<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

================================================================================

                       FORM OF 364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                   dated as of

                                 April 12, 1999

                                     between

                         HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.

                            The LENDERS Party Hereto

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                             as Administrative Agent

                             CHASE SECURITIES INC.,
                        as Lead Arranger and Book Manager

                                       and

                                BANK OF MONTREAL,
                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                          and TD SECURITIES (USA) INC.,
                    as Co-Arrangers and Documentation Agents

                                  ------------

                                  $250,000,000

                                  ------------

================================================================================
<PAGE>
 
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

      SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms.............................................1
      SECTION 1.02.  Classification of Loans and Borrowings...................24
      SECTION 1.03.  Terms Generally..........................................24
      SECTION 1.04.  Accounting Terms; GAAP...................................24
                                                                             
                                   ARTICLE II                                
                                                                             
                                   THE CREDITS                               
                                                                             
      SECTION 2.01.  The Commitments..........................................25
      SECTION 2.02.  Loans and Borrowings.....................................25
      SECTION 2.03.  Requests for Borrowings..................................26
      SECTION 2.04.  Intentionally Omitted....................................27
      SECTION 2.05.  Intentionally Omitted....................................27
      SECTION 2.06.  Intentionally Omitted....................................27
      SECTION 2.07.  Funding of Borrowings....................................27
      SECTION 2.08.  Interest Elections.......................................27
      SECTION 2.09.  Termination and Reduction of the Commitments.............29
      SECTION 2.10.  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.....................29
      SECTION 2.11.  Prepayment of Loans......................................30
      SECTION 2.12.  Fees.....................................................34
      SECTION 2.13.  Interest.................................................34
      SECTION 2.14.  Alternate Rate of Interest...............................35
      SECTION 2.15.  Increased Costs..........................................36
      SECTION 2.16.  Break Funding Payments...................................37
      SECTION 2.17.  Taxes....................................................37
      SECTION 2.18.  Payments Generally;  Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of     
                     Set-offs.................................................38
      SECTION 2.19.  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders...........40
                                                                             
                                   ARTICLE III                               
                                                                             
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES                      
                                                                             
      SECTION 3.01.  Organization; Powers.....................................41
      SECTION 3.02.  Authorization; Enforceability............................41
      SECTION 3.03.  Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts.....................41
      SECTION 3.04.  Financial  Condition;  No Material  Adverse Change;     
                     Solvency.................................................42
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                      (i)                                    
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 3.05.  Properties...............................................43
      SECTION 3.06.  Litigation and Environmental Matters.....................43
      SECTION 3.07.  Compliance with Laws and Agreements......................44
      SECTION 3.08.  Investment and Holding Company Status....................44
      SECTION 3.09.  Taxes....................................................44
      SECTION 3.10.  ERISA....................................................44
      SECTION 3.11.  Disclosure...............................................45
      SECTION 3.12.  Use of Credit............................................45
      SECTION 3.13.  Material  Agreements  and Liens  With  Respect  to      
                     Indebtedness.............................................45
      SECTION 3.14.  Capitalization...........................................46
      SECTION 3.15.  Subsidiaries and Investments.............................46
      SECTION 3.16.  Station Licenses.........................................46
      SECTION 3.17.  Proxy Statement..........................................47
      SECTION 3.18.  Year 2000 Issues.........................................47
                                                                             
                                   ARTICLE IV                                
                                                                             
                                   CONDITIONS                                
                                                                             
      SECTION 4.01.  Effective Date...........................................48
      SECTION 4.02.  Each Credit Event........................................49
                                                                             
                                    ARTICLE V                                
                                                                             
                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS                          
                                                                             
      SECTION 5.01.  Financial Statements and Other Information...............50
      SECTION 5.02.  Notices of Material Events...............................52
      SECTION 5.03.  Existence; Conduct of Business...........................53
      SECTION 5.04.  Payment of Obligations...................................53
      SECTION 5.05.  Maintenance of Properties; Insurance.....................53
      SECTION 5.06.  Books and Records; Inspection Rights.....................53
      SECTION 5.07.  Compliance with Laws.....................................53
      SECTION 5.08.  Use of Proceeds..........................................54
      SECTION 5.09.  Certain Obligations Respecting Subsidiaries..............54
                                                                             
                                   ARTICLE VI                                
                                                                             
                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS                            
                                                                             
      SECTION 6.01.  Indebtedness.............................................55
      SECTION 6.02.  Liens....................................................56
      SECTION 6.03.  Fundamental Changes......................................57
      SECTION 6.04.  Lines of Business........................................59
      SECTION 6.05.  Investments..............................................59
      SECTION 6.06.  Restricted Payments......................................60
      SECTION 6.07.  Transactions with Affiliates.............................61
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                      (ii)                                   
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 6.08.  Restrictive Agreements...................................62
      SECTION 6.09.  Modifications of Certain Documents.......................62
      SECTION 6.10.  Certain Financial Covenants..............................62
                                                                             
                                   ARTICLE VII                               
                                                                             
                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT.............................63
                                                                             
                                  ARTICLE VIII                               
                                                                             
                            THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT..........................66
                                                                             
                                   ARTICLE IX                                
                                                                             
                                  MISCELLANEOUS                              
                                                                             
      SECTION 9.01.  Notices..................................................69
      SECTION 9.02.  Waivers; Amendments......................................69
      SECTION 9.03.  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.......................70
      SECTION 9.04.  Successors and Assigns...................................71
      SECTION 9.05.  Survival.................................................74
      SECTION 9.06.  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.................74
      SECTION 9.07.  Severability.............................................75
      SECTION 9.08.  Right of Setoff..........................................75
      SECTION 9.09.  Governing Law;  Jurisdiction;  Consent to Service of    
                     Process..................................................75
      SECTION 9.10.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.....................................76
      SECTION 9.11.  Headings.................................................76
      SECTION 9.12.  Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality........76


                                     (iii)
<PAGE>
 
SCHEDULE I      - Commitments
SCHEDULE II     - Material Agreements and Liens with Respect to Indebtedness
SCHEDULE III    - Litigation and Environmental Matters
SCHEDULE IV     - Subsidiaries and Investments
SCHEDULE V      - Station Licenses
SCHEDULE VI     - Certain Equity Rights
SCHEDULE VII    - Certain Affiliate Transactions

EXHIBIT A       - Form of Assignment and Acceptance
EXHIBIT B       - Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower
EXHIBIT C       - Form of Opinion of Special New York Counsel to Chase


                                      (iv)
<PAGE>
 
            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of April 12, 1999, between
HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC., the LENDERS party hereto and THE CHASE MANHATTAN
BANK, as Administrative Agent.

            The Borrower has requested that the Lenders extend credit to it in
an aggregate amount up to $250,000,000 for general corporate purposes of the
Borrower and its subsidiaries. The Lenders are willing to extend such credit
upon the terms and conditions hereof and, accordingly, the parties hereto agree
as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

            SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings specified below:

            "ABR", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to
whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest
at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

            "Acquisition" means, collectively, the Kelly Acquisition, the
Pulitzer Acquisition and any Subsequent Acquisition.

            "Acquisition Related Compensation Expenses" means, with respect to
any Acquisition, (i) severance payments made to terminated employees in
connection with such Acquisition, (ii) stay bonuses paid in connection with such
Acquisition and (iii) costs and fees related to hiring and relocating new
employees in connection with such Acquisition, including payments to employee
search firms.

            "Additional Permitted Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the
Borrower incurred or assumed in accordance with the provisions of Section
6.01(g).

            "Adjusted LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing
for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest
Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

            "Administrative Agent" means The Chase Manhattan Bank, in its
capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

            "Administrative Questionnaire" means an Administrative Questionnaire
in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -2-


            "Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, another
Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls
or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

            "Alternate Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to
the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Base CD Rate
in effect on such day plus 1% and (c) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect
on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a
change in the Prime Rate, the Base CD Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate
shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the
Prime Rate, the Base CD Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

            "Applicable Margin" means, with respect to any ABR Loan or
Eurodollar Loan, or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, as
the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption
"ABR Loans", "Eurodollar Loans" or "Commitment Fee", as the case may be, based
upon the Leverage Ratio as at the last day of the fiscal quarter most recently
ended as to which the Borrower has either delivered financial statements
pursuant to Section 5.01, or (in the case of the fourth fiscal quarter in any
fiscal year) as to which the Borrower has otherwise delivered financial
statements as at the end of and for such fiscal quarter (or, prior to the
delivery of the first of such statements after the Effective Date, upon the
Leverage Ratio set forth in the certificate of a Financial Officer delivered
pursuant to Section 4.01(g)):

================================================================================
       Leverage               ABR           Eurodollar         Commitment
        Ratio:               Loans             Loans              Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 5.00x           0.000%           1.250%             0.250%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 4.50x
  but less than or
  equal to 5.00x             0.000%           1.000%             0.200%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 4.00x
  but less than or
  equal to 4.50x             0.000%           0.875%             0.150%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal
  to 4.00x                   0.000%           0.750%             0.150%
================================================================================

      Each change in the "Applicable Margin" based upon any change in the
Leverage Ratio shall become effective for purposes of the accrual of interest
and commitment fees hereunder (including in respect of all then-outstanding
Loans and Commitments) on the date three Business Days after the delivery to the
Administrative Agent of the financial statements of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries for the most recently ended fiscal quarter pursuant to
Section 5.01, and shall remain effective for such purpose until three Business
Days after the next delivery of such financial statements to the Administrative
Agent hereunder, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable
Margin shall be the highest rates 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -3-


provided for in the above schedule for any period during which either (i) an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or (ii) the Borrower
shall be in default of its obligation to deliver financial statements for any
fiscal quarter by the times specified in Section 5.01 (but upon the cure or
waiver of any such Event of Default or default, this proviso shall no longer be
applicable until another such Event of Default or default shall occur).

            "Applicable Percentage" means, with respect to any Lender, the
percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender's Commitment. If
the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be
determined based upon the aggregate principal amount of the Loans held by the
Lenders or, if no Loans are outstanding, the Commitments most recently in
effect, giving effect to any assignments.

            "Applicable Prepayment Percentage" means, at any time, with respect
to any Commitments or Loans hereunder or under the Five Year Credit Agreement,
the following:

            (i) with respect to the Five Year Revolving Commitments, the ratio
      (expressed as a percentage) of (x) the aggregate principal amount of the
      Five Year Revolving Commitments at such time over (y) the sum (such sum
      being herein called the "Total Borrower Exposure") of the aggregate
      principal amount of the Five Year Revolving Commitments at such time plus
      the aggregate principal amount of the Five Year Incremental Facility
      Commitments of each Series at such time plus the aggregate principal
      amount of the Commitments hereunder at such time (or, after any conversion
      of the Loans hereunder into term loans as provided herein, plus the
      aggregate principal amount of the Loans hereunder at such time);

            (ii) with respect to the Five Year Incremental Facility Commitments
      of any Series, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (x) the aggregate
      principal amount of the Five Year Incremental Facility Commitments of such
      Series at such time over (y) the Total Borrower Exposure at such time;

            (iii) with respect to the Commitments hereunder, the ratio
      (expressed as a percentage) of (x) the aggregate principal amount of the
      Commitments hereunder at such time over (y) the Total Borrower Exposure at
      such time and

            (iv) with respect to the Loans hereunder after any conversion
      thereof into term loans as provided herein, the ratio (expressed as a
      percentage) of (x) the aggregate principal amount of the Loans hereunder
      at such time over the Total Borrower Exposure at such time.

            "Assessment Rate" means, for any day, the annual assessment rate in
effect on such day that is payable by a member of the Bank Insurance Fund
classified as "well-capitalized" and within supervisory subgroup "B" (or a
comparable successor risk classification) within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. Part
327 (or any successor provision) to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
for insurance by such Corporation of time deposits made in dollars at the
offices of such member in the United States; provided that if, as a result of
any change in any law, rule or 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -4-


regulation, it is no longer possible to determine the Assessment Rate as
aforesaid, then the Assessment Rate shall be such annual rate as shall be
determined by the Administrative Agent to be representative of the cost of such
insurance to the Lenders.

            "Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance
entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of the party or
parties whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the
Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the
Administrative Agent.

            "Availability Period" means the period from and including the
Effective Date to but excluding the Commitment Termination Date.

            "Available Revolving Credit" means, at any date, the aggregate
unused amount of the Five Year Revolving Commitments (after giving effect to any
pending Borrowings or prepayments as to which notice shall have been given
hereunder) to the extent that (on a pro forma basis) such Five Year Revolving
Commitments could have been utilized through Borrowings hereunder for general
working capital purposes during the period of four fiscal quarters most recently
ended for which financial statements are available hereunder.

            "Base CD Rate" means the sum of (a) the Three-Month Secondary CD
Rate multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate plus (b) the Assessment Rate.

            "Basket Investments" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.05(h).

            "Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
of the United States of America.

            "Borrower" means Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

            "Borrowing" means (a) all ABR Loans made, converted or continued on
the same date or (b) all Eurodollar Loans that have the same Interest Period.
For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing comprising one or more Loans that
have been converted or continued shall be the effective date of the most recent
conversion or continuation of such Loan or Loans.

            "Borrowing Request" means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing
in accordance with Section 2.03.

            "Broadcast Cash Flow" means, for any period, the sum (determined on
a consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP) for the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, of EBITDA for such period,
calculated before Corporate Overhead for such period.

            "Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other
day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law
to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan,
the term "Business Day" shall 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -5-


also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits
in the London interbank market.

            "Capital Expenditures" means, for any period, expenditures
(including the aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations incurred during
such period) made by the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to
acquire or construct fixed assets, plant and equipment (including renewals,
improvements and replacements, but excluding repairs) during such period
computed in accordance with GAAP; provided that any such expenditures made in
connection with any Acquisition shall not constitute Capital Expenditures.

            "Capital Lease Obligations" of any Person means the obligations of
such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other
arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a
combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and
accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP,
and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof
determined in accordance with GAAP.

            "Casualty Event" means, with respect to any property of the Borrower
or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, any casualty or other insured damage
to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar
proceeding of, such property for which the Borrower or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries receives insurance proceeds, or proceeds of a condemnation award or
other compensation.

            "Change of Control" means that (a) an aggregate of at least 35% of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Borrower shall cease to be owned
beneficially by (i) Hearst and (ii) all "Permitted Transferees" under and as
defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Borrower
as in effect on the date hereof or (b) Hearst and such "Permitted Transferees",
collectively, shall cease to be able to elect a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors of the Borrower (or such greater number of the members of
such Board of Directors as shall be necessary, under the Certificate of
Incorporation and by-laws of the Borrower, to approve all actions requiring
approval of such Board of Directors assuming full attendance by all members of
such Board of Directors at a meeting thereof).

            "Change in Law" means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or
regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or
regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental
Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or,
for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such
Lender's holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority with
which, if the same does not have the force of law, such Lender believes in good
faith that it would be disadvantageous not to comply, in each case made or
issued after the date of this Agreement.

            "Chase" means The Chase Manhattan Bank.

            "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -6-


            "Commitment" means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if
any, of such Lender to make Loans hereunder, as such commitment may be (a)
reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or increased
from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to
Section 9.04. The amount of each Lender's Commitment as of the date hereof is
set forth on Schedule I, and (after giving effect to any assignment of any
Commitment permitted under Section 9.04) in the Assignment and Acceptance
pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.
The aggregate original amount of the Lenders' Commitments is $250,000,000.

            "Commitment Termination Date" means the date 364 days from the
Effective Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, the preceding Business
Day)

            "Consolidated Net Income" for any period means the net income of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a
consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP, excluding

            (a) the proceeds of any life insurance policy,

            (b) any gains arising from (i) the sale or other disposition of any
      assets (other than current assets) to the extent that the aggregate amount
      of the gains during such period exceeds the aggregate amount of the losses
      during such period from the sale, abandonment or other disposition of
      assets (other than current assets), (ii) any write-up of assets or (iii)
      the acquisition of outstanding securities of the Borrower or any
      Consolidated Subsidiary,

            (c) any amount representing any interest in the undistributed
      earnings of any other Person (other than a Consolidated Subsidiary),

            (d) any earnings, prior to the date of acquisition, of any Person
      acquired in any manner, and any earnings of any Consolidated Subsidiary
      prior to its becoming a Consolidated Subsidiary,

            (e) any earnings of a successor to or transferee of the assets of
      the Borrower prior to its becoming such successor or transferee,

            (f) any deferred credit (or amortization of a deferred credit)
      arising from the acquisition of any Person, and

            (g) any extraordinary gains not covered by clause (b) above.

            "Consolidated Net Worth" means, at any date, on a consolidated basis
without duplication for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, (a) the
sum of (i) capital stock taken at par or stated value plus (ii) capital in
excess of par or stated value relating to capital stock plus (iii) retained
earnings (or minus any retained earning deficit) minus (b) the sum of 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -7-


treasury stock, capital stock subscribed for and unissued and other
contra-equity accounts, all determined in accordance with GAAP.

            "Consolidated Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other
than a Designated Subsidiary.

            "Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person,
whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.
"Controlling" and "Controlled" have meanings correlative thereto.

            "Corporate Overhead" means, for any period, all amounts paid or
incurred by the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (determined on a
consolidated basis) during such period in respect of all items of general
corporate overhead and administrative expenses and the like including, without
duplication, (x) all amounts payable by the Borrower or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries to any of its Affiliates during such period in respect of items
that would constitute general corporate overhead or administrative expense of
the Borrower if paid or incurred by the Borrower and (y) all Management Fees.

            "Debt Service" means, for any period, the sum, for the Borrower and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis without
duplication in accordance with GAAP), of the following: (a) all regularly
scheduled payments or regularly scheduled mandatory prepayments of principal of
any Indebtedness (including the principal component of any payments in respect
of Capital Lease Obligations, but excluding any prepayments of any part of such
Indebtedness made during such period plus (b) all Interest Expense for such
period.

            "Default" means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of
Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or
waived, become an Event of Default.

            "Designated Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary designated as a
"Designated Subsidiary" pursuant to Section 5.09(b).

            "Disclosed Matters" means the actions, suits and proceedings and the
environmental matters disclosed in Schedule III. The disclosure of information
in any schedule or exhibit to this Agreement shall not constitute an admission
by the Borrower that such information is material for any purpose, including
applicable securities laws.

            "Disposition" means any sale, assignment, transfer or other
disposition of any property (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) by the
Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to any other Person excluding
any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of (i) any property sold or
disposed of in the ordinary course of business and on ordinary business terms,
(ii) any Investment permitted under Section 6.05(f) and (iii) television
broadcast station WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The term "Disposition"
shall include the entering into by the Borrower or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries of any LMA Arrangement that in 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -8-


economic effect is functionally equivalent to the sale of a Station (without
limiting the obligation of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries to
first obtain the consent of the Required Lenders to such LMA Arrangement
pursuant to Section 9.02, if required hereunder).

            "Disposition Investment" means, with respect to any Disposition, any
promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness or Investments received by
the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries in connection with such
Disposition.

            "Dividend Payment" means dividends (in cash, property or
obligations) on, or other payments or distributions on account of, or the
setting apart of money for a sinking or other analogous fund for, or the
purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition of, any shares of any
class of stock of the Borrower or of any warrants, options or other rights to
acquire the same (or, other than in respect of employee compensation
arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business, to make any
payments to any Person, such as "phantom stock" payments, where the amount
thereof is calculated with reference to the fair market or equity value of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), but excluding dividends payable solely in
shares of common stock of the Borrower.

            "dollars" or "$" refers to lawful money of the United States of
America.

            "EBITDA" means, for any period, the sum, determined without
duplication, for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, of (a) net
revenue (defined as gross operating revenue, including network compensation and
production revenues, plus rental income minus the sum of barter and trade
revenue, agency and advertising commissions and sales representative fees) minus
(b) operating expenses (determined as provided in the next sentence) minus (c)
Film Cash Payments minus (d) Corporate Overhead. In calculating "EBITDA":

            (i) "operating expenses" shall be determined exclusive of barter and
      trade expenses, depreciation and amortization (including amortization in
      respect of Film Obligations and barter expenses), Interest Expense, any
      non-cash charges (including non-cash pension expenses and any write-offs
      of programming rights), Acquisition Related Compensation Expenses, LMA
      Purchase Price Payments, income taxes accrued for the relevant period, and
      any Capital Expenditures, and "net revenue" and "operating expenses" shall
      both be determined exclusive of (x) any payments made or received under
      Hedging Agreements, (y) extraordinary and non-recurring gains or losses,
      and any gains or losses from the sale of assets and (z) any non-cash stock
      option expense or non-cash stock option gain in respect of options for the
      capital stock of the Borrower issued to any of its or its Subsidiaries'
      officers, directors or employees;

            (ii) performance bonuses shall be treated as an "operating expense"
      only in the period in which such bonuses are paid, whether or not such
      bonuses are accrued during or in respect of such period;

            (iii) for all purposes of this Agreement (other than for purposes of
      EBITDA as used in the definition of Excess Cash Flow), any Film Cash
      Payment to the extent 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -9-


      consisting of an up-front payment made with respect to a Film Obligation
      incurred during such period, shall not be deducted in determining EBITDA
      for such period but shall instead (x) in the event such contract has a
      term of twelve months or less, be amortized over the term of such contract
      and (y) in the event such contract has a term of more than twelve months,
      be amortized over the term of such contract (or, if shorter, the pay
      period of such contract), and in the case of both (x) and (y), only the
      portion of such Film Cash Payment so amortized during such period shall be
      deducted in determining EBITDA for such period;

            (iv) if during any period for which EBITDA is being determined the
      Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall have acquired any new
      Station or Stations, then, for all purposes of this Agreement (other than
      for purposes of the definition of Excess Cash Flow, for which purpose
      actual EBITDA for the relevant period shall be used), EBITDA shall be
      determined on a pro forma basis for such period as if the relevant
      Acquisition had been made or consummated on the first day of such period;
      and

            (v) in determining the components of EBITDA attributable to any
      Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, appropriate adjustments
      shall be made to exclude the effect of the portion of such components
      attributable to minority interests in such Subsidiaries.

            "Effective Date" means the date on which the conditions specified in
Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

            "Environmental Laws" means all laws, rules, regulations, codes,
ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding
agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority,
relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural
resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous
Material or to health and safety matters.

            "Environmental Liability" means any liability, contingent or
otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental
remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any
Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage,
treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous
Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into
the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement
pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the
foregoing.

            "Equity Issuance" means (a) any issuance or sale by the Borrower
after the Effective Date of (i) any of its capital stock, (ii) any warrants or
options exercisable in respect of its capital stock (other than any warrants or
options issued to directors, officers or employees of the Borrower or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, pursuant to employee benefit plans established in the
ordinary course of business and any capital stock of the Borrower issued upon
the exercise of such warrants or options) or (iii) any other security or
instrument representing an 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -10-


equity interest (or the right to obtain any equity interest) in the Borrower or
(b) the receipt by the Borrower whether directly (or indirectly through one or
more of its Consolidated Subsidiaries) after the Effective Date of any capital
contribution (whether or not evidenced by any equity security issued by the
Borrower).

            "Equity Rights" means, with respect to any Person, any
subscriptions, options, warrants, commitments, preemptive rights or agreements
of any kind (including any stockholders' or voting trust agreements) for the
issuance, sale, registration or voting of, or securities convertible into, any
additional shares of capital stock of any class, or partnership or other
ownership interests of any type in, such Person.

            "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended from time to time.

            "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer
under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, or, solely for purposes of Section 302
of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under
Section 414 of the Code.

            "ERISA Event" means (a) any "reportable event", as defined in
Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a
Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the
existence with respect to any Plan of an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as
defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not
waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d)
of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with
respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA
Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the
termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to
terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f)
the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability
with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or
Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of
any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability
or of a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be,
insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

            "Eurodollar", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,
refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing
interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

            "Event of Default" has the meaning assigned to such term in Article
VII.

            "Excess Cash Flow" means, for any period, the sum, determined
without duplication, for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, of (a)
EBITDA for such period minus (b) Fixed Charges for such period plus (c) cash
receipts during such period in respect of 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -11-


any extraordinary or non-recurring gains to the extent not required pursuant to
Section 2.11(b)(ii) to be applied to the reduction of Commitments hereunder or
the Five Year Commitments, or to the prepayment of the Loans or the Five Year
Loans or to provide cover for Five Year LC Exposure (or minus cash payments
during such period in respect of any extraordinary or non-recurring losses)
minus (d) Acquisition Related Compensation Expenses for such period.

            "Excluded Taxes" means, with respect to the Administrative Agent,
any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of
any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed
on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the
jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its
principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its
applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by
the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other
jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign
Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under
Section 2.19(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such
Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement
or is attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure or inability to comply with
Section 2.17(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender's assignor (if
any) was entitled, at the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from
the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.17(a).

            "Existing Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement dated as of
August 29, 1997 between Argyle Television, Inc. (predecessor in interest to the
Borrower, "Argyle"), each of the subsidiaries of Argyle named therein, the
lenders named therein and Chase as administrative agent for said lenders (as
amended, modified and supplemented and in effect on the Effective Date).

            "Existing Senior Debt" means, collectively, the Private Placement
Debt, Indebtedness evidenced by the Senior Notes and the Indebtedness evidenced
by the Senior Debentures.

            "FCC" means the Federal Communications Commission or any
governmental authority substituted therefor.

            "Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, the weighted
average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on
overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System
arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business
Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so
published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such
transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds
brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

            "Film Cash Payments" means, for any period, the sum (determined on a
consolidated basis and without duplication in accordance with GAAP) of all
payments by the 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -12-


Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries made or scheduled to be made during
such period in respect of Film Obligations.

            "Film Obligations" means obligations in respect of the purchase,
use, license or acquisition of programs, programming materials, films and
similar assets used in connection with the business and operation of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

            "Financial Officer" means the chief financial officer, principal
accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower.

            "Five Year Commitment" means the commitment of each lender party to
the Five Year Credit Agreement to make loans thereunder.

            "Five Year Credit Agreement" means the Five Year Credit Agreement
dated as of April 12, 1999 between the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and
Chase, as administrative agent for said lenders.

            "Five Year Incremental Facility Commitment" of any Series means the
commitment of each lender party to the Five Year Credit Agreement to make
Incremental Facility Loans thereunder.

            "Five Year Incremental Facility Loans" means the loans provided for
by Section 2.01(b) of the Five Year Credit Agreement.

            "Five Year LC Exposure" has the meaning assigned to the term "LC
Exposure" in the Five Year Credit Agreement.

            "Five Year Loans" means the loans made pursuant to the Five Year
Credit Agreement.

            "Five Year Revolving Commitment" means the commitment of each lender
party to the Five Year Credit Agreement to make revolving loans and to acquire
participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under and as defined in
the Five Year Credit Agreement.

            "Five Year Revolving Exposure" has the meaning assigned to the term
"Revolving Exposure" in the Five Year Credit Agreement.

            "Five Year Swingline Exposure" has the meaning assigned to the term
"Swingline Exposure" in the Five Year Credit Agreement.

            "Five Year Swingline Loan" means a loan made pursuant to Section
2.05 of the Five Year Credit Agreement.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -13-


            "Fixed Charges" means, for any period, the sum, for the Borrower and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis without
duplication in accordance with GAAP), of the following:

            (a) the aggregate amount of Debt Service for such period, plus

            (b) the aggregate amount of taxes (excluding deferred taxes) paid or
      payable in respect of the income or profit of the Borrower and its
      Subsidiaries for such period, plus

            (c) the aggregate amount of all Capital Expenditures made during
      such period (such aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures to be deemed to
      be equal to the lesser of (x) actual Capital Expenditures for such period
      and (y) $15,000,000, provided that the amount of actual Capital
      Expenditures in excess of $15,000,000 in such period, shall not be
      excluded from the calculation of "Fixed Charges" unless and to the extent
      that, at the time of calculation, the Borrower has Available Revolving
      Credit), plus

            (d) commitment fees and letter of credit fees paid during such
      period pursuant to this Agreement, plus

            (e) Dividend Payments and Management Fees paid in cash during such
      period.

In calculating "Fixed Charges" for any period, if any portion of such period
shall occur prior to an Acquisition of any Station, Fixed Charges shall be
calculated as if such Station had been acquired by the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries at the beginning of such period.

            "Fixed Charges Ratio" means, as at any date, the ratio of (a) EBITDA
for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or most recently
ended prior to such date to (b) Fixed Charges for such period.

            "Foreign Lender" means any Lender that is organized under the laws
of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located. For purposes
of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the
District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

            "Fort Smith Preferred Stock" means, collectively, shares of Series A
Preferred Stock of the Borrower (in an aggregate face amount up to but not
exceeding $12,500,000) and shares of Series B Preferred Stock of the Borrower
(in an aggregate face amount up to but not exceeding $12,500,000).

            "GAAP" means, subject to the terms of Section 1.04 hereof, generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

            "Governmental Authority" means the government of the United States
of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state
or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court,
central bank or other entity exercising 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -14-


executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or
functions of or pertaining to government.

            "Guarantee" means a guarantee, an endorsement, a contingent
agreement to purchase or to furnish funds for the payment or maintenance of, or
otherwise to be or become contingently liable under or with respect to, the
Indebtedness, other obligations, net worth, working capital or earnings of any
Person, or a guarantee of the payment of dividends or other distributions upon
the stock or equity interests of any Person, or an agreement to purchase, sell
or lease (as lessee or lessor) Property, products, materials, supplies or
services primarily for the purpose of enabling a debtor to make payment of such
debtor's obligations or an agreement to assure a creditor against loss, and
including causing a bank or other financial institution to issue a letter of
credit or other similar instrument for the benefit of another Person, but
excluding (i) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business and (ii) typical and customary indemnification obligations, and
representations and warranties, made in connection with the purchase or sale of
property or the issuance of securities. The terms "Guarantee" and "Guaranteed"
used as a verb shall have a correlative meaning.

            "Hazardous Materials" means all explosive or radioactive substances
or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants,
including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing
materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes
and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any
Environmental Law.

            "Hearst" means The Hearst Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

            "Hedging Agreement" means any interest rate protection agreement,
foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement,
equity derivative or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price
hedging arrangement.

            "Indebtedness" means, for any Person, the sum (determined on a
consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP), of the
following: (a) obligations created, issued or incurred by such Person for
borrowed money (whether by loan, the issuance and sale of debt securities or the
sale of Property to another Person subject to an understanding or agreement,
contingent or otherwise, to repurchase such Property from such Person); (b)
obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase or acquisition price of
Property or services, other than trade accounts payable (other than for borrowed
money) arising, and accrued expenses incurred, in the ordinary course of
business so long as such trade accounts payable are payable within 90 days of
the date the respective goods are delivered or the respective services are
rendered; (c) Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on the Property of such
Person, whether or not the respective indebtedness so secured has been assumed
by such Person; (d) obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit
or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks and other financial
institutions for account of such Person; (e) Capital Lease Obligations of such
Person; and (f) Indebtedness of others Guaranteed by such Person; provided that,
such term shall not in any event include (v) contingent consideration payable in
connection with an Acquisition where, as of the date of determination, the
contingency requiring payment of 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -15-


such consideration is unlikely to occur (except that in any event any such
contingent consideration required to be carried as a liability on a balance
sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or required to be disclosed in a
footnote to such balance sheet, shall constitute Indebtedness), (w) obligations
under Hedging Agreements, (x) Film Obligations, (y) obligations in respect of
letters of credit or surety bonds issued in connection with fiduciary or
fidelity obligations of or with respect to such Person in the ordinary course of
business or (z) obligations in respect of shares of Fort Smith Preferred Stock.

            The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any
other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general
partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such
Person's ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to
the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable
therefor.

            "Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

            "Information Memorandum" means the Confidential Information
Memorandum dated March, 1999, prepared in connection with the syndication to the
Lenders of the Commitments under this Agreement.

            "Interest Coverage Ratio" means, as at any date of determination
thereof, the ratio of (a) EBITDA for the period of four fiscal quarters ending
on or most recently ended prior to such date to (b) Interest Expense for such
period.

            "Interest Election Request" means a request by the Borrower to
convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08.

            "Interest Expense" means, for any period, the sum, for the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis without
duplication in accordance with GAAP), of the following: (a) all interest in
respect of Indebtedness (including the interest component of any payments in
respect of Capital Lease Obligations but excluding any capitalized financing
fees) accrued or capitalized during such period (whether or not actually paid
during such period) plus (b) the net amount payable (or minus the net amount
receivable) under Hedging Agreements during such period (whether or not actually
paid or received during such period).

            Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition,
"Interest Expense" for any period shall not include any dividends paid in
respect of the Fort Smith Preferred Stock during such period.

            "Interest Payment Date" means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, each
Quarterly Date and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the
Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Eurodollar Loan is a
part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more
than three months' duration, each day prior to the last 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -16-


day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months' duration
after the first day of such Interest Period.

            "Interest Period" means for any Eurodollar Loan, the period
commencing on the date of such Loan and ending on the numerically corresponding
day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months (or, with the consent
of each Lender participating in such Loan, nine months) thereafter, as specified
in the applicable Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request; provided, that
(i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such
Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in
the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would
fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on
the next preceding Business Day, (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a
Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month
(or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last
calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of
the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (iii) no Interest Period may
end after the Maturity Date. For purposes hereof, the date of a Loan initially
shall be the date on which such Loan is made and thereafter shall be the
effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Loan.

            "Investment" means, for any Person: (a) the acquisition (whether for
cash, property, services or securities or otherwise) of capital stock, bonds,
notes, debentures, partnership or other ownership interests or other securities
of any other Person or any agreement to make any such acquisition (including any
"short sale" or any sale of any securities at a time when such securities are
not owned by the Person entering into such sale); (b) the making of any deposit
with, or advance, loan or other extension of credit to, any other Person
(including the purchase of property from another Person subject to an
understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to resell such property to
such Person), but excluding any such advance, loan or extension of credit having
a term not exceeding 90 days arising in connection with the sale of programming
or advertising time by such Person in the ordinary course of business; (c) the
entering into of any Guarantee of, or other contingent obligation with respect
to, Indebtedness or other liability of any other Person and (without
duplication) any amount committed to be advanced, lent or extended to such
Person; or (d) the entering into of any Hedging Agreement.

            "Kelly Acquisition" means the acquisition of all the partnership
interests of Kelly Broadcasting Co. pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of August 21, 1998 among Kelly Broadcasting Co., J.S. Kelly L.L.C.,
G.G. Kelly L.L.C., Robert E. Kelly, the Borrower and Kelly Acquisition Corp.

            "Lenders" means the Persons listed on Schedule I and any other
Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and
Acceptance, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant
to an Assignment and Acceptance.

            "Leverage Ratio" means, at any date, the ratio of (a) the sum, for
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated
basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP) of the aggregate amount of
all Indebtedness as at such date to (b) 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -17-


EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or most
recently ended prior at such date.

            "LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any
Interest Period, the rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Telerate Screen of
Bridge Information Services (or on any successor or substitute page of such
Screen, or any successor to or substitute for such Screen, providing rate
quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Screen,
as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of
providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the
London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business
Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar
deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that
such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the LIBO Rate with
respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate
at which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such
Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative
Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period.

            "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of
trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in,
on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any
conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any
financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the
foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any
purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such
securities.

            "LMA Arrangement" means, with respect to any Person that owns any
television broadcasting station, (i) any so-called "local marketing agreements"
or any other arrangements with any other television broadcasting station (other
than with the Borrower or another Consolidated Subsidiary with respect to one of
the Stations) whereby the parties agree to function cooperatively in terms of
programming, advertising, sales, management, consulting or similar services; or
(ii) any so-called "time brokerage agreements" or any other agreements or
arrangements under which any Station shall (A) sell broadcast time to any other
television broadcasting station (other than to any other Station) which programs
such broadcast time and sells its own commercial advertising announcements
during such broadcast time or (B) purchase broadcast time on any other
television broadcasting station (other than on any other Station) for the
purpose of programming such broadcast time and selling its commercial
advertisements during such time.

            "LMA Purchase Price Payments" means any payment under an LMA
Arrangement that constitutes an Acquisition to the extent such payment
constitutes all or a portion of the purchase or acquisition price (whether or
not deferred) of the assets or the air time or both of the television station
subject to such LMA Arrangement.

            "Loan Documents" means, collectively, this Agreement and any
promissory notes executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant hereto.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -18-


            "Loans" means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant
to this Agreement.

            "Management Fees" means, for any period, any amounts paid or
incurred by the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to any of its
Affiliates (excluding to the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries) on
account of fees, salaries, administrative expenses and other compensation
(including on account of any regular, special or accrued bonuses), provided that
"Management Fees" for any period shall not include any non-cash stock option
expense (or be reduced by any non-cash stock option gain) in respect of options
for the capital stock of the Borrower issued to any of its or its Subsidiaries'
officers, directors or employees.

            "Margin Stock" means "margin stock" within the meaning of
Regulations T, U and X.

            "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (a) the
business, assets, property, operations, prospects or condition (financial or
otherwise) of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole
(excluding adverse changes to prospects as a result of changes affecting the
television broadcasting industry generally), (b) the ability of the Borrower to
perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Lenders under this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

            "Material Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and
Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements,
of any one or more of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in an
aggregate principal amount exceeding $15,000,000. For purposes of determining
Material Indebtedness, the "principal amount" of the obligations of any Person
in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate
amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that such Person would be
required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.

            "Maturity Date" means, the date falling on the fourth anniversary of
the Effective Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next
succeeding Business Day).

            "Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

            "Net Cash Proceeds" means:

            (a) in the case of any Casualty Event, the aggregate amount of cash
      proceeds of insurance, condemnation awards and other compensation received
      by the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in respect of such
      Casualty Event net of (i) reasonable expenses incurred by the Borrower and
      its Consolidated Subsidiaries in connection therewith and (ii)
      contractually required repayments of Indebtedness to the extent secured 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -19-


      by a Lien on such property and any income and transfer taxes payable by
      the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries in respect of such
      Casualty Event; and

            (b) in the case of any Disposition, the aggregate amount of all cash
      payments received by the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
      directly or indirectly in connection with such Disposition, whether at the
      time of such Disposition or after such Disposition under deferred payment
      arrangements or Investments entered into or received in connection with
      such Disposition (including Disposition Investments); provided that

                  (i) Net Cash Proceeds shall be net of (A) the amount of any
            legal, title, transfer, accounting and recording tax expenses,
            commissions and other fees and expenses payable by the Borrower and
            its Consolidated Subsidiaries in connection with such Disposition
            and (B) any Federal, state and local income or other taxes estimated
            to be payable by the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as a
            result of such Disposition, but only to the extent that such
            estimated taxes are in fact paid to the relevant Federal, state or
            local governmental authority within fifteen months of the date of
            such Disposition; and

                  (ii) Net Cash Proceeds shall be net of any repayments by the
            Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries of Indebtedness to
            the extent that (A) such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien on the
            property that is the subject of such Disposition and (B) the
            transferee of (or holder of a Lien on) such property requires that
            such Indebtedness be repaid as a condition to the purchase of such
            property.

            "Other Taxes" means any and all present or future stamp or
documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar
levies arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the
execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan
Document.

            "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to
and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

            "Permitted Encumbrances" means:

            (a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being
      contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

            (b) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's,
      repairmen's and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary
      course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more
      than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -20-


            (c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in
      compliance with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other
      social security laws or regulations;

            (d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, tenders, trade
      contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds,
      performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in
      the ordinary course of business;

            (e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an
      Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII; and

            (f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar
      encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary
      course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not
      materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere
      with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

            "Permitted Investments" means:

            (a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and
      interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of
      America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are
      backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in
      each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

            (b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from
      the date of acquisition thereof and either (i) having, at such date of
      acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from Standard & Poor's
      Ratings Group or from Moody's Investors Services, Inc. or (ii) issued by
      any Lender or any Lender's holding company;

            (c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker's acceptances and
      time deposits maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition
      thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit
      accounts issued or offered by, either (i) any domestic office of any
      commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America
      or any State thereof (or organized under the laws of any other
      jurisdiction if such bank has a long-term senior debt rating of A or
      better) which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of
      not less than $500,000,000 or (ii) any Lender or any Lender's holding
      company;

            (d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not
      more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) of this
      definition and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the
      criteria described in clause (c) of this definition; and

            (e) interest in any money market mutual fund offered by any Lender
      or any Lender's holding company registered under the Investment Company
      Act of 1940, as amended, the portfolio of which is limited primarily to
      obligations described in the 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -21-


      foregoing clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) so long as such fund has total
      assets of at least $1,000,000,000 and is rated AAAm-G or better or AAA or
      better by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or Moody's Investors Services,
      Inc., respectively.

            "Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited liability
company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental
Authority or other entity.

            "Plan" means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section
412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or
any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section
4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in Section 3(5) of
ERISA.

            "Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced
from time to time by Chase as its prime rate in effect at its principal office
in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and
including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

            "Private Placement Debt" means the Indebtedness of the Borrower in
respect of its 7.18% Senior Notes due 2010, in an aggregate original principal
amount of $450,000,000, which Notes were issued by the Borrower pursuant to the
several separate Note Purchase Agreements, each dated as of December 1, 1998,
between the Borrower and the "Purchasers" referred to therein.

            "Private Placement Debt Documents" means, collectively, the Senior
Notes evidencing the Private Placement Debt and the several separate Note
Purchase Agreements pursuant to which the Private Placement Debt was issued.

            "Proxy Statement" means the Joint Proxy Statement of Hearst-Argyle
Television, Inc. and Pulitzer Publishing Company dated February 11, 1999.

            "Pulitzer Acquisition" means the acquisition of the broadcasting
assets and related properties of Pulitzer Publishing Company pursuant to an
Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 25, 1998 among
Pulitzer Publishing Company, Pulitzer, Inc. and the Borrower.

            "Quarterly Dates" means the last Business Day of March, June,
September and December in each year, the first of which shall be the first such
day after the date hereof.

            "Register" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

            "Related Parties" means, with respect to any specified Person, such
Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents
and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -22-


            "Required Lenders" means, at any time, Lenders having Loans and
unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Loans and
unused Commitments at such time.

            "Restricted Debt Payment" means any purchase, redemption, retirement
or acquisition for value, or the setting apart of any money for a sinking,
defeasance or other analogous fund for the purchase, redemption, retirement or
other acquisition of, or any voluntary payment or prepayment of the principal of
or interest on, or any other amount owing in respect of, the Existing Senior
Debt or any Additional Permitted Indebtedness, provided that the term
"Restricted Debt Payment" shall not include regularly scheduled payments of
principal or interest in respect of the Existing Senior Debt or Additional
Permitted Indebtedness to the extent required pursuant to the instruments
evidencing such Existing Senior Debt or Additional Permitted Indebtedness.

            "Restricted Payments" means, collectively, any Dividend Payment and
any Restricted Debt Payment.

            "Senior Debentures" means the Borrower's 7.50% Senior Debentures Due
2027.

            "Senior Debenture Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of
November 13, 1997, as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture dated November
13, 1997, between the Borrower and Bank of Montreal Trust Company, as trustee,
pursuant to which the Senior Debentures have been issued.

            "Senior Notes" means the Borrower's 7.00% Senior Notes Due 2007 and
the Borrower's 7.00% Senior Notes Due 2018.

            "Senior Notes Indentures" means, collectively, the Indenture dated
as of November 13, 1997 between the Borrower and Bank of Montreal Trust Company,
as trustee, pursuant to which the Borrower's Senior Notes Due 2007 have been
issued and (b) the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 13, 1998
between the Borrower and Bank of Montreal Trust Company, as trustee, pursuant to
which the Borrower's Senior Notes Due 2018 have been issued.

            "Series" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b) of the Five
Year Credit Agreement.

            "Station Licenses" means all authorizations, licenses or permits
issued by the FCC and granted or assigned to the Borrower or any Consolidated
Subsidiary thereof, or under which the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary
thereof has the right to operate any Station, together with any extensions or
renewals thereof.

            "Stations" means the television broadcasting stations from time to
time owned by the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

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                                      -23-


            "Statutory Reserve Rate" means, for any day, a fraction (expressed
as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of
which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages
(including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed
as a decimal established by the Board and in effect on such day to which the
Administrative Agent is subject (a) with respect to the Base CD Rate, for new
negotiable nonpersonal time deposits in dollars of over $100,000 with maturities
approximately equal to three months and (b) with respect to the Adjusted LIBO
Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency
Liabilities" in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall
include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be
deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve
requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets
that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or
any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted
automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve
percentage. The Statutory Reserve Rate as of the date hereof is zero.

            "Subsequent Acquisition" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 6.03(c)(iv).

            "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person (the "parent") at any
date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or
other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the
parent in the parent's consolidated financial statements if such financial
statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any
other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other
entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more
than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the
case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are,
as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date,
otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or
by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise
specified, "Subsidiary" means a subsidiary of the Borrower.

            "Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,
duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental
Authority.

            "Three-Month Secondary CD Rate" means, for any day, the secondary
market rate for three-month certificates of deposit reported as being in effect
on such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business
Day) by the Board through the public information telephone line of the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York (which rate will, under the current practices of the
Board, be published in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) during the
week following such day) or, if such rate is not so reported on such day or such
next preceding Business Day, the average of the secondary market quotations for
three-month certificates of deposit of major money center banks in New York City
received at approximately 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such day (or, if
such day is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day) by the
Administrative Agent from three negotiable certificate of deposit dealers of
recognized standing selected by it.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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                                      -24-


            "Transactions" means the execution, delivery and performance by the
Borrower of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans and the use of the proceeds
thereof.

            "Type", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to
whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such
Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate
Base Rate.

            "Wholly Owned Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any
corporation, partnership or other entity of which all of the equity securities,
Equity Rights or other ownership interests (other than, in the case of a
corporation, directors' qualifying shares) are directly or indirectly owned or
controlled by such Person or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such
Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such
Person.

            "Withdrawal Liability" means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a
result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such
terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

            SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes
of this Agreement, Loans and Borrowings may be classified and referred to by
Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Loan" or "Eurodollar Borrowing").

            SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall
apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever
the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine,
feminine and neuter forms. The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall
be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation". The word "will"
shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word "shall".
Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any
agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring
to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such
amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference
herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person's successors and
assigns, (c) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder", and words of similar
import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to
any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles,
Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and
Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words
"asset" and "property" shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect
and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties,
including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

            SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be
construed in accordance with, or derived by reference to, GAAP, as in effect
from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative
Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to
eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -25-


in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an
amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any
such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application
thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in
effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective
until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in
accordance herewith. References in this Agreement to the determination of items
"in accordance with GAAP" means that such items shall be derived by reference
to, and with the relevant components of such items being determined in
accordance with, GAAP even though (as is the case with terms such as "pro
forma", "Broadcast Cash Flow" and "Film Cash Payments") such terms may not have
a meaning under GAAP.

            To enable the ready and consistent determination of compliance with
the covenants set forth in Article VI, the Borrower will not change the last day
of its fiscal year from December 31 of each year, or the last days of the first
three fiscal quarters in each of its fiscal years from March 31, June 30 and
September 30 of each year, respectively.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE CREDITS

            SECTION 2.01. The Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Loans to the Borrower from time to
time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will
not result in the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Lender's Loans
exceeding such Lender's Commitment. Within the foregoing limits and subject to
the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and
reborrow Loans. At the Borrower's option, by notice to the Administrative Agent
at least three Business Days (but not earlier than 30 days) prior to the
Commitment Termination Date, and so long as no Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, the Loans may be converted on the Commitment Termination Date
into term loans which shall be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date with
interest payable on each Interest Payment Date.

            SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings.

            (a) Obligation of Lenders. Each Loan shall be made as part of a
Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type made by the Lenders ratably in
accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make
any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its
obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several
and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender's failure to make Loans
as required.

            (b) Type of Loans. Subject to Sections 2.05 and 2.14, each Borrowing
shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may
request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any
Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such
Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not
affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, except that if the designation of any such foreign
branch or Affiliate shall result in any costs, reductions or taxes which would
not otherwise have 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -26-


been applicable, such Lender shall not be entitled to compensation for such
costs, reductions or taxes unless it shall in good faith have determined such
designation to be necessary or advisable to avoid any material disadvantage to
it.

            (c) Minimum Amounts. At the commencement of each Interest Period for
any Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of
$5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000. At the time that each ABR
Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount equal to
$1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000; provided that an ABR Borrowing
may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the
total Commitments. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the
same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of 12
Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

            SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, the
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a)
in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City
time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in
the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, one
Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic
Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand
delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request
in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each
such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following
information in compliance with Section 2.02:

            (i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

            (ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

            (iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a
      Eurodollar Borrowing;

            (iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest
      Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by
      the definition of the term "Interest Period"; and

            (v) the location and number of the Borrower's account to which funds
      are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section
      2.07.

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested
Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with
respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed
to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. Promptly following
receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the
amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

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<PAGE>
 
                                      -27-


            SECTION 2.04. Intentionally Omitted.

            SECTION 2.05. Intentionally Omitted.

            SECTION 2.06. Intentionally Omitted.

            SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings.

            (a) Funding by Lenders. Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made
by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately
available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the account of the
Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice
to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the
Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an
account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York
City and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request.

            (b) Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative
Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any
Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent
such Lender's share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that
such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with
paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make
available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has
not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the
Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally
agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding
amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such
amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to
the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds
Effective Rate or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable
to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then
such amount shall constitute such Lender's Loan included in such Borrowing.

            SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections.

            (a) Elections by Borrower. Each Borrowing initially shall be of the
Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a
Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such
Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing
to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a
Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in
this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different
portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be
allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing,
and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate
Borrowing.

            (b) Notice of Elections. To make an election pursuant to this
Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by
telephone by the time that a 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -28-


Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were
requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on
the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election
Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or
telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a
form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.

            (c) Information in Election Notices. Each telephonic and written
Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance
with Section 2.02:

            (i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies
      and, if different options are being elected with respect to different
      portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting
      Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to
      clauses (iii) and (iv) of this paragraph shall be specified for each
      resulting Borrowing);

            (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such
      Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

            (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a
      Eurodollar Borrowing; and

            (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the
      Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such
      election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the
      term "Interest Period".

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does
not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have
selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.

            (d) Notice by Administrative Agent to Lenders. Promptly following
receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise
each relevant Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender's portion of each
resulting Borrowing.

            (e) Presumptions if no Notice. If the Borrower fails to deliver a
timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to
the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing
is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing
shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision
hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the
Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the
Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding
Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii)
unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing
at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

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<PAGE>
 
                                      -29-


            SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of the Commitments.

            (a) Scheduled Termination. Unless previously terminated, the
Commitments shall terminate at the close of business on the Commitment
Termination Date.

            (b) Voluntary Termination or Reduction. The Borrower may at any time
terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each
reduction of the Commitments pursuant to this Section shall be in an amount that
is $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not
terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent
prepayment of Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the total Loans would
exceed the total Commitments.

            (c) Notice of Termination or Reduction. The Borrower shall notify
the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments
under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the
effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and
the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the
Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each
notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable;
provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the
Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of
other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the
Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified
effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.

            (d) Effect of Termination or Reduction. Any termination or reduction
of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall
be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective
Commitments.

            SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

            (a) Repayment. The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay
to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid
principal amount of each Loan of such Lender outstanding on the close of
business on the Commitment Termination Date, or, if the Borrower elects to
convert the Loans into term loans as provided in Section 2.01, on the Maturity
Date.

            (b) Manner of Repayment. Prior to any repayment of any Borrowings
hereunder, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be paid and
shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of
such selection not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business
Days before the scheduled date of such payment; provided that each payment of
Borrowings shall be applied to pay any outstanding ABR Borrowings before any
other Borrowings. If the Borrower fails to make a timely selection of the
Borrowing or Borrowings to be repaid or prepaid, such payment shall be applied,
first, to pay any outstanding ABR Borrowings and, second, to other Borrowings in
the order of the remaining duration of their respective Interest Periods (the
Borrowing with the shortest remaining Interest Period to be paid first). Each
payment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in such
Borrowing.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -30-


            (c) Maintenance of Loan Accounts by Lenders. Each Lender shall
maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing
the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by
such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to
such Lender from time to time hereunder.

            (d) Maintenance of Loan Accounts by Administrative Agent. The
Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the
amount of each Loan made hereunder and Type thereof and the Interest Period
applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable
or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and
(iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for
the account of the Lenders and each Lender's share thereof.

            (e) Effect of Loan Accounts. The entries made in the accounts
maintained pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) of this Section 2.10 shall be prima
facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein;
provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain
such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation
of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.

            (f) Promissory Notes. Any Lender may request that Loans made by it
be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare,
execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of
such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered
assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the
Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times
(including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or
more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named
therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its
registered assigns).

            SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans.

            (a) Optional Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right at any
time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject
to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section 2.11; provided
that any prepayments made pursuant to this paragraph (a) in respect of (x) ABR
Loans shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of
$1,000,000 and (y) Eurodollar Loans shall be in an aggregate amount of
$10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000.

            (b) Mandatory Prepayments -- Casualty Events and Sales of Assets.
The Borrower shall make prepayments of the Loans (and reduce the Commitments)
hereunder as follows:

            (i) Casualty Events. Upon the date twelve months following the
      receipt by the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries of the
      proceeds of insurance, condemnation award or other compensation in respect
      of any Casualty Event affecting 

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                                      -31-


      any property of the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (or
      upon such earlier date as the Borrower or such Consolidated Subsidiary, as
      the case may be, shall have determined not to repair or replace the
      property affected by such Casualty Event), the Borrower shall prepay the
      Loans, and the Commitments shall be subject to automatic reduction, in an
      aggregate amount, if any, equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds of such
      Casualty Event not theretofore applied to the repair or replacement of
      such property, such prepayment and reduction to be effected in each case
      in the manner and to the extent specified in clause (iii) of this Section
      2.11(b).

            (ii) Sale of Assets. Without limiting the obligation of the Borrower
      to obtain the consent of the Required Lenders to any Disposition not
      otherwise permitted hereunder, the Borrower agrees, on or prior to the
      occurrence of any Disposition, to deliver to the Administrative Agent a
      statement certified by a Financial Officer, in form and detail reasonably
      satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of the estimated amount of the
      Net Cash Proceeds of such Disposition that will (on the date of such
      Disposition) be received by the Borrower or any of its Consolidated
      Subsidiaries in cash and, unless the Borrower shall elect to reinvest such
      Net Cash Proceeds as provided below, the Borrower will prepay the Loans
      hereunder, and the Commitments hereunder shall be subject to automatic
      reduction, as follows:

                  (x) upon the date of such Disposition, in an aggregate amount
            equal to 100% of such estimated amount of the Net Cash Proceeds of
            such Disposition, to the extent received by the Borrower or any of
            its Consolidated Subsidiaries in cash on the date of such
            Disposition; and

                  (y) thereafter, quarterly, on the date of the delivery by the
            Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01 of the
            financial statements for any quarterly fiscal period or fiscal year,
            to the extent the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries
            shall receive Net Cash Proceeds during the quarterly fiscal period
            ending on the date of such financial statements in cash under
            deferred payment arrangements or Disposition Investments entered
            into or received in connection with any Disposition, an amount equal
            to (A) 100% of the aggregate amount of such Net Cash Proceeds minus
            (B) any transaction expenses associated with Dispositions and not
            previously deducted in the determination of Net Cash Proceeds plus
            (or minus, as the case may be) (C) any other adjustment received or
            paid by the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries
            pursuant to the respective agreements giving rise to Dispositions
            and not previously taken into account in the determination of the
            Net Cash Proceeds of Dispositions, provided that if prior to the
            date upon which the Borrower would otherwise be required to make a
            prepayment under this subclause (y) with respect to any quarterly
            fiscal period the aggregate amount of such Net Cash Proceeds (after
            giving effect to the adjustments provided for in this subclause (y))
            shall exceed $25,000,000, then the Borrower shall within three
            Business Days make a prepayment under this subclause (y) in an
            amount equal to such required prepayment.

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                                      -32-


      Prepayments of Loans and reductions of Commitments shall be effected in
      each case in the manner and to the extent specified in clause (iii) of
      this Section 2.11(b).

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be required to
      make a prepayment, and the Commitments shall not be reduced, pursuant to
      this Section 2.11(b)(ii) with respect to the Net Cash Proceeds from any
      Disposition in the event that the Borrower advises the Administrative
      Agent at the time a prepayment is required to be made under the foregoing
      subclauses (x) or (y) that it intends to reinvest such Net Cash Proceeds
      into replacement assets pursuant to one or more Capital Expenditures or
      Subsequent Acquisitions permitted hereunder, so long as the Net Cash
      Proceeds from any Disposition are in fact so reinvested within 350 days of
      such Disposition (it being understood that, in the event more than one
      Disposition shall occur, such Net Cash Proceeds shall be deemed to be
      applied in the same order in which such Dispositions occurred and,
      accordingly, any such Net Cash Proceeds not so reinvested within 350 days
      shall be forthwith applied to the prepayment of Loans and reductions of
      Commitments as provided in clause (iii) of this Section 2.11(b).

            Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower shall
      not be required to make any prepayment pursuant to this Section
      2.11(b)(ii) (and the provisions of this Section 2.11(b)(ii) shall
      accordingly be inapplicable) to the extent that after giving effect to any
      Disposition the Leverage Ratio is less than 4.00 to 1.

            (iii) Application. Upon the occurrence of any of the events
      described in the above clauses of this Section 2.11(b), the amount of the
      required prepayment shall be applied simultaneously to the reduction of
      the Five Year Revolving Commitments and the Five Year Incremental Facility
      Commitments of each Series, and to the reduction of the Commitments
      hereunder (or, after any conversion of the Loans into term loans as
      provided herein, to the prepayment of the Loans), in each case ratably in
      accordance with their respective Applicable Prepayment Percentages. In
      addition, to the extent that, after giving effect to any such reductions:

                  (x) the aggregate Five Year Revolving Exposure shall exceed
            the Five Year Revolving Commitments, the Borrower shall simultaneous
            prepay Five Year Revolving Loans, and/or provide cover for Five Year
            LC Exposure as specified in Section 2.06(k) of the Five Year Credit
            Agreement, in an aggregate amount equal to such excess;

                  (y) the Five Year Incremental Facility Loans of any Series
            shall exceed the Five Year Incremental Facility Commitments of such
            Series, the Borrower shall simultaneous prepay Five Year Incremental
            Facility Loans of such Series in an aggregate amount equal to such
            excess; and

                  (z) the Loans hereunder shall exceed the Commitments, the
            Borrower shall simultaneously prepay Loans in an aggregate amount
            equal to such excess.

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<PAGE>
 
                                      -33-


      Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the aggregate amount of
      any of the required prepayments contemplated by this paragraph (b) shall
      be in excess of the amount of the ABR Loans outstanding on the date of
      such prepayment, only the portion of the amount of such prepayment as is
      equal to the amount of such ABR Loans shall be immediately prepaid and at
      the election of the Borrower, the balance of such required prepayment
      shall be either (i) deposited with the Administrative Agent to be held as
      collateral security for the Loans and applied to the prepayment of the
      Eurodollar Loans on the last day(s) of the then next-expiring Interest
      Period(s) for Eurodollar Loans in the order in which such Interest
      Period(s) shall expire (or immediately if any Event of Default shall occur
      and be continuing), or (ii) made immediately, together with any amounts
      owing to the Lenders under Section 2.16.

            (c) Mandatory Prepayments -- Outstandings Exceeding Commitments. The
Borrower shall prepay the Loans in the event that the aggregate principal amount
of the Loans shall at any time exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments.

            (d) Mandatory Prepayments -- Change of Control. In the event that
any "Change of Control" shall occur in respect of any Existing Senior Debt, or
any similar event shall occur in respect of any Additional Permitted
Indebtedness, in either case at a time when the aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the respective Indebtedness affected thereby is in excess of
$25,000,000, and as a result thereof the Borrower shall be required to offer to
repurchase, redeem or prepay any portion of the Existing Senior Debt or such
Additional Permitted Indebtedness, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans, and the
Commitments shall be automatically reduced to zero.

            (e) Notices. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by
telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of
prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City
time, two Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of
prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time,
one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be
irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date, the principal amount of each
Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid and in the case of a mandatory
prepayment, a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment;
provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a
conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section
2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of
termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following
receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of
the contents thereof. Each partial optional prepayment of any Borrowing shall be
in an amount that would be permitted in the case of a Borrowing as provided in
Section 2.02, except as necessary to apply fully the required amount of a
mandatory prepayment. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to
the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by
accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -34-


            SECTION 2.12. Fees.

            (a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative
Agent for account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the
Applicable Margin on the daily average unutilized amount of such Lender's
Commitment for the period from and including the date hereof to but not
including the earlier of the date such Commitment is terminated and the Maturity
Date. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable on each Quarterly Date and on the
earlier of the date the Commitments are terminated and the Maturity Date, as the
case may be. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360
days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the
first day but excluding the last day).

            (b) Intentionally Omitted.

            (c) Administrative Agent Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at
the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent (it being understood that if the Administrative Agent shall resign or be
removed, a ratable portion of any fees theretofore paid to the Administrative
Agent for the period during which such resignation or removal shall occur shall
be promptly paid by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the extent the
Borrower is required to pay fees for the balance of such period to a replacement
Administrative Agent).

            (d) Payment of Fees. All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the
dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for
distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the
Lenders entitled thereto. Except as otherwise expressly provided in paragraph
(c) above, fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

            SECTION 2.13. Interest.

            (a) ABR Borrowings. The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall
bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the
Applicable Margin.

            (b) Eurodollar Borrowings. The Loans comprising each Eurodollar
Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO
Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable
Margin.

            (c) Intentionally Omitted.

            (d) Intentionally Omitted.

            (e) Default Interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any
principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the
Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon
acceleration, by mandatory prepayment or otherwise, such overdue amount (or, in
case the amount in default is principal of a Loan, all amounts outstanding
hereunder) shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per
annum equal to (i) in 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -35-


the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable
to such Loan as provided above or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus
the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

            (f) Payment of Interest. Accrued interest on each Loan shall be
payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon
termination of the Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to
paragraph (e) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of
any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Loan
prior to the Maturity Date), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or
prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii)
in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of
the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be
payable on the effective date of such conversion.

            (g) Computation. All interest hereunder shall be computed on the
basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the
Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime
Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap
year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed
(including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate
Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the
Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest
error.

            SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the
commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

            (a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall
      be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do
      not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest
      Period; or

            (b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that
      the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and
      fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or
      maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such
      Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the
Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and,
until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the
circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest
Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or
continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective
and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such
Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing; provided that a Lender and the
Borrower may agree that, in lieu of the interest rate on such affected Borrowing
being calculated by reference to the Alternate Base Rate while such
circumstances shall continue, such interest rate shall instead be at an
alternative rate of interest (and with such applicable margins and prepayment
premiums) as may from time to time be offered by such Lender to the Borrower in
its sole discretion.

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<PAGE>
 
                                      -36-


            SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs.


            (a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

            (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit
      or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account
      of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement
      reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

            (ii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other
      condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such
      Lender;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such
Lenders of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its
obligation to make any such Loan) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or
receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or
otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or
amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or
reduction suffered.

            (b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change
in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing
the rate of return on such Lender's capital or on the capital of such Lender's
holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by
such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender's holding
company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into
consideration such Lender's policies and the policies of such Lender's holding
company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower
will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate
such Lender or such Lender's holding company for any such reduction suffered.

            (c) Certificates from Lenders. A certificate of a Lender setting
forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding
company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this
Section, and setting forth in reasonable detail the manner in which such amount
or amounts have been determined, shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be
conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount
shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

            (d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to
demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of
such Lender's right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower
shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any
increased costs or reductions incurred more than six months prior to the date
that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such
increased costs or reductions and of such Lender's intention to claim
compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise
to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period
referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect
thereof.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -37-


            SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the
payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an
Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of
Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day
of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert,
continue or prepay any Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered
pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice is permitted to be revocable
under Section 2.11(e) and is revoked in accordance herewith), or (d) the
assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest
Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender
for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a
Eurodollar Loan, the loss to any Lender attributable to any such event shall be
deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be equal to the excess,
if any, of (i) the amount of interest that such Lender would pay for a deposit
equal to the principal amount of such Loan for the period from the date of such
payment, conversion, failure or assignment to the last day of the then current
Interest Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert
or continue, the duration of the Interest Period that would have resulted from
such borrowing, conversion or continuation) if the interest rate payable on such
deposit were equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period, over (ii)
the amount of interest that such Lender would earn on such principal amount for
such period if such Lender were to invest such principal amount for such period
at the interest rate that would be bid by such Lender (or an affiliate of such
Lender) for dollar deposits from other banks in the eurodollar market at the
commencement of such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any
amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this
Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent
manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on
any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

            SECTION 2.17. Taxes.

            (a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or an account of
any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall
be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or
Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable
shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions
(including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section)
the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal
to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the
Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full
amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with
applicable law.

            (b) Payment of Other Taxes by Borrower. In addition, the Borrower
shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance
with applicable law.

            (c) Indemnification by Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after written demand
therefor, for the full 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -38-


amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or
Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this
Section) paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be,
and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with
respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were
correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.
A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the
Borrower by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on
behalf of a Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

            (d) Receipt for Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment
of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority,
the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a
certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing
such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of
such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

            (e) Foreign Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an
exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction
in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a
party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the
Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times
prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower, such
properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as
will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.

            SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of
Set-offs.

            (a) Payments by the Borrower. The Borrower shall make each payment
required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees,
under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) or under any other Loan Document
(except to the extent otherwise provided therein) prior to 12:00 noon, New York
City time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off
or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the
discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the
next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All
such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 270
Park Avenue, New York, New York, except as otherwise expressly provided in the
relevant Loan Document, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16,
2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The
Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the
account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following
receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a
Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon
shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder or
under any other Loan Document (except to the extent otherwise provided therein)
shall be made in dollars.

            (b) Application if Payments Insufficient. If at any time
insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to
pay fully all amounts of principal 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -39-


interest and fees then due hereunder, then such funds as shall actually have
been received shall be applied (i) first, to pay interest and fees then due
hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the
amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, to pay
principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in
accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

            (c) Pro Rata Treatment. Except to the extent otherwise provided
herein: (i) each borrowing of Loans from the Lenders under Section 2.01 shall be
made from the Lenders, each payment of commitment fee under Section 2.12 in
respect of Commitments shall be made for account of the Lenders, and each
termination or reduction of the amount of the Commitments under Section 2.09
shall be applied to the respective Commitments of the Lenders, pro rata
according to the amounts of their respective Commitments; (ii) Eurodollar Loans
having the same Interest Period shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders
according to the amounts of their Commitments (in the case of the making of
Loans) or their respective Loans (in the case of conversions and continuations
of Loans); (iii) each payment or prepayment by the Borrower of principal of
Loans shall be made for account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the
respective unpaid principal amounts of the Loans held by them; and (iv) each
payment by the Borrower of interest on Loans shall be made for account of the
Lenders pro rata in accordance with the amounts of interest on such Loans then
due and payable to the respective Lenders.

            (d) Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by
exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in
respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such
Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its
Loans and accrued interest thereon then due than the proportion received by any
other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase
(for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the
extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the
Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and
accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided that (i) if any such
participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise
thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase
price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the
provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made
by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this
Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the
assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or
participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof
(as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower
consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so
under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the
foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and
counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were
a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

            (e) Presumptions of Payment. Unless the Administrative Agent shall
have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is
due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that
the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume
that the Borrower has made such payment 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -40-


on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption,
distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not
in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to
the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such
Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such
amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the
Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

            (f) Certain Deductions by Administrative Agent. If any Lender shall
fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.07(b)
or 2.18(e), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion
(notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter
received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy
such Lender's obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied
obligations are fully paid.

            SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

            (a) Designation of Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests
compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any
additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of
any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall, at Borrower's
request, use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for
funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations
hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the good
faith judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would
eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17 as the case
may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed
cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The
Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any
Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

            (b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation
under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount
to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender
pursuant to Section 2.17, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund
Loans hereunder, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon
notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to
assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the
restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such
obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such
assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior
written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not
unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an
amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest
thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the
assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and
fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case
of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section
2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment
will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not
be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a
result of a waiver 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -41-


by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require
such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

                                   ARTICLE III

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

            The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

            SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all
requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and,
except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to
do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such
qualification is required.

            SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are
within the Borrower's corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and each of
the other Loan Documents to which it is a party when executed and delivered by
the Borrower and the other parties thereto will constitute, a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general
applicability affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and (b) the
application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

            SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions
(a) do not require any material consent or approval of, registration or filing
with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have
been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any
applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational
documents of the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or any order
of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under
any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries or assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to
require any payment to be made by any such Person and (d) will not result in the
creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries.

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<PAGE>
 
                                      -42-


            SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change;
Solvency.

            (a) Financial Statements. The Borrower has heretofore delivered, or
made available, to the Lenders the following financial statements:

            (i) the audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of
      operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its
      Subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997 (as
      set forth in the Proxy Statement, or incorporated by reference therein
      from the Borrower's SEC Form 10-K, for such fiscal year) and December 31,
      1998, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public
      accountants;

            (ii) the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet and related
      statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the
      Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of and for the three-month period ended
      September 30, 1998 (as set forth in the Proxy Statement, or incorporated
      by reference therein from the Borrower's SEC Form 10-K, for the applicable
      period);

            (iii) the unaudited (or, to the extent available, audited)
      consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations,
      stockholders' equity and cash flows of the broadcasting assets acquired in
      the Kelly Acquisition and the Pulitzer Acquisition, as of and for the
      fiscal years ended December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1997, respectively;

            (iv) the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet and related
      statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the
      broadcasting assets being acquired in the Kelly Acquisition and the
      Pulitzer Acquisition, as of and for the three-month period ended September
      30, 1998; and

            (v) the unaudited pro forma combined condensed balance sheet as at
      September 30, 1998 prepared under the assumption that the Pulitzer
      Acquisition and the Kelly Acquisition (including the Transactions
      contemplated under this Agreement) had occurred on September 30, 1998 (as
      set forth in the Proxy Statement).

Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the actual
or pro forma (as the case may be) financial position and the actual or pro forma
(as the case may be) results of operations and cash flows of the respective
entities as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject
to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the
statements referred to in clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above.

            (b) No Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 1998, there has
been no material adverse change in the business, condition (financial or
otherwise), operations, properties or prospects (excluding adverse changes to
prospects as a result of changes affecting the television broadcasting industry
generally) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and during
the period since December 31, 1998 and prior to the Effective Date, there has
been no material adverse change in the business, condition (financial or
otherwise), operations, 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -43-


properties or prospects (excluding adverse changes to prospects as a result of
changes affecting the television broadcasting industry generally) of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the pro
forma combined condensed balance sheet as at said date referred to above.

            (c) Solvency. After giving effect to the Transactions, none of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is insolvent nor will any of them be left
with unreasonably small capital with which to engage in its business or incurred
debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature.

            SECTION 3.05. Properties.

            (a) Real and Personal Property. Each of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in,
all its real and personal property material to its business, subject only to
Liens permitted by Section 6.02 and except for minor defects in title or
interests that do not interfere with their ability to conduct their business as
currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.

            (b) Trademarks and Licenses, Etc. Each of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries owns or is licensed to use all trademarks, tradenames,
copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business,
and the use thereof by the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries does not
infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements
that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.

            SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters.

            (a) Litigation. There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or
before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority now pending against or, to the
knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable
likelihood of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could
reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a
Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve
this Agreement or the Transactions.

            (b) Environmental Matters. Except for the Disclosed Matters and
except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate,
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither
the Borrower nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply
with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit,
license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become
subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim
with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any
Environmental Liability.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -44-


            (c) No Change in Disclosed Matters. Since the date of this
Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that,
individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or could reasonably be
expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

            SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws,
regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its
property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or
its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

            SECTION 3.08. Investment and Holding Company Status. Neither the
Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is (a) an "investment company" as defined
in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940 or (b) a
"holding company" as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

            SECTION 3.09. Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are members
of an affiliated group of corporations filing consolidated returns for Federal
income tax purposes, of which the Borrower is the "common parent" (within the
meaning of Section 1504 of the Code). Except with respect to tax sharing
arrangements among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the Tax Sharing
Agreement between Hearst and the Borrower dated August 29, 1997, there is no tax
sharing allocation or similar agreement to which the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries is subject that is currently in effect providing for the manner in
which tax payments owing by members of such affiliated group are allocated among
members of the group. The Borrower has filed (either directly or indirectly
through Hearst Broadcasting Inc. or Hearst, for periods prior to the Pulitzer
Acquisition) all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has
paid (either directly or indirectly through Hearst Broadcasting Inc. or Hearst,
for periods prior to the Pulitzer Acquisition) all Taxes required to have been
paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and for which such Person has set aside on its books
adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

            SECTION 3.10. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably
expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for
which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated
benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes
of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date
of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair
market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all
accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the
assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting
such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded
Plans, in either case by an amount that could reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -45-


            SECTION 3.11. Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders
(i) all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it
or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is subject, and (ii) all other matters
known to it, that, in the case of either of the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii),
individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates
or other written information (including the Information Memorandum) furnished by
or on behalf of the Borrower to the Lender in connection with the negotiation of
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or delivered hereunder or thereunder
(as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any
material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, when taken as a whole, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with
respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that
such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to
be reasonable at the time in light of circumstances in effect on the date
prepared, it being understood that such projections do not constitute a
representation or warranty as to the future performance of the Borrower and that
actual results may vary from such projections.

            SECTION 3.12. Use of Credit. Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in
the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental
or ultimate, of buying or carrying Margin Stock, and no part of the proceeds of
any extension of credit hereunder will be used to buy or carry any Margin Stock.

            SECTION 3.13. Material Agreements and Liens With Respect to
Indebtedness.

            (a) Material Agreements. Part A of Schedule II is a complete and
correct list of each credit agreement, loan agreement, indenture, purchase
agreement, guarantee, letter of credit or other arrangement providing for or
otherwise relating to any Indebtedness or any extension of credit (or commitment
for any extension of credit) to, or guarantee by, the Borrower or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof the aggregate principal
or face amount of which equals or exceeds (or may equal or exceed) $10,000,000,
and the aggregate principal or face amount outstanding or that may become
outstanding under each such arrangement is correctly described in Part A of
Schedule II.

            (b) Liens. Part B of Schedule II is a complete and correct list of
each Lien securing Indebtedness of any Person outstanding on the date hereof the
aggregate principal or face amount of which equals or exceeds (or may equal or
exceed) $10,000,000 and covering any property of the Borrower or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, and the aggregate Indebtedness secured (or that may
be secured) by each such Lien and the property covered by each such Lien is
correctly described in Part B of Schedule II.

            SECTION 3.14. Capitalization. On the date hereof, the authorized
capital stock of the Borrower consists of an aggregate of 301,000,000 shares
consisting of (i) 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share,
of which 200,000,000 are designated as Series A Common Stock and 100,000,000 are
designated as Series B Common Stock and 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -46-


(ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which 12,500 shares are designated
as Series A Preferred Stock and 12,500 shares are designated as Series B
Preferred Stock. Except as disclosed in Schedule VI, as of the date hereof,
there are no outstanding obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
to repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the
Borrower nor are there any outstanding obligations of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries to make payments to any Person, such as "phantom stock" payments,
where the amount thereof is calculated with reference to the fair market value
or equity value of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

            SECTION 3.15. Subsidiaries and Investments.

            (a) Subsidiaries. As at the date hereof, and as at the most recent
date such Schedule shall be supplemented pursuant to Section 6.03(c)(iv) (in the
case of any Subsidiary formed or acquired pursuant to any Subsequent
Acquisition), set forth in Part A of Schedule IV is a complete and correct list
of all of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower (excluding any Subsidiary that shall
have been sold, or the existence of which shall have been terminated, in
accordance with a transaction permitted hereunder), together with, for each such
Subsidiary, (i) the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary, (ii) each
Person (other than the holders of shares of stock of the Borrower) holding
ownership interests in such Subsidiary and (iii) the nature of the ownership
interests held by each such Person and the percentage of ownership of such
Subsidiary represented by such ownership interests. As at the date hereof,
except as disclosed in Part A of Schedule IV, (x) each of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries owns, free and clear of Liens, and has the unencumbered right to
vote, all outstanding ownership interests in each Person shown to be held by it
in Part A of Schedule IV, (y) all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
each such Person organized as a corporation is validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and (z) there are no outstanding Equity Rights with respect to
such Person.

            (b) Investments. Set forth in Part B of Schedule IV is a complete
and correct list of all Investments (other than Investments disclosed in Part A
of Schedule IV) held by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any Person on
the date hereof and, for each such Investment, (x) the identity of the Person or
Persons holding such Investment and (y) the nature of such Investment. Except as
disclosed in Part B of Schedule IV, each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
owns, free and clear of all Liens, all such Investments.

            (c) No Indenture Restrictions, Etc. None of the Consolidated
Subsidiaries of the Borrower is on the date hereof subject to any indenture,
agreement, instrument or other arrangement of the type described in Section
6.08.

            SECTION 3.16. Station Licenses. As at the date hereof, and as at the
most recent date such Schedule shall be supplemented pursuant to Section
6.03(c)(iv) (in the case of any Station acquired pursuant to any Subsequent
Acquisition):

            (a) Schedule V accurately and completely lists all Station Licenses
      (other than non-material incidental microwave relay and remote transmitter
      licenses) granted or assigned to the Borrower or any Consolidated
      Subsidiary, or under which the Borrower 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -47-


      and its Consolidated Subsidiaries have the right to operate such Station.
      The Station Licenses listed on said Schedule V with respect to any Station
      include all material authorizations, licenses and permits issued by the
      FCC that are required or necessary for the operation of such Station, and
      the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Consolidated
      Subsidiaries with respect to such Station.

            (b) The Station Licenses listed in said Schedule V are validly
      issued in the name of, or the FCC has consented to the assignment of or
      transfer of control of such Station Licenses to, the Borrower or one or
      more of its Subsidiaries.

            (c) Each such Station License is in full force and effect, and the
      Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed in
      all material respects all of their obligations with respect thereto and
      have full power and authority to operate thereunder.

            (d) All operating assets, rights and other property relating to, and
      material to the operations of, any Station, are owned (or are available
      for use under lease, license or other arrangements entered into with third
      parties) by the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries.

            SECTION 3.17. Proxy Statement. The Borrower has heretofore delivered
to the Administrative Agent a complete copy (including all modifications,
waivers and supplements thereto, and exhibits and schedules) of the Proxy
Statement (including, as an exhibit thereto, the Amended and Restated Agreement
and Plan of Merger referred to in the definition of "Pulitzer Acquisition").

            SECTION 3.18. Year 2000 Issues. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries
have (a) initiated a review and assessment of all areas within their respective
businesses operations (including those affected by information received from
suppliers and vendors) that could reasonably be expected to be adversely
affected by the Year 2000 Problem, (b) developed a plan and timetable for
addressing the Year 2000 Problem on a timely basis, and (c) to date, implemented
that plan substantially in accordance with that timetable. The Borrower
reasonably believes that all computer applications (including those affected by
information received from its suppliers and vendors) will on a timely basis be
Year 2000 Compliant, except to the extent that a failure to be so could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower does not
believe that the costs of ensuring that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will
be Year 2000 Compliant will be material. As used in this Agreement, the term
"Year 2000 Compliant" means all computer applications (including those affected
by information received from suppliers and vendors) that are material to the
businesses and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will on a timely
basis be able to perform properly date-sensitive functions involving all dates
on and after January 1, 2000; and the term "Year 2000 Problem" means the risk
that computer applications used by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
(including those affected by information received from suppliers and vendors)
may be unable to recognize and perform properly date-sensitive functions
involving certain dates on and after January 1, 2000.

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                                      -48-


                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   CONDITIONS

            SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make
Loans hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which the
Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following documents, each
of which shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and to the extent
specified below, to each Lender) in form and substance (or such condition shall
have been waived in accordance with Section 9.02):

            (a) Executed Counterparts. From each party hereto either (i) a
      counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii)
      written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may
      include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this
      Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

            (b) Opinions of Counsel to the Borrower. A written opinion
      (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the
      Effective Date) of Rogers & Wells LLP, counsel for the Borrower,
      substantially in the form of Exhibit B. The Borrower hereby requests such
      counsel deliver such opinions to the Lenders.

            (c) Opinion of Special New York Counsel to Chase. An opinion, dated
      the Effective Date, of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, special New
      York counsel to Chase, substantially in the form of Exhibit C (and Chase
      hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinion to the Lenders).

            (d) Corporate Documents. Such documents and certificates as the
      Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the
      organization, existence and good standing of the Borrower, the
      authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to
      the Borrower, this Agreement or the Transactions, all in form and
      substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its
      counsel.

            (e) Officer's Certificate. A certificate, dated the Effective Date
      and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer,
      confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in the lettered
      clauses of the first sentence of Section 4.02.

            (f) Repayment of Existing Indebtedness. Evidence that the principal
      of and interest on, and all other amounts owing in respect of, the
      Indebtedness in respect of the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been
      (or shall be simultaneously) paid in full, that any commitments to extend
      credit under the agreements or instruments relating to such Indebtedness
      shall have been canceled or terminated and that all Guarantees in respect
      of, and all Liens securing, any such Indebtedness shall have been released
      (or arrangements for such release satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
      shall have been made).

            (g) Leverage Ratio. A certificate of a Financial Officer setting
      forth a calculation of the Leverage Ratio as at the Effective Date.

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<PAGE>
 
                                      -49-


            (h) Other Documents. Such other documents as the Administrative
      Agent or any Lender or special New York counsel to Chase may reasonably
      request (including any promissory note that any Lender shall have
      requested prior to the Closing Date pursuant to Section 2.10(f)).

            The obligation of any Lender to make its initial extension of credit
hereunder is also subject to the payment by the Borrower of such fees as the
Borrower shall have agreed to pay to any Lender, the Administrative Agent and
its affiliates in connection herewith, including the reasonable fees and
expenses of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, special New York counsel to
Chase, in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the extensions of credit
hereunder (to the extent that statements for such fees and expenses have been
delivered to the Borrower).

            The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders
of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans
hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is
satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) on or prior to 3:00 p.m., New
York City time, on April 30, 1999 (and, in the event such conditions are not so
satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).

            SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to
make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to the satisfaction of
the following conditions:

            (a) the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in
      this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such
      Borrowing unless such representation or warranty is expressly stated to
      have been made as of a specific date (such as the date hereof or the
      Effective Date), in which case such representation and warranty shall be
      true and correct on and as of such specific date; and

            (b) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such
      Borrowing no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Each Borrowing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by
the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in the preceding
sentence.

                                    ARTICLE V

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

            Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the
principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have
been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

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                                      -50-


            SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information. The
Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

            (a) as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the
      end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, consolidated statements of
      operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its
      Subsidiaries and of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (and,
      separately stated, of each Designated Subsidiary) for such fiscal year and
      the related consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its
      Subsidiaries and of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (and,
      separately stated, of each Designated Subsidiary) as at the end of such
      fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative (or, for periods
      prior to any Acquisition, comparative historical) form the corresponding
      consolidated (or, in the case of a Designated Subsidiary, separately
      stated) figures for the preceding fiscal year, and accompanied

                  (i) in the case of said consolidated statements and balance
            sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, by an opinion thereon of
            independent certified public accountants of recognized national
            standing, which opinion shall state that said consolidated financial
            statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition and
            results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the
            end of, and for, such fiscal year in accordance with GAAP,
            consistently applied (except as noted pursuant to paragraph (c)
            below),

                  (ii) in the case of said consolidated statements and balance
            sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, by a report
            of independent certified public accountants of recognized national
            standing stating that the consolidated balance sheet and such other
            financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (x) have
            been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of
            the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its
            Subsidiaries, (y) have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, and
            (z) are fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to such
            audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its
            Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and

                  (iii) in the case of said consolidated statements and balance
            sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (and
            separate statements and balance sheets for a Designated Subsidiary),
            by a certificate of a Financial Officer, which certificate shall
            state that said consolidated financial statements fairly present the
            consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the
            Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (and, in the case of each
            Designated Subsidiary, said separately stated financial statements
            fairly present the respective results of operations of such
            Designated Subsidiary), in each case in accordance with (except, in
            the case of the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower
            and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the exclusion therefrom of the
            Designated Subsidiaries) GAAP, consistently applied (except as noted
            pursuant to paragraph (c) below), as at the end of, and for, such
            fiscal year;

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -51-


            (b) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the
      end of each of the first three quarterly fiscal periods of each fiscal
      year of the Borrower, consolidated statements of operations, stockholders'
      equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and of the
      Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (and, separately stated, of
      each Designated Subsidiary) for such period and for the period from the
      beginning of the respective fiscal year to the end of such period, and the
      related consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
      and of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (and, separately
      stated, of each Designated Subsidiary) as at the end of such period,
      setting forth in each case in comparative (or for periods prior to any
      Acquisition, comparative historical) form the corresponding consolidated
      (or, in the case of a Designated Subsidiary, separately stated) figures
      for the corresponding periods in the preceding fiscal year (except that,
      in the case of balance sheets, such comparison shall be to the last day of
      the prior fiscal year), accompanied by a certificate of a Financial
      Officer, which certificate shall state that said consolidated financial
      statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition and results
      of operations of, as the case may be, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
      and the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (or of such Designated
      Subsidiary, as the case may be), in each case in accordance with (except,
      in the case of the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and
      its Consolidated Subsidiaries, for the exclusion therefrom of the
      Designated Subsidiaries) GAAP, consistently applied (except as noted
      pursuant to paragraph (c) below), as at the end of, and for, such period
      (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments);

            (c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under
      clause (a) or (b) of this Section, a certificate of a Financial Officer
      (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has
      occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed
      to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed
      calculations demonstrating compliance with Sections 6.01, 6.06 and 6.10
      and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof
      has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred
      to in Section 3.04 that affects (or in the future is reasonably likely to
      affect) in any material respect the presentation of financial information
      with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries required hereunder and,
      if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on
      the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

            (d) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under
      clause (a) of this Section, a statement of the accounting firm that
      reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained
      knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial
      statements of any default by the Borrower under Section 6.10 (insofar as
      such Section relates to accounting matters) (which statement may be
      limited by accounting rules or guidelines);

            (e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all
      periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by
      the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission, or any Governmental 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -52-


      Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or
      with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to
      its stockholders generally or to holders of any class of Indebtedness
      generally, as the case may be;

            (f) promptly upon their becoming available, copies of any and all
      periodic or special reports filed by the Borrower or any of its
      Consolidated Subsidiaries with the FCC or with any other Federal, state or
      local governmental authority, if such reports indicate any material
      adverse change in the business, operations, affairs or condition of the
      Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or if copies
      thereof are requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, and
      copies of any and all notices and other communications from the FCC or
      from any other Federal, state or local governmental authority with respect
      to the Borrower, any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or any Station that
      raises any matters that could, individually or in the aggregate,
      reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

            (g) promptly following any request therefor, such other information
      regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the
      Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, or compliance with the
      terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as the
      Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

            SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish
to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the
following:

            (a) the occurrence of any Default;

            (b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by
      or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting
      the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that, if adversely determined, could
      reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

            (c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with
      any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to
      result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

            (d) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be
      expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of
a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the
details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken
or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

            SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and
will cause each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal
existence and the rights, licenses, 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -53-


permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business;
provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation,
liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.

            SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations. The Borrower will, and will
cause each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including
Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect
before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the
validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Consolidated Subsidiary has set aside on
its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c)
the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

            SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. The Borrower
will, and will cause each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and
maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working
order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts
and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the
same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, provided
that the Borrower will in any event maintain (with respect to itself and each of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries) casualty insurance and insurance against claims
for damages with respect to defamation, libel, slander, privacy or other similar
injury to person or reputation (including misappropriation of personal
likeness), in such amounts as are then customary for Persons engaged in the same
or similar business similarly situated.

            SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights. The Borrower
will, and will cause each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, keep proper books
of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all
dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The
Borrower will, and will cause each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, permit
any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon
reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and
make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances
and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such
reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.

            SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will
cause each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules,
regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority, including, but not limited
to, Environmental Laws applicable to it or its property, except where the
failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

            SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be
used for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. No
part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly,
for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board,
including Regulations U and X.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -54-


            SECTION 5.09. Certain Obligations Respecting Subsidiaries.

            (a) Wholly Owned Subsidiaries. Subject to paragraph (b) below and
the provisions of Section 6.03(b), the Borrower will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, take such action from time to time as shall be necessary to
ensure that each of the Stations and Station Licenses owned by it on the date
hereof are owned by Wholly Owned Subsidiaries which are Consolidated
Subsidiaries.

            (b) Designated Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the provisions of
paragraph (a) above, the Borrower may at any time after the date hereof
designate any Subsidiary (other than a Subsidiary holding any Station Licenses
or the operating assets of any Stations) as a "Designated Subsidiary" for
purposes of this Agreement, by delivering to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of a senior officer of the Borrower (and the Administrative Agent
shall promptly deliver a copy thereof to each Lender following receipt)
identifying such Subsidiary, stating that such Subsidiary shall be treated as a
"Designated Subsidiary" for all purposes hereof and certifying that, after
giving effect to such designation, the Borrower will be in compliance with the
provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Designated Subsidiary (including
the provisions of Section 6.05(f) with respect to the type of business in which
a Designated Subsidiary shall be involved and the limitations upon the aggregate
amount of Investments in Designated Subsidiaries therein specified), and such
designation will not result in a Default hereunder. Any Subsidiary of a
Designated Subsidiary shall be deemed to be a "Designated Subsidiary".

            (c) Incorporation by Reference. The Borrower agrees, for the benefit
of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereunder, to perform, comply with
and be bound by each of its covenants, agreements and obligations contained in
Section 10.7 and 10.8 of the Senior Notes Indentures as originally in effect and
without giving effect to any modifications or supplements thereto, or
termination thereof, after the date thereof. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the above-mentioned provisions of the Senior Notes Indentures,
together with related definitions and ancillary provisions and schedules and
exhibits, are hereby incorporated by reference, as if set forth herein in full,
mutatis mutandis; provided that, as incorporated herein (i) each reference to
the "Company" shall be deemed to be reference to the Borrower hereunder and (ii)
each reference to the "Debt Securities" of any series shall be deemed to be a
reference to the Loans hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

            Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal
of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in
full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -55-


            SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, nor will it
permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit
to exist any Indebtedness, except:

            (a) Indebtedness hereunder;

            (b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Part A
      of Schedule II (but excluding, following the making of the initial Loans
      hereunder, the Indebtedness to be repaid with the proceeds of such Loans,
      under the Existing Credit Agreement), together with any extensions,
      renewals, refinancings or replacements of any such Indebtedness so long as
      the principal thereof is not increased and such Indebtedness, as so
      extended, renewed, refinanced or replaced, would constitute Indebtedness
      that could be incurred in compliance with Section 6.01(g);

            (c) Indebtedness of any Consolidated Subsidiary to the Borrower or
      any other Consolidated Subsidiary;

            (d) Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Consolidated
      Subsidiary and by any Consolidated Subsidiary of Indebtedness of any other
      Consolidated Subsidiary;

            (e) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of
      the deferred payment of insurance premiums up to an aggregate principal
      amount not exceeding $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

            (f) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Consolidated
      Subsidiary after the Effective Date; provided that such Indebtedness
      exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in
      contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Consolidated
      Subsidiary;

            (g) additional Indebtedness of the Borrower, incurred after the
      Effective Date (or assumed in connection with any Subsequent Acquisition),
      provided that

                  (i) the stated maturity date with respect to such Indebtedness
            shall be at least six months after the Maturity Date,

                  (ii) no principal payments with respect to such Indebtedness
            shall be stated to be due prior to the Maturity Date (other than in
            respect of a Change of Control or similar event), except that if
            such Indebtedness is pari passu in right of payment with the
            obligations of the Borrower hereunder (i.e. not subordinated in
            right of payment to such obligations), such Indebtedness may provide
            for principal payments prior to the Maturity Date, so long as the
            weighted average life to maturity of such Indebtedness (determined
            in accordance with GAAP) is not earlier than the weighted average
            life to maturity of the Loans hereunder,

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -56-


                  (iii) all covenants with respect to such Indebtedness shall be
            no more restrictive then the covenants set forth in this Agreement
            and the Borrower shall be in compliance with such covenants,

                  (iv) such Indebtedness is not secured by any Lien on property
            of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary, and

                  (v) at the time of such incurrence, and after giving effect
            thereto, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the
            Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with Section 6.10 (the
            determination of such pro forma compliance to be calculated, as at
            the end of and for the period of four fiscal quarters most recently
            ended prior to the date of such incurrence for which financial
            statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries are
            available, under the assumption that such incurrence shall have
            occurred at the beginning of the applicable period) and the Borrower
            shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a
            Financial Officer showing such calculations in reasonable detail to
            demonstrate such compliance;

      provided that the Borrower may incur up to $300,000,000 of additional
      Indebtedness under this Section 6.01(g) without complying with the
      foregoing clauses (i) and (ii); and

            (h) other Indebtedness (whether or not secured) of the Borrower or
      any Consolidated Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding
      $50,000,000 at any time outstanding, and other Indebtedness (not secured)
      of the Borrower (but not of any Consolidated Subsidiary) in an aggregate
      principal amount not exceeding $150,000,000 at any time outstanding, so
      long as the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted under
      this clause (h) shall not exceed $200,000,000 at any time outstanding.

            SECTION 6.02. Liens. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist
any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or
assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights
in respect of any thereof, except:

            (a) Permitted Encumbrances;

            (b) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any of its
      Consolidated Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof, and either set
      forth in Part B of Schedule II or not required to be so listed pursuant to
      Section 3.13(b); provided that (i) no such Lien shall extend to any other
      property or asset of the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries
      and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on
      the date hereof;

            (c) any Lien existing on any property or asset of any Person that
      becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary after the Effective Date prior to the
      time such Person becomes a 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -57-


      Consolidated Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in
      contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Consolidated
      Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets
      of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary, (iii) such Lien shall
      secure only those obligations which it secures on the date such Person
      becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary and (iv) the aggregate amount of
      Indebtedness or other obligations secured thereby shall not exceed
      $50,000,000; and

            (d) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or
      improved by the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary; provided that (i)
      such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (h) of
      Section 6.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured
      thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or
      the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness
      secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or
      improving such fixed or capital assets, (iv) such security interests shall
      not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any
      Consolidated Subsidiary and (v) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness or
      other obligations secured thereby shall not exceed $50,000,000.

            SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes.

      (a) Mergers and Consolidations. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit
any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction of merger,
consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or
suffer any liquidation or dissolution); provided that, subject to Section 6.04,
and so long as after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing hereunder, (i) any Consolidated Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge
into or consolidate with the Borrower or a Consolidated Subsidiary so long as
the Borrower or (if the Borrower is not a party) a Consolidated Subsidiary is
the continuing or surviving party, (ii) any Consolidated Subsidiary of the
Borrower may liquidate or dissolve into the Borrower or a Consolidated
Subsidiary and (iii) the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries may enter
into the transactions permitted under clauses (B) or (C) of paragraph (b) below,
and under clause (iv) of paragraph (c) below.

      (b) Dispositions. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all
or any substantial part of its assets, except that, if at the time thereof and
immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, (i) any Consolidated Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or
otherwise dispose of its assets to the Borrower or another Consolidated
Subsidiary and (ii) the Borrower and any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries may
sell, transfer, lease, exchange or dispose of (in one transaction or in a series
of transactions and, in the case of clauses (B) and (C) below, in any form,
including by way of a merger or consolidation the effect of which is to result
in the disposition of the respective Station):

            (A) any part of its assets in the ordinary course of business and on
      ordinary business terms,

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<PAGE>
 
                                      -58-


            (B) any Station to the extent that the Borrower or a Subsidiary is
      required to sell such Station in order to comply with the FCC's
      cross-ownership restrictions set forth in 47 C.F.R. ss.73.3555(b),

            (C) any one or more Stations, so long as the Broadcast Cash Flow
      attributed to all Stations sold or exchanged pursuant to this clause (C)
      (but not pursuant to clause (B)) during any fiscal year shall not exceed
      25% of the Broadcast Cash Flow for such fiscal year nor 50% of the
      Broadcast Cash Flow for any period of five consecutive fiscal years
      (Broadcast Cash Flow, for purposes hereof, to be determined under the
      assumption that none of the sales otherwise permitted under this clause
      (C) had occurred during such fiscal year or five fiscal year period and
      that the Broadcast Cash Flow of any Station sold during such period
      remained unchanged after such sale), and

            (D) any non-broadcast assets acquired by the Borrower and its
      Consolidated Subsidiaries.

            (c) Acquisitions. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, acquire any business or property from, or
capital stock of, or be a party to any acquisition of, any Person except:

            (i) purchases of equipment, programming rights and other property to
      be sold or used in the ordinary course of business;

            (ii) Investments permitted under Section 6.05;

            (iii) Capital Expenditures; and

            (iv) the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries may, pursuant to
      a merger or consolidation, a purchase of stock or assets or entering into
      an LMA Arrangement (any such transaction being herein called a "Subsequent
      Acquisition"), acquire after the date hereof (or, in the case of an LMA
      Arrangement, acquire the right to operate) additional television
      broadcasting stations (any such station that is the subject of any
      Subsequent Acquisition being hereinafter referred to as an "Acquired
      Station"), additional broadcast industry related assets, and other assets
      or businesses permitted under Section 6.04, so long as:

                  (A) immediately prior to such Subsequent Acquisition and after
            giving effect thereto, (1) no Default shall have occurred and be
            continuing and (2) the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance
            with Section 6.10 (the determination of such pro forma compliance to
            be calculated, as at the end of and for the period of four fiscal
            quarters most recently ended prior to the date of such Subsequent
            Acquisition for which financial statements of the Borrower and its
            Consolidated Subsidiaries are available, under the assumption that
            such Subsequent Acquisition shall have occurred at the beginning of
            the applicable period) and the Borrower shall have delivered to the
            Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -59-


            Officer showing such calculations in reasonable detail to
            demonstrate such compliance; and

                  (B) promptly following the consummation of such Subsequent
            Acquisition, the Borrower shall have supplemented Schedules IV and V
            in order that such Schedules accurately reflect any additional
            Consolidated Subsidiaries formed or acquired pursuant to such
            Subsequent Acquisition and accurately identify the respective
            Station Licenses (other than non-material incidental microwave relay
            and remote transmitter Licenses) of any Acquired Station.

            SECTION 6.04. Lines of Business. The Borrower will not engage in any
other business or line of business activity other than the businesses in which
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have heretofore been engaged and businesses
reasonably related thereto.

            SECTION 6.05. Investments. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit
any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, make or permit to remain outstanding
any Investments except:

            (a) Investments outstanding on the date hereof and identified in
      Part B of Schedule IV;

            (b) operating deposit accounts with banks;

            (c) Permitted Investments;

            (d) Investments by the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in
      the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries;

            (e) Hedging Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the
      Borrower's financial planning and not for speculative purposes;

            (f) Investments (not including, however, Guarantees of obligations)
      by the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in Designated
      Subsidiaries or other entities that are, in either case, involved in a
      business related to the business of the Borrower and its Consolidated
      Subsidiaries, so long as the amount of such Investments shall not exceed
      $250,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

            (g) Investments constituting transactions permitted under Section
      6.03; and

            (h) so long as at the time thereof, and after giving effect thereto,
      no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower may make
      additional Investments (each a "Basket Investment") as follows:

                  (i) if after giving effect to such Basket Investment the
            Leverage Ratio shall be greater than 4.00 to 1, the Borrower may
            make any Basket Investment (the "Current Basket Investment") so long
            as the aggregate amount of all Basket 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -60-


            Investments and Restricted Payments made during the period
            commencing on the Effective Date through and including the date upon
            which the Current Basket Investment is to be made shall not exceed
            the sum of (w) $150,000,000 plus (x) the net cash proceeds from all
            Equity Issuances after the Effective Date plus (y) the aggregate
            amount of Net Cash Proceeds from Dispositions not required to be
            applied to the prepayment of Loans or the reduction of Commitments,
            or to be reinvested by the Borrower, pursuant to Section 2.11(b)(ii)
            plus (z) 33-1/3% of the cumulative amount of Excess Cash Flow for
            the period commencing on the Effective Date through and including
            the fiscal quarter most recently ended prior to the date of the
            Current Basket Investment for which financial statements are
            available; and

                  (ii) if after giving effect to such Basket Investment the
            Leverage Ratio shall be less than or equal to 4.00 to 1, the
            Borrower may make Basket Investments in any amount.

A Basket Investment permitted by Section 6.05(h) at the time of its making may
remain outstanding at a subsequent time notwithstanding that additional Basket
Investments could not be made at such subsequent time. The aggregate amount of
an Investment at any one time outstanding for purposes of clauses (f) and (h)
above, shall be deemed to be equal to (A) the aggregate amount of cash, together
with the aggregate fair market value of property, loaned, advanced, contributed,
transferred or otherwise invested that gives rise to such Investment minus (B)
the aggregate amount of dividends, distributions or other payments received in
cash in respect of such Investment; provided that the amount of an Investment
shall not in any event be reduced by reason of any write-off of such Investment.

            SECTION 6.06. Restricted Payments. The Borrower will not, nor will
it permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to
pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except that, so
long as at the time thereof, and after giving effect thereto, no Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower may make Restricted Payments as
follows:

            (a) if after giving effect to such Restricted Payment the Leverage
      Ratio shall be greater than 4.00 to 1, the Borrower may make any
      Restricted Payment (the "Current Restricted Payment") so long as the
      aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments and Basket Investments made
      during the period commencing on the Effective Date through and including
      the date upon which the Current Restricted Payment is to be made shall not
      exceed the sum of (w) $150,000,000 plus (x) the net cash proceeds from all
      Equity Issuances after the Effective Date plus (y) the aggregate amount of
      Net Cash Proceeds from Dispositions not required to be applied to the
      prepayment of Loans or the reduction of Commitments, or to be reinvested
      by the Borrower, pursuant to Section 2.11(b)(ii) plus (z) 33-1/3% of the
      cumulative amount of Excess Cash Flow for the period commencing on the
      Effective Date through and including the fiscal quarter most recently
      ended prior to the date of the Current Restricted Payment for which
      financial statements are available; and

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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                                      -61-


            (b) if after giving effect to such Restricted Payment the Leverage
      Ratio shall be less than or equal to 4.00 to 1, the Borrower may make
      Restricted Payments in any amount.

            Nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the payment of dividends
by any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the Borrower or to any other Subsidiary of
the Borrower.

            SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not,
nor will it permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or
otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise
acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other
transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except the following:

            (a) transactions at prices and on terms and conditions not less
      favorable to the Borrower or such Consolidated Subsidiary than could be
      obtained on an arm's-length basis from unrelated third parties;

            (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its Wholly Owned
      Subsidiaries (other than Designated Subsidiaries) not involving any other
      Affiliate;

            (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.06 or any
      Investment permitted by Section 6.05;

            (d) the options on certain television stations granted by Hearst in
      favor of the Borrower and described in Section 9.01(i) of the Amended and
      Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 26, 1997 by and
      among Hearst, HAT Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, HAT
      Contribution Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and the Borrower;

            (e) arrangements between Hearst and the Borrower, with respect to
      payroll, insurance, data processing, employee benefits, tax services,
      accounting, corporate, financial, legal and other administrative items
      that are on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower than
      those arrangements historically existing between Hearst and the Borrower's
      Stations and reflected in the projections set forth in the Information
      Memorandum, it being understood that such arrangements may provide for an
      increase in payments to Hearst based upon an increase in the size of the
      business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (resulting in an increase in
      payroll, insurance, data processing, employee benefits, tax services,
      accounting, corporate, financial, legal and other administrative items);
      and

            (f) those agreements listed on Schedule VII.

            SECTION 6.08. Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower will not, and
will not permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly,
enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that
prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -62-


(a) the ability of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary to create, incur
or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the
ability of any Consolidated Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions
with respect to any shares of its capital stock or to make or repay loans or
advances to the Borrower or any other Consolidated Subsidiary or to Guarantee
Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Consolidated Subsidiary; provided that
(i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law
or by this Agreement, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary
restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a
Consolidated Subsidiary pending such sale, provided that such restrictions and
conditions apply only to the Consolidated Subsidiary that is to be sold and such
sale is permitted hereunder, (iii) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply
to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured
Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions
apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (iv) clause (a)
of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other
contracts restricting the assignment thereof and (v) clauses (a) and (b) of the
foregoing shall not apply to any Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of
payment with the obligations of the Borrower hereunder (i.e. not subordinated in
right of payment to such obligations).

            SECTION 6.09. Modifications of Certain Documents. Without the prior
consent of the Administrative Agent (to be given upon the approval of the
Required Lenders), the Borrower will not consent to any modification, supplement
or waiver of any of the provisions of the Private Placement Debt Documents,
Senior Notes Indentures or Senior Debenture Indenture, or any agreement,
instrument or other document evidencing or relating to Additional Permitted
Indebtedness, in a manner that, in any case, would be materially adverse to the
Lenders.

            SECTION 6.10. Certain Financial Covenants.

            (a) Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Leverage Ratio
to exceed the following respective ratios at any time during the following
respective periods:

             Period                                   Ratio
             ------                                   -----

      From the Effective Date
        through December 30, 2001                     5.50 to 1

      From December 31, 2001
       through December 30, 2002                      5.00 to 1

      From December 31, 2002
        through December 30, 2003                     4.50 to 1

      From December 31, 2003
        and at all times thereafter                   4.00 to 1

            (b) Interest Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the
Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than (i) 2.00 to 1 as at the last day of any
fiscal quarter ending on or before the 

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                                      -63-


fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2001 and (ii) 2.50 to 1 as at the last day
of any fiscal quarter thereafter.

            (c) Fixed Charges Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Fixed
Charges Ratio to be less than 1.10 to 1 as at the last day of any fiscal
quarter.

            (d) Consolidated Net Worth. The Borrower will not at any time permit
its Consolidated Net Worth to be less than the sum of (i) $249,259,000, plus
(ii) 75% of the aggregate amount by which Consolidated Net Worth was increased
upon consummation of the Kelly Acquisition plus (iii) 75% of the aggregate
amount by which Consolidated Net Worth was increased upon consummation of the
Pulitzer Acquisition, plus (iv) 25% of Consolidated Net Income for each fiscal
year (beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999 and without
duplication on account of the consummation of the Pulitzer Acquisition during
such fiscal year) for which Consolidated Net Income is positive.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

            If any of the following events ("Events of Default") shall occur:

            (a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when
      and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date
      thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

            (b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or
      (after notice from any Lender or the Administrative Agent) any fee or any
      other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this
      Article) payable under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document
      when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall
      continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days;

            (c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on
      behalf of the Borrower in or in connection with this Agreement or any
      other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, or
      in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document
      furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other
      Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, shall
      prove to have been incorrect when made or deemed made in any material
      respect;

            (d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant,
      condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02, 5.03 (with respect to
      the Borrower's existence), 5.08 or 5.09 or in Article VI;

            (e) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant,
      condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those
      specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) 

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<PAGE>
 
                                      -64-


      of this Article) or any other Loan Document and such failure shall
      continue unremedied for a period of 30 or more days after notice thereof
      from the Administrative Agent (given at the request of any Lender) is
      received by the Borrower;

            (f) the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries shall fail
      to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of
      amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same
      shall become due and payable;

            (g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material
      Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables
      or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or
      both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or
      agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become
      due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance
      thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity provided that this clause (g)
      shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of
      the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such
      Indebtedness;

            (h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary
      petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other
      relief in respect of the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries
      or the debts of the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, or
      of a substantial part of the assets of the Borrower or any of its
      Consolidated Subsidiaries, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy,
      insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii)
      the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator,
      conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any of its
      Consolidated Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the assets of the
      Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, and, in any such case,
      such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an
      order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be
      entered;

            (i) the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries shall (i)
      voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking
      liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or
      foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or
      hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to
      contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition
      described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the
      appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator
      or similar official for it or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv)
      file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed
      against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the
      benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting
      any of the foregoing;

            (j) the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries shall
      become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its
      debts as they become due;

            (k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate
      amount in excess of $25,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower or
      any of its Subsidiaries or 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -65-


      any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a
      period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be
      effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment
      creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower to enforce any
      such judgment;

            (l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the reasonable
      judgment of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA
      Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a
      Material Adverse Effect;

            (m) a reasonable basis shall exist for the assertion against the
      Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any predecessor in interest of the
      Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, of (or there shall have
      been asserted against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) any claims
      or liabilities, whether accrued, absolute or contingent, based on or
      arising from the generation, storage, transport, handling or disposal of
      Hazardous Materials by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates
      or predecessors that, in the reasonable judgment of the Required Lenders,
      are reasonably likely to be determined adversely to the Borrower or any of
      its Subsidiaries, and the amount thereof (either individually or in the
      aggregate) is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (insofar
      as such amount is payable by the Borrower or any of its Consolidated
      Subsidiaries but after deducting any portion thereof that is reasonably
      expected to be paid by other creditworthy Persons jointly and severally
      liable therefor);

            (n) a Change of Control shall occur;

            (o) the main station license of any Station shall be revoked or
      canceled or expire by its term and not be renewed, or shall be modified in
      a manner materially adverse to the Borrower or the respective Consolidated
      Subsidiary operating such Station; provided that a modification of the
      main station license to digital operation in compliance with the general
      rules of the FCC and the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, shall not
      be considered a materially adverse modification of such main station
      license; or

            (p) any material authorizations, licenses or permits issued by the
      FCC (other than the main station license of any Station) shall be revoked
      or canceled or expire by their terms and not be renewed, or shall be
      modified in a manner materially adverse to the Borrower or the respective
      Consolidated Subsidiary operating such Station, and such revocation,
      cancellation, expiration, non-renewal or modification could reasonably be
      expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower
described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter
during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the
request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or
both of the following actions, at the same or different times:

            (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall
      terminate immediately, and

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -66-


            (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in
      whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due
      and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and
      thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable,
      together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations
      of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable
      immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any
      kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower;

and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or
(i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the
principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon
and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall
automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or
other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                            THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

            Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative
Agent as its agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes
the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such
powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or
thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto.

            The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have
the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and
may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such
Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally
engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other
Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

            The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations
except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not
be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a
Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not
have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary
powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or
by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to
exercise in writing by the Required Lenders, and (c) except as expressly set
forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not
have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose,
any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is
communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any
of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable
for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of
the Required Lenders or in the absence of its own gross 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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                                      -67-


negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not
to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is
given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and the
Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain
or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in
connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of
any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or
in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any
of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or
therein, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this
Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or
document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or
elsewhere herein or therein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly
required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

            The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall
not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate,
consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Administrative
Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and
believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any
liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal
counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other
experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not
taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or
experts.

            The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and
exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents
appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such
sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers
through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the
preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related
Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to
their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit
facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

            Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor
Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may
resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such
resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the
Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed
by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days
after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then
the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a
successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York,
New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its
appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor
shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and
duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and the retiring Administrative
Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees
payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as
those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -68-


agreed between the Borrower and such successor (and, as provided in Section
2.12(c), the retiring Administrative Agent shall make available to the Borrower
a ratable portion of any fees theretofore paid to the Administrative Agent for
the period during which the resignation or removal of such retiring
Administrative Agent shall occur to the extent the Borrower is required to pay
fees for the balance of such period to the successor Administrative Agent).
After the Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder, the provisions of this
Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of
any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as
Administrative Agent.

            Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without
reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit
analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also
acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and
information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its
own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement,
any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished
hereunder or thereunder.

            Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02(b) with respect to this
Agreement, the Administrative Agent may, with the prior consent of the Required
Lenders (but not otherwise), consent to any modification, supplement or waiver
under any of the Loan Documents.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

            SECTION 9.01. Notices. Except in the case of notices and other
communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and
other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be
delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or
registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

            (a) if to the Borrower, to it c/o Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. at
      888 7th Avenue, Suite 2700, New York, New York 10106, Attention of Harry
      T. Hawks (Telecopy No. 212-887-6855);

            (b) if to the Administrative Agent, to The Chase Manhattan Bank, 1
      Chase Manhattan Plaza, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10081, Attention Loan
      and Agency Services Group (Telecopy No. (212) 552-5658), with a copy to
      The Chase Manhattan Bank, 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017,
      Attention of Mitchell Gervis (Telecopy No. 212-270-4584); and

            (c) if to a Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set
      forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -69-


Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other
communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and
other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

            SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments.

            (a) No Deemed Waivers; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of
steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not
exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of
any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower
therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by
paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not
be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such
Default at the time.

            (b) Amendments. Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may
be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in
writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided
that no such agreement shall (i) increase any Commitment of any Lender without
the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan
or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder,
without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the
scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan, or any interest
thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse
any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of any reduction or expiration
of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby,
(iv) so long as the Five Year Credit Agreement shall be in effect (including any
extensions of the Maturity Date thereunder), change Section 2.11(b) without the
written consent of the "Required Lenders" under and as defined in the Five Year
Credit Agreement, (v) change Section 2.18(b) or (d) in a manner that would alter
the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent
of each Lender, or (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section or the
definition of the term "Required Lenders" or any other provision hereof
specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or
modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent
hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; and provided further that
no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties
of the Administrative Agent without the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -70-


            Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no
waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement that has the effect
(either immediately or at some later time) of enabling the Borrower to satisfy a
condition precedent to the making of a Loan shall be effective against the
Lenders for purposes of the Commitments unless the Required Lenders shall have
concurred with such waiver or modification.

            SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

            (a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates,
including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the
Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit
facilities provided for herein, the preparation of this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions
hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby shall be consummated) and (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including the fees, charges and
disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in
connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this
Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including in connection
with any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect thereof.

            (b) Indemnification by Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the
foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an "Indemnitee") against, and
hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements
of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any
Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the
execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument
contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective
obligations hereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other
transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or the use of the proceeds
therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous
Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim,
litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing,
whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether
any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to
any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or related expenses resulted from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Indemnitee.

            (c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower fails
to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent under
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent such Lender's Applicable Percentage (determined as of the
time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of
such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -71-


indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may
be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in its capacity
as such.

            (d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, etc. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and the Borrower hereby waives,
any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special,
indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual
damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement
or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan,
or the use of the proceeds thereof.

            (e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable
promptly after written demand therefor.

            SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns.

            (a) Assignments Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign
or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the
prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer
by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void). Nothing in this
Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person
(other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns
permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related
Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

            (b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may assign to one or more
assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement
(including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing
to it); provided that

            (i) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate
      of a Lender, each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent must give
      their prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be
      unreasonably withheld),

            (ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate
      of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the
      assigning Lender's Commitment(s), the amount of the Commitment(s) of the
      assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the
      date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is
      delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000
      unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise
      consent,

            (iii) each partial assignment of the Loans or Commitments shall be
      made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning
      Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement,

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -72-


            (iv) the assignor and the assignee to each assignment shall execute
      and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance,
      together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and

            (v) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the
      Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire;

provided further that any consent of the Borrower otherwise required under this
paragraph shall not be required if an Event of Default under clause (h) or (i)
of Article VII has occurred and is continuing. Upon acceptance and recording
pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, from and after the effective date
specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a
party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and
Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement,
and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest
assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations
under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering
all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such
Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the
benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a
Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with
this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such
Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with
paragraph (e) of this Section.

            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any
Lender (a "Granting Bank") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an
"SPC"), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Bank to
the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower
all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Bank would otherwise be obligated
to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that (i) nothing
herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan and (ii) if an
SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any
part of such Loan, the Granting Bank shall be obligated to make such Loan
pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall
utilize the Commitment of the Granting Bank to the same extent, and as if, such
Loan were made by such Granting Bank. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no
SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this
Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Bank). In
furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement
shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is
one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial
paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or
join any other person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the
laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.04, any SPC may (i) with
notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, (x) assign
all or any portion of its interest in any Loans to the Granting Bank and (y)
pledge all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Bank or to
any financial institutions (consented to by the Borrower and Administrative
Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -73-


account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Loans (and assign
to the Granting Bank and to any such financial institution any such Loans upon a
realization in respect of such pledge or in connection with the performance by
such financial institution of its liquidity or credit support obligations) and
(ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its
Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety,
guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC, subject to the
requirements of Section 9.12(b)(f).

            (c) Maintenance of Register by Administrative Agent. The
Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall
maintain at one of its offices in New York City a copy of each Assignment and
Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and
addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the
Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the
"Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest
error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each
Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a
Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to
the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and
any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior
notice.

            (d) Effectiveness of Assignments. Upon its receipt of a duly
completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an
assignee, the assignee's completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the
assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation
fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such
assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent
shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained
therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this
Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this
paragraph.

            (e) Participations. Any Lender may, without the consent of the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks
or other entities (a "Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights
and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all
or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i)
such Lender's obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the
other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal
solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Any agreement or
instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide
that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that such
agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the
consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver
described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant.
Subject to paragraph (f) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -74-


Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 to
the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by
assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.

            (f) Limitations on Rights of Participants. A Participant shall not
be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17 than the
applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the
participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to
such Participant is made with the Borrower's prior written consent. A
Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be
entitled to the benefits of Section 2.17 unless the Borrower is notified of the
participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the
benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.17(e) as though it were a
Lender, provided that in no event shall the Borrower be required to pay a
greater sum to such Participant than it would have been required to pay to the
Lender from which such Participant acquired such participation.

            (g) Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security
interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure
obligations of such Lender, including any such pledge or assignment to a Federal
Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment
of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security
interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or
substitute any such assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

            (h) No Assignments to Borrower or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
Anything in this Section 9.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender may
assign or participate any interest in any Loan held by it hereunder to the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates without the prior consent of
each Lender.

            SECTION 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations
and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other
instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be
considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any
Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its
behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Lender may have
had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty
at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force
and effect so long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or
any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and
unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The
provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17, 3.03 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall
survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans and the
Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

            SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on
different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of
which when taken together shall constitute a single 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -75-


contract. This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees
payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the
parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous
agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter
hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become
effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when
the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when
taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and
thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery
of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

            SECTION 9.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in
a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other
jurisdiction.

            SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and
from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply
any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final)
at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or
for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the
obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held
by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any
demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The
rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and
remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

            SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of
Process.

            (a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

            (b) Submission to Jurisdiction. The Borrower hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York
County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New
York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement
of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent
permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that
a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be
enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner
provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or
proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrower or its properties in
the courts of any jurisdiction.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -76-


            (c) Waiver of Venue. The Borrower hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do
so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of
any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in
any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties
hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such court.

            (d) Service of Process. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably
consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section
9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this
Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

            SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES,
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER
BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES
THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED,
EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF
LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT
AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

            SECTION 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table
of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of
this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into
consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

            SECTION 9.12. Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.

            (a) Treatment of Certain Information. The Borrower acknowledges that
from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may
be offered or provided to the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries (in
connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by any Lender or by one or more
subsidiaries or affiliates of such Lender and the Borrower hereby authorizes
each Lender to share any information delivered to such Lender by the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with the
decision of such Lender to enter into this Agreement, to any such subsidiary or
affiliate for the purpose of using the same in connection with such services.

            (b) Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined
below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates'
directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel
and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such 

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -77-


disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such
Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the
extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent required by
applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d)
to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any
remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or
proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the
enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement
containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to any
assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in,
any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of
the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly
available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes
available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis
from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section,
"Information" means all information received from the Borrower relating to the
Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to
the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to
disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received
from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified
at the time of delivery as confidential. Unless specifically prohibited by
applicable law or court order, each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall,
prior to disclosure thereof, notify the Borrower of any request for disclosure
of any such non-public information (A) by any governmental agency or
representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with an
examination of the financial condition of such Lender by such governmental
agency) or (B) pursuant to legal process (including agency subpoenas). Any
Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in
this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so
if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the
confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own
confidential information.

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -78-


            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.

                                       HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.


                                       By:
                                          ---------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -79-


                                     LENDERS

                                      THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                        individually and as Administrative Agent

                                      By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      BANK OF MONTREAL

                                      By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                                      By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS), INC.

                                      By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -80-


                                      NATIONSBANK, N.A.

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      BANKBOSTON, N.A.

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      FLEET NATIONAL BANK

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      PARIBAS

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -81-


                                      THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

                                      By:
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.

                                      By:
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.

                                      By:
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      KEY CORPORATE CAPITAL INC.

                                      By:
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE
                                      RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK B.A., "RABOBANK
                                      NEDERLAND", NEW YORK BRANCH

                                      By:
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                      By:
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -82-


                                      SUNTRUST BANK, CENTRAL FLORIDA,
                                         N.A.

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      THE DAI-ICHI KANGYO BANK, LTD.

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                      -83-


                                      THE MITSUBISHI TRUST AND
                                         BANKING CORPORATION

                                      By:
                                         ---------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      THE SANWA BANK LIMITED

                                      By:
                                         ---------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

                                      By:
                                         ---------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      MICHIGAN NATIONAL BANK

                                      By:
                                         ---------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      FIRSTAR BANK, N.A.

                                      By:
                                         ---------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      HIBERNIA NATIONAL BANK

                                      By:
                                         ---------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT