OPTION AGREEMENT

                  OPTION AGREEMENT dated March 24, 1997 between ACTV, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Corporation") and William C. Samuels (the
"Employee").

                  The Corporation desires to grant to the Employee the right and
option to purchase up to 613,035 shares (the "Option Shares") of Common Stock
(the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation, on the terms and subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the receipt of $1.00 and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

                  SECTION 1. Option to Purchase Common Stock.

                           a.  Subject to Section 12 hereof,  the  Corporation
hereby grants to the Employee an option (the "Option") to purchase from the
Corporation 613,035 Option Shares, at a purchase price of $2.10 per Option Share
(the "Option Price"). The Employee's right and option to purchase the Option
Shares are fully vested. With respect to the Option, the "Option Period" shall
commence on the date hereof and terminate on December 31, 2002.

                           b.  The Option may be exercised by the Employee by
delivery to the Corporation, at any time commencing one year from the date
hereof, of a written notice (the "Option Notice"), which Option Notice shall
state the Employee's intention to exercise the Option, the date on which the
Employee proposes to purchase the Option Shares (the "Closing Date") and the
number of Option Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date, which Closing Date
shall be no later than 30 days nor earlier than 10 days following the date of
the Option Notice. Upon receipt by the Corporation of an Option Notice from the
Employee, the Employee shall be obligated to purchase that number of Option
Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date set forth in the Option Notice.

                           c.  The purchase and sale of Option Shares acquired
pursuant to the terms of this Option Agreement shall be made on the Closing Date
at the offices of the Corporation. Delivery of the Stock certificate or other
instrument registered in the name of the Employee, evidencing the Option Shares
being purchased on the Closing Date, shall be made by the Corporation to the
holder of this Option on the Closing Date against the delivery to the
Corporation of a check in the full amount of the aggregate purchase price
therefor.

                  SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties of The Holder.
The Employee hereby represents and warrants to the Corporation that in the event
the Employee acquires any Option Shares, such Option Shares will be acquired for
his own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof.
The Employee understands that except as set forth in Section 6 hereof, the
Option


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Shares will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), by reason of their issuance in a transaction
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to
Section 4 (2) thereof and that they must be held indefinitely unless a
subsequent disposition thereof is registered under the Securities Act or the
transaction is exempt from registration.

                  SECTION 3. Reorganization; Mergers; Sales; Etc. If, at any
time during the Option Period, there shall be any capital reorganization,
reclassification of Common Stock (other than a change in par value or from par
value to nor par value or from no par value to par value or as a result of a
stock dividend or subdivision, split-up or combination of shares), the
consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into another corporation or
of the sale of all or substantially all the properties and assets of the
Corporation as an entirety to any other corporation or person, the unexercised
and fully vested portion of this Option shall, after such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale, be exercisable for the kind and
number of shares of stock or other securities or property of the Corporation or
of the corporation resulting from such consolidation or surviving such merger or
to which such properties and assets shall have been sold to which the Employee
would have been entitled if the Employee had held shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise hereof immediately prior to such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale. The provisions of this Section
3 shall similarly apply to successive reorganizations, reclassifications,
consolidations, mergers and sales.

                  SECTION 4.   Adjustment of Option Shares and Option Price.

                           a.  The number of Option Shares subject to this
Option during the Option Period shall be cumulative as to all prior dates of
calculation and shall be adjusted for any stock dividend, subdivision, split-up
or combination of Common Stock.

                           b.  The Option Price shall be subject to adjustment
from time to time as follows:

                               (1)    If, at any time during the Option Period,
the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding is increased by a stock
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or by a subdivision or split-up of
shares of Common Stock, then, immediately following the record date fixed for
the determination of holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to receive such
stock dividend, subdivision or split-up, the Option Price shall be appropriately
decreased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise hereof shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding
shares.

                               (2)    If, at any time during the Option Period,
the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding is decreased by a combination
of outstanding shares of Common Stock, then, immediately following the record
date for such combination, the Option Price shall be appropriately increased so
that the number of

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shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise hereof shall be decreased in
proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares.

                               (3)    If, at any time  between  August 1, 1989
and August 1, 1993 the Corporation issues any previously unissued Common Stock
as a result of any financing, acquisition, joint venture or other business
transaction, then, during such period the number of shares subject to 120,000 of
the Option shall be adjusted such that the holder thereof shall have the right
to exercise the Option for the same percentage of the issued and outstanding
Common Stock of the Corporation after giving effect to such transaction
(including the future conversion or exercise of any option or warrants issued in
such transaction during the term of the Option, but converted thereafter) as he
held options for immediately prior to such transaction.

                  SECTION 5.          Termination of the Options.

                           a.  Termination of Options in General. The Option
granted hereby shall terminate and the Option shall no longer be exercisable
after December 31, 2002.

                           b.  Death of the Optinee. In the event that an
Employee shall die prior to his complete exercise of the Option, the Option may
be exercised in whole or in part only by the Employee's estate or on behalf of
such person or persons to whom the Employee's rights pass under his Will or by
the laws of descent and distribution.

                  SECTION 6.          Piggyback Registration.

                           a.  If, at any time the  Corporation  proposes to
register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than in
connection with a merger or pursuant to Form S-8 or other comparable Form) it
will give written notice by registered mail, at least thirty (30) days prior to
the filing of such registration statement, to the Employee of its intention to
do so. If the Employee notifies the Corporation within ten (10) days after
receipt of any such notice of his desire to include any Option Shares, owned by
him (on a fully vested basis) in such proposed registration statement, the
Corporation shall afford the Employee the opportunity to have any of his Option
Shares registered under such registration statement, the Corporation shall
afford the Employee the opportunity to have any of his Option Shares registered
under such registration statement; provided that (i) such inclusion does not
pose any significant legal problem and (ii) if such registration statement is
filed pursuant to an underwritten public offering, the underwriter approves such
inclusion.

                           b.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions of this Section
6, the Corporation shall have the right at any time after it shall have given
written notice pursuant to this Section 6 (irrespective of whether a written
request for inclusion of any Option Shares shall have been made) to elect not to
file any such proposed registration statement, or to withdraw the same after the
filing but prior to the

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effective date thereof.

                           c.  Employee will  cooperate  with the  Corporation
in all respects in connection with this Agreement, including, timely supplying
all information reasonably requested by the Corporation and executing and
returning all documents reasonably requested in connection with the registration
and sale of the Option Shares. In addition, Employee will comply with all
applicable provisions of state and federal securities laws, including rule 10b-6
and will not, during the course of a distribution, purchase any of the
securities being distributed.

                           d.  All expenses incurred in any registration of the
Option Shares under this Agreement shall be paid by the Corporation, including,
without limitation, printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Corporation, expenses of any audits to which the Corporation shall agree or
which shall be necessary to comply with governmental requirements in connection
with any such registration, all registration and filing fees for the Option
Shares under federal and state securities laws, and expenses of complying with
the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdictions; provided, however, the
Corporation shall not be liable for (a) any discounts or commissions to any
underwriter; (b) any stock transfer taxes incurred with respect to Option Shares
sold in the offering or (c) the fees and expenses of counsel for Employee,
provided that the Corporation will pay, the costs and expenses of Employee's
counsel when the Corporation's counsel is representing all selling security
holders.

                  SECTION 7. Transfer of Option; Successors And Assigns. This
Agreement (including the Option) and all rights hereunder shall not be
transferable at any time without the prior written consent of the Corporation.
This Agreement and all the rights hereunder shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns and
transferees.

                  SECTION 8. Notices. All notices or other communications which
are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if
delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

                If the Corporation, to:

                         ACTV, Inc.
                         1270 Avenue of the Americas - Suite 2401
                         New York, New York  10020
                         Attention:  William C. Samuels, Chief Executive Officer

                With a copy to:

                         Wesley C. Fredericks
                         Gersten, Savage, Kaplowitz, Fredericks & Curtin

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                         101 East 52 Street
                         New York, New York  10022

                If to the Employee, to:

                         William C. Samuels
                         171 West 57th Street
                         New York, New York 10019

or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have
furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith. If mailed as
aforesaid, any such communication shall be deemed to have been given on the
third business day following the day on which the piece of mail containing such
communication is posted.

                  SECTION 9.       Governing  Law. This Agreement shall be
governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

                  SECTION 10.      Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the
entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the transactions
contemplated herein and supersedes all previously written or oral negotiations,
commitments, representations and agreement, specifically the option agreements
dated August 1, 1989 and December 31, 1994.

                  SECTION 11.      Amendments and  Modifications. This
Agreement, or any provision hereof, may not be amended, changed or modified
without the prior written consent of each of the parties hereto.

                  SECTION 12.      Termination. In addition to the termination
provisions set forth in Section 1 hereof, the Option shall terminate and the
Option shall no longer be exercisable on December 31, 2002.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Option
Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first above written.


                                               ACTV, Inc.


                                          By:  ----------------------
                                               Christopher Cline