transmission specified by Company; provided that any out-of-pocket costs incurred by
Provider in connection therewith shall be borne by Company. Prior to incurring any such
out-of-pocket costs, Provider shall provide Company with notice and a good faith estimate of the
amount thereof, to the extent commercially reasonable. Provider may retain archival copies of
Company Data, provided that Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts to safeguard any
personally identifiable information, in accordance with and for the terms provided by applicable
law and regulation, and shall comply with its obligations with respect thereto pursuant to Section
7.15.



     Section 1.5 Purchase of Goods and Services Pursuant to Provider’s Agreements with
Vendors. At Company’s request, Provider will use commercially reasonable efforts to permit Company and
its Subsidiaries to license software and to purchase connectivity and other goods and services for
use in the Company Business during the Term pursuant to Provider’s existing agreements with
third-party vendors, including using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any and all
necessary third-party consents, waivers and amendments under Provider’s vendor agreements and
licenses, to the extent Company and its Subsidiaries utilized such arrangements prior to the DHC
Restructuring, and pursuant to such other arrangements with third-party vendors as Provider and
Company shall mutually agree. Provider shall give Company commercially reasonable prior notice of
any material vendor agreements that are expiring or coming up for renewal and shall endeavor in
good faith to include Company in the negotiation process regarding any such contract renewals.
Provider and Company will negotiate in good faith to enter into any sublicenses, containing
customary terms and conditions, necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions of this
Section 1.5, and the execution and delivery of any such sublicenses, and receipt of any and all
necessary third-party consents, waivers or amendments under Provider’s vendor agreements and
licenses, shall be a condition precedent to Provider’s obligations under this Section 1.5. Upon
any termination of this Agreement, and earlier at the reasonable request of Company (including in
connection with any renewal by Provider of the relevant contract between Provider and its vendor),
Provider will cooperate with Company in good faith and use commercially reasonable efforts to
assist Company in entering into its own purchase agreements and/or other arrangements with the
vendors referred to in this Section 1.5, at Company’s expense, to the extent Company wishes to do
so.



     Section 1.6 Cash Management Advances . During the Term, Provider shall from time to time provide Company with cash advances as
reasonably required by Company to meet its current payroll and to pay third-party vendors for goods
and services used in the Company Business in the ordinary course of business; provided,
however, that the aggregate outstanding amount of all advances made by Provider to Company,
or on its behalf, shall not at any time exceed $1,500,000. Any and all amounts advanced by
Provider to Company, or on its behalf, under this Agreement shall be unconditional obligations
of Company and its Subsidiaries, and shall be due and payable in full on the one-year anniversary
of the Effective Date (or, if that is not a business day, the immediately following business day),
with interest from the date advanced until paid at the prime rate from time to time published in
The Wall Street Journal, calculated in accordance with the average daily balance method.
Cash advances by Provider



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shall be deposited into a cash management account managed by Provider
pursuant to this Agreement (the “Cash Management Account”). The Cash Management Account
shall be owned by Company from and after the Effective Date but will be pledged to and under the
control of Provider during the Term, as collateral security for all obligations of Company to
Provider under this Agreement, the Reorganization Agreement or otherwise. Provider shall have the
right, but not the obligation, to sweep cash from the Cash Management Account at any time and from
time to time that Company has a balance payable to Provider. Upon Provider’s request, Company
shall enter into and deliver such security agreements, account control agreements, bank instruction
letters, signature cards, financing statements and/or other instruments and agreements as Provider
shall reasonably deem necessary to effect the provisions of this Section 1.6.



ARTICLE II




COMPENSATION




     Section 2.1 Services Fee. In consideration for the Services listed on Schedule 1.2 and Provider’s obligation to make such
Services available hereunder during the one year period beginning on the Effective Date, Company
shall pay Provider a fee (the “Services Fee”) of One Million United States Dollars
($1,000,000). The Services Fee shall be payable quarterly in advance, shall be fully-earned by
Provider upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall be non-refundable.



     Section 2.2 Cost Reimbursement. In addition to the Services Fee payable pursuant to Section 2.1, Company shall also reimburse
Provider (without markup) for all out-of-pocket costs reasonably incurred by Provider in connection
with the Services, including: postage and delivery charges; duplicating charges; filing fees;
travel, meals and entertainment related to such Services; and the fees and disbursements of any
outside legal counsel, accountants, independent fiduciaries, payroll services, financial
institutions; employee communications consultants and other third-party service providers.
Provider shall obtain prior approval from Company for any individual expenditure or series of
related expenditures incurred by Provider in excess of $5,000, unless, in the business judgment of
Provider, it would not be practicable to seek such prior approval, in which case Provider shall
give Company prompt written notice of any expense so incurred, together with the reason that
obtaining prior approval was impracticable. During the Terms, Provider shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to advise Company regarding any out-of-pocket expenses expected to be incurred
under this Agreement and Provider and Company shall cooperate with one another to minimize such
expenses, including transitioning such expenses to Company to the extent practicable.



     Section 2.3 Payment Procedures.



          (a) Company will pay the Services Fee to Provider, by wire or intrabank transfer of funds or
in such other manner specified by Provider to Company, in four installments of $250,000 each, due
and payable on the Effective Date and on the same day in each of the third, sixth and ninth months
thereafter (or if that is not business day, the immediately following business day).




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          (b) Any amounts required to be reimbursed by Company to Provider pursuant to Section 2.2 will
be paid by Company to Provider within 30 days after receipt by Company of any invoice therefor, by
wire or intrabank transfer of funds or in such other manner as specified by Provider to Company.
Provider will invoice Company monthly for reimbursable expenses incurred by Provider on behalf of
Company during the preceding calendar month; provided, however, that Provider may
separately invoice Company at any time for any single reimbursable expense incurred by Provider on
behalf of Company, with Company’s prior approval, in an amount equal to or greater than $25,000.
Any invoice or statement pursuant to this Section 2.3(b) will be accompanied by supporting
documentation in reasonable detail with respect to the actual costs or expenses incurred by
Provider for which Provider is entitled to reimbursement.




          (c) Any payments not made when due under this Section 2.3 (or Section 1.6) will bear interest
at the rate of 1.5% per month on the outstanding amount from and including the due date to but
excluding the date paid, provided that Provider has given Company ten days written notice of any
such overdue payment prior to the assessment of any such interest charges.




ARTICLE III




TERM




     Section 3.1 Term Generally. The term of this Agreement shall be one year, commencing on the Effective Date, unless earlier
terminated in accordance with Section 3.3 (the “Term”).



     Section 3.2 Certain Services Discontinued. At any time during the Term, upon at least 30 days’ prior notice by Company to Provider, Company
may elect to discontinue obtaining from Provider some or all of the Services. However, no such
election and no discontinuation of Services following any such election shall result in a reduction
of the Services Fee or entitle Company to any refund hereunder, and the other terms of this
Agreement shall survive any such election or discontinuation of Services in accordance with their
terms.



     Section 3.3 Termination. This Agreement will be terminated in the following events:



          (a) immediately upon notice (or at any time specified in such notice) by Provider to Company
if a Change in Control occurs with respect to Company;




          (b) immediately upon notice (or at any time specified in such notice) by Company or Provider
if a Bankruptcy Event occurs with respect to the other party hereto; or




          (c) by either party in the event of a breach of this Agreement by the other party that if
capable of being cured, remains uncured after 20 days written notice to the non-terminating party.




          For purposes of this Section 3.3:




     “Change in Control” means, with respect to Company, if DHC shall at any time cease to
own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the value and 80% of the voting power of the
outstanding equity securities or other ownership interests in Company; and



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     “Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to Company or Provider, as the case may be, the
insolvency of such party, any general assignment by such party for the benefit of creditors,
voluntary commencement of any case, proceeding, or other action by such party seeking
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or consolidation of such party’s
debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization, or relief of debtors, or
seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, or other similar official for such party or
for all or any substantial part of its assets, or the involuntary filing against such party (as
applicable) of any such proceeding that is not stayed within 60 days after such filing.



ARTICLE IV




PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYEES




     Section 4.1 Personnel to Provide Services.



          (a) Provider will make available to Company on a non-exclusive basis (except with respect to
the personnel indicated on the attached Schedules as being fully-dedicated to Company in which case
such personnel shall be dedicated exclusively to Company), the appropriate personnel to perform the
Services, as may be reasonably requested by Company to be performed by Provider and as necessary
and appropriate for the proper and efficient administration and operation of the Company Business,
to the same extent and in the same manner as performed in the ordinary course prior to the
Effective Date. Provider will be responsible for hiring, supervising, instructing, disciplining,
discharging, and otherwise managing such employees, and administering any employee benefit plans
applicable to such employees.




          (b) Company acknowledges that:





     (i) Except as specified in Section 4.1(a) above, the employees of Provider performing
the Services for Company and its Subsidiaries (“Provider Employees”) also will be
performing services for Provider and may be performing services for certain Affiliates of
Provider; and




     (ii) Provider may elect, in its discretion, to utilize independent contractors rather
than employees of Provider to perform the Services from time to time, and such independent
contractors will be included within the definition of Provider Employees under this
Agreement, where applicable.



     Section 4.2 Provider as Employer. Notwithstanding the Services provided by Provider Employees to Company, the parties acknowledge
that Provider is and will remain the employer of all Provider Employees who are employees and will
be responsible for the employment and training of all Provider Employees and for the payment of
salaries, wages, benefits (including health insurance, retirement, and other similar benefits, if
any) and other compensation applicable to all Provider Employees. All Provider Employees will be
subject to the personnel policies of Provider and will be entitled to participate in Provider’s
employee benefit plans to the same extent as similarly situated employees of Provider performing
services in connection with Provider’s business. Provider will be responsible for the payment of
all federal, state, and local



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withholding taxes on the compensation of all Provider Employees and
other such employment related taxes as are required by law. Company will cooperate with Provider
to facilitate Provider’s compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules,
regulations, and ordinances applicable to the employment of all Provider Employees by Provider and
their provision of Services to Company pursuant to this Agreement.



     Section 4.3 Additional Employee Provisions. Provider will have the right to terminate the employment of any Provider Employee at any time.



ARTICLE V




REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES




     Section 5.1 Representations and Warranties of Provider. Provider represents and warrants to Company as follows:



          (a) Provider is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing, and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.




          (b) Provider has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, including the Services.




          (c) Provider is not subject to any contractual or other legal obligation that materially
interferes with its full, prompt, and complete performance under this Agreement.




          (d) The individual executing this Agreement on behalf of Provider has the authority to do so.




          (e) Provider is in compliance with the laws, rules and regulations applicable to Provider,
except as would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Provider, the
Company, or Provider’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder.




          (f) The operations of Provider do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any
third party, including, without limitation, copyright, patent and trademark rights, except as would
not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Provider, the Company, or
Provider’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder.




     Section 5.2 Representations and Warranties of Company. Company represents and warrants to Provider as follows:



          (a) Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the
laws of the State of New York.




          (b) Company has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.




          (c) Company is not subject to any contractual or other legal obligation that materially
interferes with its full, prompt, and complete performance under this Agreement.





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          (d) The individual executing this Agreement on behalf of Company has the authority to do so.




          (e) Company shall perform its obligations under this Agreement in compliance with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on Provider, the Company, or Company’s ability to perform its obligations
hereunder.




ARTICLE VI




INDEMNIFICATION




     Section 6.1 Indemnification by Provider. Provider shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Company, DHC, Discovery Communications,
Inc., and any Subsidiary of DHC, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and
agents, and the successors and assigns of any of them (collectively, the “Company
Indemnitees”), from and against any and all claims, judgments, liabilities, losses, costs,
damages, or expenses, including court costs and reasonable counsel fees and disbursements
(collectively, “Losses”), that any Company Indemnitee may suffer arising out of, or
resulting from, (a) any material breach by Provider of its obligations under this Agreement or (b)
the willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith of Provider in performing its obligations under this
Agreement.



     Section 6.2 Indemnification by Company. Company shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Provider, Spinco, any Subsidiary of Spinco,
and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, and the successors and
assigns of any of them (collectively, the “Provider Indemnitees”), from and against any and
all Losses that any Provider Indemnitee may suffer arising out of, or resulting from, (a) any
breach by Company of its obligations under this Agreement or (b) any acts or omissions of Provider
in providing the Provider Employees and Services to be provided by Provider pursuant to this
Agreement (except to the extent such Losses (i) arise from or relate to any breach by Provider of
its obligations under this Agreement, (ii) are attributable to the willful misconduct, fraud or bad
faith of Provider or such other Provider Indemnitee seeking indemnification under this Section 6.2,
or (iii) are payable by Provider pursuant to Section 7.8 or 7.15).



     Section 6.3 Indemnification Procedures.



          (a) In connection with any indemnification provided for in this Article 6, the party seeking
indemnification (the “Indemnitee”) will give the party from which indemnification is sought
(the “Indemnitor”) prompt notice whenever it comes to the Indemnitee’s attention that the
Indemnitee has suffered or incurred, or may suffer or incur, any Losses for which it is entitled to
indemnification under this Article 6, and, when known, the facts constituting the basis for such
claim (in reasonable detail). Failure by the Indemnitee to so notify the Indemnitor will not
relieve the Indemnitor of any liability under this Agreement except to the extent that such failure
prejudices the Indemnitor in any material respect.





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          (b) After receipt of a notice pursuant to Section 6.3(a), the Indemnitor will be entitled, if
it so elects, to take control of the defense and investigation with respect to any third-party
claim subject to indemnification hereunder and to employ and engage attorneys reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnitee to handle and defend such claim, at the Indemnitor’s sole cost,
risk, and expense, upon written notice to the Indemnitee of such election, which notice
acknowledges the Indemnitor’s obligation to provide indemnification under this Agreement with
respect to any Losses arising out of or resulting from the claim in question. The Indemnitor will
not settle any third-party claim that is the subject of indemnification without the written consent
of the Indemnitee, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned;
provided, however, that, after reasonable notice, the Indemnitor may settle a claim
without the Indemnitee’s consent if such settlement (i) makes no admission or acknowledgment of
liability or culpability with respect to the Indemnitee, (ii) includes a complete release of (A) if
Indemnitee is a Company Indemnitee, all Company Indemnitees, and (B) if Indemnitee is a Provider
Indemnitee, all Provider Indemnitees, and (iii) does not contain any term or provision to
affirmatively require the Indemnitee to make any payment not covered by indemnification by the
Indemnitor hereunder or to forego or take any action. The Indemnitee will cooperate in all
reasonable respects with the Indemnitor and its attorneys in the investigation, trial, and defense
of any lawsuit or action with respect to such claim and any appeal arising therefrom (including the
filing in the Indemnitee’s name of appropriate cross claims and counterclaims). The Indemnitee
may, at its own cost, participate in any investigation, trial, and defense of such lawsuit or
action controlled by the Indemnitor and any appeal arising therefrom. If there are one or more
legal defenses available to the Indemnitee that conflict with those available to, or that are not
available to, the Indemnitor, the Indemnitee will have the right, at the expense of the
Indemnitor, to engage separate counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitor to participate
in the defense of the lawsuit or action.




          (c) If, after receipt of a notice pursuant to Section 6.3(a), the Indemnitor does not
undertake to defend any such claim, the Indemnitee may, but will have no obligation to, contest any
lawsuit or action with respect to such claim, and the Indemnitor will be bound by the result
obtained with respect thereto by the Indemnitee. The Indemnitee may not settle any lawsuit or
action with respect to which the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder without the
consent of the Indemnitor, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or
conditioned.




     Section 6.4 Limitation on Liability; Exclusive Remedy. In no event will either party be liable to the other party for any indirect, special,
incidental, punitive or consequential damages with respect to any matter relating to this
Agreement.



     Section 6.5 Survival. The terms and conditions of this Article 6 will survive the termination of this Agreement,
regardless of the reason for such termination.



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ARTICLE VII




MISCELLANEOUS




     Section 7.1 Defined Terms.



          (a) The following terms will have the following meanings for all purposes of this Agreement:




     “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with such Person, with “control” for such purpose meaning
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or voting
interests, by contract, or otherwise; provided, however, that, for purposes of this
Agreement, unless otherwise specified, Provider shall not constitute an Affiliate of Company and
Company shall not constitute an Affiliate of Provider.



     “Confidential Information” means any information marked, noticed, or treated as
confidential by a party which such party holds in confidence or that, given the nature of the
information, reasonably should be considered as confidential, including all trade secret,
technical, business, or other information, including customer or client information, however
communicated or disclosed, relating to past, present and future research, development and business
activities.



     “Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, trust, unincorporated organization, association, governmental authority, or other
entity.



     “Subsidiary” when used with respect to any Person, means any other Person of which (x)
in the case of a corporation, at least (A) a majority of the equity and (B) a majority of the
voting interests are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such first Person, by any one
or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries or (y) in
the case of any Person other than a corporation, such first Person, one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries (A) owns a majority of the
equity interests thereof and (B) has the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the
members of the governing body thereof or otherwise has control over such organization or entity.



          (b) The following terms will have the meanings for all purposes of this Agreement set forth in
the Section reference provided next to such term:




	 	 	 
	Definition	 	Section Reference
	 
	 	 
	Agreement
	 	Preamble
	AMG Spinoff
	 	Recitals
	Bankruptcy Event
	 	3.3 
	Cash Management Account
	 	1.6 
	Change in Control
	 	3.3 
	Company
	 	Preamble
	Company Business
	 	Recitals
	Company Data
	 	1.4 
	Company Indemnitees
	 	6.1 
	DHC
	 	Recitals
	DHC Restructuring
	 	Recitals
	Effective Date
	 	Preamble
	Indemnitee
	 	6.3(a)
	Indemnitor
	 	6.3(a)
	Look-Back Period
	 	4.3 
	Losses
	 	6.1 






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	Definition	 	Section Reference
	 
	 	 
	Provider
	 	Preamble
	Provider Employees
	 	4.1(b)(i)
	Provider Indemnitees
	 	6.2 
	Retention Period
	 	1.3 
	Services
	 	1.2 
	Services Fee
	 	2.1(a)
	Spinco
	 	Recitals
	Term
	 	3.1 






     Section 7.2 Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter of this Agreement and supersedes all prior written and oral and all contemporaneous oral
agreements and understandings with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. Each provision
of this Agreement will be considered separable and if for any reason any provision of
this Agreement, or the application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in
full force and effect and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances will
be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The parties hereto
further agree to replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and
enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other
purposes of such illegal, void or unenforceable provision.



     Section 7.3 Notices. All notices, consents, demands, approvals, or other communications under this Agreement will be
made in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, by telecopy,
or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) or sent by
nationally recognized overnight delivery service to the respective parties as follows:



	 	 	 
	If to Provider:

	 	Ascent Media Group, LLC
	 

	 	520 Broadway, 5th Floor
	 

	 	Santa Monica, CA 90401
	 

	 	Attention: General Counsel
	 

	 	Telecopy: (310) 434-7005
	 
	 	 
	If to Company:

	 	Ascent Media Creative Sound Services, Inc.
	 

	 	[                                        ]
	 

	 	[                                        ]
	 

	 	Attention: Bob Rosenthal
	 

	 	Telecopy: [                    ]
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	with copies sent simultaneously to
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	Discovery Communications, LLC
	 

	 	8045 Kennett Street
	 

	 	Silver Spring, MD 20910
	 

	 	Attn: John K. Honeycutt, Chief Media Technology Officer
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	and
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	Discovery Communications, LLC
	 

	 	One Discovery Place
	 

	 	Silver Spring, MD 20910
	 

	 	Attn: General Counsel






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or to such other address as the party to whom notice is given may have previously furnished to the
other party in writing in the manner set forth above. Any notice or communication delivered in
person will be deemed effective on delivery. Any notice or communication sent by telecopy will be
deemed effective when receipt is confirmed. Any notice or communication sent by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, will be deemed effective when received, as
evidenced by the return receipt. Any notice or communication sent by nationally recognized
overnight delivery service will be deemed effective one business day after delivery to such
delivery service.




     Section 7.4 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED THEREIN, WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY OTHERWISE-APPLICABLE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.



     Section 7.5 Rules of Construction. The descriptive headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and
are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Words
used in this Agreement, regardless of the gender and number specifically used, will be construed to
include any other gender or any other number, as the context requires. As used in this Agreement,
the word “including” or any variation thereof is not limiting, and the word “or” is not exclusive.
Unless modified by the word “business”, the word “day” means a calendar day. If the last day for
giving any notice or taking any other action is a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which banks in New
York, New York or Los Angeles, California are permitted or required to close, the time for giving
such notice or taking such action will be extended to the next day that is not such a day (a
“business day”).



     Section 7.6 Parties in Interest; No Liability or Obligation of DHC. This Agreement will be binding on and inure solely to the benefit of each party to this
Agreement, and its successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or
implied, is intended to confer upon any other Person any rights or remedies of any nature
whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to impose upon DHC or any Affiliate of
DHC other than Company and its Subsidiaries any obligation or liability of any nature whatsoever
under or by reason of this Agreement.



     Section 7.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original,
but all of which will constitute one and the same agreement.



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     Section 7.8 Payment of Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, each of the parties to this Agreement
will bear its own expenses, including the fees of any attorneys and accountants engaged by such
party, in connection with the preparation of this Agreement.



     Section 7.9 No Personal Liability. This Agreement will not create or be deemed to create any personal liability or obligation on
the part of any direct or indirect member, manager, or shareholder of either party to this
Agreement or any officer, director, employee, agent, representative, or investor of either party,
or of any member, manager, or shareholder of either party to this Agreement.



     Section 7.10 Binding Effect; Assignment.



          (a) This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding on the parties to this
Agreement and their respective legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.




          (b) Except as expressly contemplated hereby (including by Section 4.1), this Agreement, and
the obligations arising hereunder, may not be assigned by either party to this Agreement without
the prior written consent of the other party, except that, subject to Section 3.3, either party
hereto may assign its rights and delegate its obligations under this Agreement in connection with
the acquisition of substantially all of its assets (by merger, consolidation, operation of law, or
otherwise).




     Section 7.11 Amendment. Any amendment, modification or supplement of or to any term or condition of this Agreement shall
be effective only if in writing and signed by all parties hereto, and the parties waive the right
to amend the provisions of this Section orally.



     Section 7.12 Extension; Waiver. Either party to this Agreement may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other party to this Agreement, or (b) waive compliance by the
other party with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein or any breach thereof. Any
agreement on the part of either party to any such extension or waiver will be valid only if set
forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party. No consent or waiver, express or
implied, by a party of any breach or default by the other party in the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement will be deemed to be a consent to or waiver of any further or
other breach or default by such other party. Failure on the part of a party to complain of an act,
or failure to act, of the other party or to declare the other party to be in default, irrespective
of how long such failure continues, will not constitute a waiver by such party of its rights under
this Agreement.



     Section 7.13 Force Majeure. Neither party will be liable to the other party with respect to any nonperformance or delay in
performance of its obligations under this Agreement to the extent such failure or delay is due to
any action or claims by any third party, labor dispute, strike or other job action, weather
conditions, act of war or insurrection, domestic or foreign terrorist activity, or any other cause
beyond a party’s reasonable control.



     Section 7.14 Specific Performance. If either party threatens to take any action in violation of the terms of this Agreement, the
other party may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for an injunctive order prohibiting
such proposed action. Either party may institute and maintain any action or proceeding against the
other party to compel the specific performance of this Agreement.



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     Section 7.15 Confidentiality.



          (a) Except with the prior consent of the disclosing party, each party will:





     (i) limit access to the Confidential Information of the other party disclosed to such
party hereunder to its employees, agents, representatives, and consultants who have a
need-to-know;




     (ii) advise its employees, agents, representatives, and consultants having access to
such Confidential Information of the proprietary nature thereof and of the obligations set
forth in this Agreement; and




     (iii) safeguard such Confidential Information by using a reasonable degree of care to
prevent disclosure of the Confidential Information to third parties, but not less than that
degree of care used by that party in safeguarding its own similar information or material.



          (b) A party’s obligations respecting confidentiality under Section 7.15 will not apply to any
of the Confidential Information of the other party that: (i) was, at the time of disclosure to it,
in the public domain; or (ii) after disclosure to it, is published or otherwise becomes part of the
public domain through no fault of the recipient.; or (iii) was independently developed by it and
such party has evidence to show the same; or (iv) becomes available on a non-confidential basis
from another source, provided that such other source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement
with respect to such information.




          (c) A party may disclose Confidential Information of the other party (i) as required to comply
with binding orders of any regulatory body having jurisdiction over a party or any of their
respective clients or (ii) as required to be disclosed by reason of legal, accounting, or
regulatory requirements applicable to the recipient, provided that the recipient (x) gives the
disclosing party reasonable notice (to the extent possible and to the extent permitted by law) to
allow the disclosing party to seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy, (y) discloses
only such information as is required, and (z) does not take any action to interfere with the
disclosing party’s efforts to obtain confidential treatment for any Confidential Information so
disclosed




          (d) The provisions of this Section 7.15 will survive for a period of two years after the
termination of this Agreement, regardless of the reason for such termination.




     Section 7.16 Non-Solicitation. From the Effective Date through the second anniversary thereof, notwithstanding any prior
termination of this Agreement:



          (a) Provider will not, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit any individual who was an employee
of Company on or after the Effective Date to leave his or her employment with Company, or (ii)
subject to the last sentence of this Section 7.16, hire any individual who was an employee of
Company on or after the Effective Date without the prior consent of Company, unless and until (A)
Company terminates the employment of such individual or (B) six months after any other expiration
of such individual’s employment with Company; and




14









 








          (b) Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit any individual who was an employee
of Provider on or after the Effective Date to leave his or her employment with Provider or (ii)
subject to the last sentence of this Section 7.16, hire any individual who was an employee of
Provider on or after the Effective Date without the prior consent of Provider, unless and until (A)
Provider terminates the employment of such individual or (B) six months after any other expiration
of such individual’s employment with Provider;



provided, however, that this Section 7.16 shall not prohibit either Provider or
Company from soliciting or hiring any individuals through the placement of general advertisements
of employment opportunities which are not specifically directed at any of the individuals covered
by the foregoing restrictions; and provided further that all references to a party in this
Section 7.16 shall be deemed to include such party’s then Subsidiaries. Anything contained herein
to the contrary notwithstanding, the provisions of Section 7.16(a)(ii) and Section 7.16(b)(ii)
shall not apply to any person within the State of California to the extent that the application of
such provision to such person would be contrary to public policy or otherwise not legally
enforceable without penalty in that state.




     Section 7.17. Transition Efforts. Provider agrees to use its reasonable good faith
efforts to cooperate with and assist Company, at Company’s request and at Company’s sole expense,
from time to time during the Term, in connection with the transition from the performance of the
Services by Provider to the performance of the Services by Company or a third party after the
expiration of this Agreement, or such earlier time as requested by Company, subject to the terms of
this Agreement. The parties agree that if as part of such transition ownership of any system or
systems owned by Provider is to be transferred to Company, then the parties shall negotiate the
terms and conditions of any such transfer (including the purchase price and any related expenses to
be paid to Provider therefor) and memorialize such transfer(s) under the terms of one or more
separate written agreements to be negotiated and executed by and between the parties. Company and
Provider shall cooperate with one another in good faith during the Term to identify any assets used
in connection with the Services that are owned by Company.



     Section 7.18. Disaster Recovery. In the event of any material disruption in
Provider’s systems used to provide the Services, as a result of material disaster, strike, act of
war or terrorism or other force majeure, Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts in good
faith to make Provider’s then existing disaster recovery resources, if any, which are in place with
respect to Provider’s systems used to provide the Services (including any redundancy in affected
systems and recovery efforts) available to support the provision of Services on a basis that
does not discriminate between services provided to Company and similar services provided to
Provider’s own business units.



15









 





     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has signed this Agreement, or has caused this
Agreement to be signed by its duly authorized officer, as of the date first above written.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	COMPANY:



ASCENT MEDIA CREATIVE SOUND SERVICES, INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	Title:  	 	 
	 
	 
	 	PROVIDER:


ASCENT MEDIA GROUP, LLC

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	Title:  	 	 
	 




16









 





SCHEDULE 1.2(a)1




Finance and Accounting Services



 





 




			
	1	 	To be filed by amendment.





 









 





SCHEDULE 1.2(b)2




Human Resources Services



 





 




			
	2	 	To be filed by amendment.





 









 





SCHEDULE 1.2(c)3




Information Technology Services



 





 




			
	3	 	To be filed by amendment.





 









 





SCHEDULE 1.2(d)4




Payroll Services



 





 




			
	4	 	To be filed by amendment.





 









 





SCHEDULE 1.2(e)5





Facilities / Real Estate Management Services



 





 




			
	5	 	To be filed by amendment.