Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.29

                      [HALLMARK ENTERTAINMENT LETTERHEAD]

                                January 28, 1999

George Stein
1640 Layton Drive
Cherry Hills, Colorado 80110

Dear George:

     This will confirm our agreement regarding your separation from Hallmark
Entertainment Networks, Inc. ("HEN" or "the Company") effective January 31,
1999, with your duties to end on that date.

     In connection with your separation, HEN agrees to do the following:

     1. To pay you your full pay (less appropriate payroll deductions) through
January 31, 1999.

     2. To continue your current HEN health insurance and benefits and life
insurance through January 31, 1999.

     3. Provided you have first returned a copy of this signed agreement to HEN,
to pay you the following lump sum amounts (less appropriate payroll deductions)
within 15 business days after the designated dates: $2.0 million - January 31,
2000; $1.0 million - January 31, 2001; and $1.0 million - January 31, 2002.

     4. Provided you have first returned a copy of this signed agreement to HEN,
in addition to the payments provided for in paragraph 3 above, to pay you $2.0
million dollars within 15 business days after January 31, 2001 in the event HEN
or any successor company completes an IPO prior to January 31, 2001. In the
event HEN or any successor company completes an IPO after January 31, 2001 but
prior to January 31, 2002, in addition to the payments provided for in paragraph
3 above, HEN will pay you $1.0 million within 15 business days after January 31,
2002.

     5. To pay for your COBRA medical and dental continuation coverage, for you
and your eligible dependents through December 31, 1999, provided you have first
returned a copy of this signed agreement to HEN. COBRA payments shall continue
only as long as you or your dependents are eligible for COBRA continuation
coverage. After December 31, 1999, COBRA coverage is available at your expense,
so long as you and your dependents meet all eligibility requirements under
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George Stein
January 28, 1999
Page 2

COBRA. HEN further agrees to pay the premium for the current company paid term
life insurance carried for HEN employees through December 31, 1999.

     6.  To pay you within 15 working days after January 31, 1999, an amount
equal to the number of vacation days you have accrued but not used for 1999
(less appropriate payroll deductions), as compensation for all accrued vacation
time that may be due to you now or in the future.

     7.  Provided you have first returned a copy of this signed agreement to
HEN, to pay you within 15 business days after January 31, 1999, or the date you
return this signed agreement to Hallmark, whichever is later, a lump sum amount
of Three Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-Seven Dollars
($366,667.00) (less appropriate payroll deductions) within 15 business days
after January 31, 1999, or the date you return this signed agreement to
Hallmark, whichever is later, in lieu of continuing your salary payments
through December 31, 1999.

     8.  Provided you have first returned a copy of this signed agreement to
HEN, to pay you within 15 business days after January 31, 1999, or the date you
return this signed agreement to Hallmark, whichever is later, a lump sum amount
of Thirty Three Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($33,250.00) (less
appropriate payroll deductions) in lieu of receiving a car allowance through
December 31, 2001.

     9.  Provided you have first returned a copy of this signed agreement to
HEN, to pay you within 15 business days after January 31, 1999, or the date you
return this signed agreement to Hallmark, whichever is later, a lump sum amount
of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) (less appropriate payroll deductions) in
lieu of the ten percent bonus issued to HEN employees for 1998.

     10. Provided you have first returned a copy of this signed agreement to
HEN, to pay you within 15 business days after January 31, 1999, or the date you
return this signed agreement to Hallmark, whichever is later, a lump sum amount
of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) (less appropriate payroll deductions) in
lieu of receiving outplacement services paid by HEN.

     11. Provided you have first returned a copy of this signed agreement to
HEN, to allow you to retain the computer, printer, fax, and laptop which you
currently use at the office.

     12. To pay you a lump sum amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars
($30,000.00) (less appropriate payroll deductions) to assist with the FICA
expenses associated with the deferred payments under paragraph 3 above.
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George Stein
January 28, 1999
Page 3

         In return for the above payments and benefits, you agree to do the
     following:

         A.     To sign and return a copy of this letter. You have 21 days from
     the date you receive this letter in which to consult an attorney and
     consider whether you want to accept and sign this agreement. The agreement
     will become effective seven (7) days after you sign it, and you have the
     right to revoke the agreement during that seven (7) day period. You agree
     that any changes to this Agreement, whether material or immaterial, will
     not restart the running of the 21-day period.

         B.     To release and forever discharge Hallmark Entertainment
     Networks, Inc. and its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, joint
     venturers and their respective officers, agents, directors, employees and
     all other persons, firms, and corporations whomsoever, of and from all
     liability, actions, claims (including any rights and claims under the Age
     Discrimination in Employment Act and any other employment discrimination
     claims), demands, damages, costs and expenses, which you may now or
     hereafter have on account of, arising out of, or in connection with all
     transactions between you and the parties herein released through the date
     this agreement is executed, including, but not limited to, your employment
     and the termination thereof.

         C.      To make no disclosure or use whatsoever of any trade secret or
     confidential information of any type which heretofore has been designated
     or treated as confidential by the Company or any of its parent,
     subsidiary, joint venturer or affiliated companies ("the Companies")
     relating to the business of the Companies, including without limitation,
     all types of trade secrets, business strategies, marketing and
     distribution plans and financial information.  This provision does not
     apply to information which becomes or is available publicly through no
     fault of your own.

         D.     To not retain any business records or documents relating to any
     activity of the Company or any of its parent, subsidiary, joint venturer
     or affiliated companies, and to return and not retain any business
     records, documents and property belonging to the company or its parent,
     subsidiary, joint venturer and affiliated companies, except as provided in
     this agreement.

         E.     To not publicize or disclose or cause, permit or authorize the
     publication or disclosure of the terms of this agreement or the
     negotiations leading to this agreement, except in confidence to your
     spouse, to your attorney or financial advisor you have retained to assist
     you in preparation of your tax returns or other financial or legal matters,
     provided that before disclosing anything regarding the terms of the
     agreement you first inform such persons of the confidentiality of this
     agreement and obtain their agreement to maintain the confidentiality of the
     agreement.

         F.     To cooperate with the Company and its parent, subsidiary, joint
     venturer and affiliated companies in the defense of any legal matter
     involving any other employee of these companies or involving any other
     matter that arose during your employment, provided that the Company will
     reimburse you for your reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses
     incurred in providing such cooperation and assistance.

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George Stein
January 28, 1999
Page 4

     G. That you are owed no additional compensation in connection with the
termination of your employment, and that neither HEN nor and its parent
companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, joint venturers will have any obligation to
provide you at any time in the future any payments, other than those provided
for in this agreement.

     H. That for the period through January 31, 2001, you will not attempt to
recruit any employee working for or rendering substantial services to HEN, HEI,
the Kermit Channel, or the Odyssey Channel, including without limitation, all
executive and managerial employees of these companies. If you hire, directly or
indirectly, any such employee, you will forfeit Two Hundred Fifty Thousand
Dollars ($250,000.00) per employee from the payments to be made under paragraphs
3 and 4 above.

     I. To be responsible for payment of any personal taxes due from me
associated with the value of any compensation, benefits or items provided
pursuant to this agreement.

     The parties agree:

     (i). To submit any dispute concerning this Agreement or Stein's employment
and termination of employment to binding arbitration in Colorado before an
arbitrator agreed upon by the parties or failing to agree, as selected by the
American Arbitration Association. Any such arbitration shall be pursuant to the
American Arbitration Association rules.

     (ii). No waiver, modification, or amendment of any term, condition or
provision of this Agreement shall be valid or have any force or affect unless
made in writing and signed by the parties.

     (iii). This Agreement supersedes and terminates all prior agreements,
including but not limited to any oral agreements between you and HEN or its
parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, joint ventures and sets out the full
agreement between the parties concerning its subject matter.

     (iv). This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of
the State of Colorado.

     (v). This agreement may be executed on separate counterparts, each of which
is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and
the same agreement. The executed copies may be sent by telecopier to the other
parties and will be considered executed as of the day of the telecopied
signature. The original signature pages should be sent by mail to each party so
they will have a fully executed original agreement.

     (vi). Hallmark Entertainment, Inc. guarantees the payments provided for
under the terms of this agreement in the event that (a) HEN is unable to perform
its obligations under this
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George Stein
January 28, 1999
Page 5

Agreement; or (b) any successor in interest to, or the assign of HEN is unable
to perform the obligations of HEN under this Agreement.

         Please acknowledge your acceptance of this agreement by signing and
returning triplicate originals of this letter.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           HALLMARK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORKS, INC.

                                           By /s/ PETER VON GAL
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             PETER VON GAL

                                           HALLMARK ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

                                           By /s/ PETER VON GAL
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             PETER VON GAL

         Agreed to this 28th day of January, 1999.

                                           /s/ GEORGE STEIN
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           GEORGE STEIN<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.30

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

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

SECTION 1. PROMISE TO PAY.

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

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

SECTION 2. INTEREST.

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

SECTION 3. REPAYMENT.

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

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

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

SECTION 4. RESPECTING INTEREST.

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

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SECTION 5. INFORMATION.

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

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

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

SECTION 6. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

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

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

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

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

SECTION 7. REMEDIES.

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

SECTION 8. WAIVERS.

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

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

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

SECTION 9. NOTICES.

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

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

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

SECTION 10. ASSIGNABILITY.

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

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

SECTION 11. MODIFICATIONS.

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

SECTION 12. GOVERNING LAW.

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

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SECTION 13. HEADINGS.

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

SECTION 14. SEVERABILITY.

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

                           [SIGNATURE ONLY TO FOLLOW]

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

                                                CROWN MEDIA, INC.

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

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