Document:

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Exhibit 10.11

                      FIFTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
                           AND FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT

   THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT (this
"Agreement") is entered into as of January 14, 2002, by and among Ziff Davis
Media Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), CIBC World Markets Corp.,
as lead arranger and bookrunner (the "Lead Arranger"), Bankers Trust Company,
as syndication agent (the "Syndication Agent"), Fleet National Bank, as
documentation agent (the "Documentation Agent"), Canadian Imperial Bank of
Commerce, as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") and the other
Credit Parties party hereto (the "Credit Parties").

                             W I T N E S S E T H:

   WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the
Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties are
parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 5, 2000, as amended
by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of June 12, 2000,
as amended by that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of
July 19, 2000, as amended by that certain Third Amendment to Credit Agreement
dated as of January 22, 2001, as amended by that certain Fourth Amendment to
Credit Agreement and Reaffirmation Agreement dated as of July 13, 2001 (as the
same may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, the "Credit Agreement"); and

   WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested, and the Lead Arranger, the Syndication
Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties
have agreed, (a) to forbear from the exercise of their remedies available under
the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents on account of certain
Defaults and Events of Default that have occurred and are continuing under the
Credit Agreement (to the extent such Defaults and Events of Default are set
forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto, hereinafter referred to as the "Specified
Defaults"), and (b) to amend the Credit Agreement, in each case, to the extent
set forth herein;

   NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms
and conditions contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby
agree that all capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, except as otherwise defined
or limited herein, and further agree, subject to the conditions precedent to
this Agreement hereinafter set forth, as follows:

   1.  Amendments to Article 1.

   (a)  Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby modified and
amended by adding the following new definitions in appropriate alphabetical
order:

      "Bond Interest Payment" shall mean the scheduled interest payment due on
   January 15, 2002, with respect to the Refinancing Securities.

      "Fifth Amendment" shall mean that certain Fifth Amendment to Credit
   Agreement and Forbearance Agreement dated as of the Fifth Amendment Date
   among the Borrower, the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the
   Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the other Credit Parties
   party thereto.

      "Fifth Amendment Date" shall mean January 11, 2002.

      "Forbearance Period" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
   Fifth Amendment.

      "Incremental Term A Commitment" shall mean the several obligations of the
   Incremental Term Loan Lenders to advance the aggregate amount of each Term
   Loan Commitment Increase, if any, allocable to the Term A Commitment in
   accordance with their respective Incremental Term Loan Ratios, all pursuant
   to the terms hereof; provided, however, that the sum of all Incremental Term
   A Commitments issued hereunder shall not, at any time, exceed $10,512,483.57.

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      "Incremental Term B Commitment" shall mean the several obligations of the
   Incremental Term Loan Lenders to advance the aggregate amount of each Term
   Loan Commitment Increase, if any, allocable to the Term B Commitment in
   accordance with their respective Incremental Term Loan Ratios, all pursuant
   to the terms hereof; provided, however, that the sum of all Incremental Term
   B Commitments issued hereunder shall not, at any time, exceed $29,487,516.43.

      "Incremental Term Loan Ratios" shall mean the percentages in which the
   Incremental Term Loan Lenders are severally bound to make Advances to the
   Borrower under the Incremental Term A Commitment and the Incremental Term B
   Commitment, in either case upon the agreement of the Incremental Term Loan
   Lenders to fund any Term Loan Commitment Increase, based upon the ratios set
   forth, as of the Fifth Amendment Date, on Schedule 2 to the Fifth Amendment.

      "Incremental Term Loan Lenders" shall mean, as of any date of
   determination, those Lenders identified on Schedule 2 to the Fifth Amendment
   as 'Incremental Term Loan Lenders'.

      "Incremental Term Loans" shall mean, collectively, the Term A Loans, if
   any, advanced by the Incremental Term Loan Lenders under any Incremental
   Term A Commitment and the Term B Loans, if any, advanced by the Incremental
   Term Loan Lenders under any Incremental Term B Commitment.

      "Material Default" shall mean any Default or Event of Default that shall
   occur with respect to any of Section 6.1 (Monthly Financial Statements and
   Information), Section 6.2 (Quarterly Financial Statements and Information),
   Section 6.3 (Annual Financial Statements and Information), Section 6.4
   (Performance Certificates), Section 9.1(b), Section 9.1(f) or Section 9.1(g).

      "Specified Default" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
   Fifth Amendment.

      "Term Loan Commitment Increase" shall mean an increase in the Term Loan
   Commitments to be provided by the Incremental Term Loan Lenders, based upon
   their respective Incremental Term Loan Ratios, at the request of the
   Borrower and allocated, on a pro rata basis determined as of the Fifth
   Amendment Date, between the Term A Commitment and the Term B Commitment, all
   pursuant to Section 2.1(e).

      "Term Loan Commitments" shall mean, collectively, the Term A Commitment
   and the Term B Commitment.

      "Unused Revolving Commitment" shall mean, on any calculation date, the
   excess of (a) the Revolving Commitment on such date, over (b) the sum
   (without duplication) of (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving
   Loans then outstanding, (ii) the stated amount of Letters of Credit then
   outstanding, and (iii) obligations under Letters of Credit which the
   Borrower has not reimbursed.

   (b)  Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby further
modified and amended by deleting the definition of "Revolving Commitment" in
its entirety and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "Revolving Commitment" shall mean the several obligations of certain of
   the Lenders to advance the sum of $20,000,000 (as of the Fifth Amendment
   Date) to the Borrower, on or after the Agreement Date, in accordance with
   their respective Revolving Commitment Ratios and as such amount may be
   reduced from time to time, all pursuant to the terms hereof.

   (c)   Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby further
modified and amended by deleting the definition of "Term A Commitment" in its
entirety and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "Term A Commitment" shall mean the sum of (a) the several obligations of
   certain of the Lenders to advance the sum of $44,468,120.56 to the Borrower,
   in accordance with their respective Term A Commitment Ratios, all pursuant
   to the terms hereof, plus (b) the sum of the Incremental Term A Commitments
   issued hereunder.

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   (d)  Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby further
modified and amended by deleting the definition of "Term A Commitment Ratios"
in its entirety and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "Term A Commitment Ratios" shall mean the percentages in which certain of
   the Lenders (including, without limitation, the Incremental Term Loan
   Lenders) are severally bound to make Advances to the Borrower under the Term
   A Commitment.

   (e)  Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby further
modified and amended by deleting the definition of "Term A Loans" in its
entirety and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "Term A Loans" shall mean, collectively, the amounts advanced by certain
   of the Lenders (including, without limitation, the Incremental Term Loan
   Lenders) to the Borrower under the Term A Commitment, not to exceed, in the
   aggregate, the amount of the Term A Commitment.

   (f)  Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby further
modified and amended by deleting the definition of "Term B Commitment" in its
entirety and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "Term B Commitment" shall mean the sum of (a) the several obligations of
   certain of the Lenders to advance the sum of $124,733,078.10 to the Borrower
   in accordance with their respective Term B Commitment Ratios, all pursuant
   to the terms hereof, plus (b) the sum of the Incremental Term B Commitments
   issued hereunder.

   (g)  Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby further
modified and amended by deleting the definition of "Term B Commitment Ratios"
in its entirety and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "Term B Commitment Ratios" shall mean the percentages in which certain of
   the Lenders (including, without limitation, the Incremental Term Loan
   Lenders) are severally bound to make Advances to the Borrower under the Term
   B Commitment.

   (h)  Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby further
modified and amended by deleting the definition of "Term B Loans" in its
entirety and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "Term B Loans" shall mean, collectively, the amount advanced by certain
   of the Lenders (including, without limitation, the Incremental Term Loan
   Lenders) to the Borrower under the Term B Commitment, not to exceed, in the
   aggregate, the amount of the Term B Commitment.

   (i)  Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby further
modified and amended by deleting the definition of "Term Loans" in its entirety
and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "Term Loans" shall mean, collectively, the Term A Loans and the Term B
   Loans, and shall include any Incremental Term Loans advanced pursuant to the
   terms of this Agreement.

   2.  Amendments to Section 2.1.

   (a)  Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement, The Loans, is hereby modified and
amended by deleting the introductory paragraph thereto and by substituting the
following in lieu thereof:

      "Section 2.1  The Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions of, and in
   reliance upon the representations and warranties made in, this Agreement and
   the other Loan Documents, (x) the Lenders will have extended and agree,
   severally in accordance with their respective Commitment Ratios and not
   jointly, to make Loans to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not
   to exceed $189,201,198.66, and (y) the Incremental Term Loan Lenders may, in
   their sole discretion, agree, severally in accordance with their respective
   Incremental Term Loan Ratios and not jointly, to make Incremental Term Loans
   to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $40,000,000,
   pursuant to clause (e) of this Section 2.1."

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   (b)  Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement, The Loans, is hereby further
modified and amended by (i) adding the phrase "then outstanding" at the end of
the first sentence of clause (b) thereof and (ii) deleting the proviso at the
end of the second sentence of clause (b) and substituting "provided, however,
except as set forth in clause (e) below, there shall be no increase in the
aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Term A Commitment at any time
after the Agreement Date" in lieu thereof.

   (c)  Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement, The Loans, is hereby further
modified and amended by (i) adding the phrase "then outstanding" at the end of
the first sentence of clause (c) thereof and (ii) deleting the proviso at the
end of the second sentence of clause (c) and substituting "provided, however,
except as set forth in clause (e) below, there shall be no increase in the
aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Term B Commitment at any time
after the Agreement Date" in lieu thereof.

   (d)  Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement, The Loans, is hereby further
modified and amended by adding the following clause (e) at the end thereof:

      "(e)  The Incremental Term Loans.  During the Forbearance Period and
   after expiration of the Forbearance Period to the extent set forth in this
   Section 2.1(e), the Borrower may from time to time request that the
   Incremental Term Loan Lenders agree, in the exercise of their sole
   discretion, to a Term Loan Commitment Increase. Notwithstanding any prior
   expiration of the Forbearance Period and so long as no Material Default
   shall have occurred, the Borrower may request that the Incremental Term Loan
   Lenders agree, in the exercise of their sole discretion, to a Term Loan
   Commitment Increase the proceeds of which would be used solely to fund the
   Bond Interest Payment on or before February 12, 2002. To the extent that the
   Incremental Term Loan Lenders shall agree, in their sole discretion, to fund
   any Term Loan Commitment Increase requested by the Borrower, the Incremental
   Term Loan Lenders agree, severally in accordance with their respective
   Incremental Term Loan Ratios and not jointly, upon the terms and subject to
   the conditions of this Agreement, to lend to the Borrower (A) Term A Loans
   in an amount equal to the Incremental Term A Commitment allocable to such
   Term Loan Commitment Increase and (B) Term B Loans in an amount equal to the
   Incremental Term B Commitment allocable to such Term Loan Commitment
   Increase. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
   Agreement, the effectiveness of any Term Loan Commitment Increase shall
   require only the consent of the Incremental Term Loan Lenders."

   3.   Amendment to Section 2.2.  Section 2.2 of the Credit Agreement, Manner
of Borrowing and Disbursement, is hereby modified and amended by adding the
following new clause (f) at the end thereof:

      "(f)  Incremental Term Loans.

           "(i)  In the case of any request for a Term Loan Commitment
   Increase, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior
   written notice of such request in the form of a Request for Advance, or
   telephonic notice followed promptly by a Request for Advance. Any request
   for a Term Loan Commitment Increase for the purpose of making the Bond
   Interest Payment shall be made on or before February 12, 2002, and shall
   include irrevocable instructions to the Administrative Agent to disburse the
   proceeds of the requested Term Loan Commitment Increase on behalf of the
   Borrower directly to the trustee for the Refinancing Securities to fund the
   Bond Interest Payment. In the event that the Borrower shall give the
   Administrative Agent telephonic notice, but shall fail to confirm such
   telephonic notice with a written Request for Advance, such failure shall not
   invalidate any notice so given, but shall not obviate the Borrower's
   obligation hereunder to provide the Administrative Agent with written
   notice. The Administrative Agent shall notify each Incremental Term Loan
   Lender of such Request for Advance pursuant to clause (d) above. Following
   their receipt of such notice, the Incremental Term Loan Lenders shall either
   (i) make available to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent's
   Office, or at such account as the Administrative Agent shall designate,
   Advances of the Term Loans, based upon their respective Incremental Term
   Loan Ratios, in the aggregate principal amount of the requested Term Loan
   Commitment Increase to be disbursed to the Borrower pursuant to clause (e)
   above or (ii) notify the Administrative Agent that the Incremental Term Loan
   Lenders do not agree to provide the requested Term

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   Loan Commitment Increase. Notwithstanding any term or provision of this
   Agreement which may be construed to the contrary, each Term Loan Commitment
   Increase shall be in a principal amount of at least $5,000,000.

           "(ii)  Unless the Borrower shall make the Bond Interest Payment
   solely from the proceeds of Advances made under a Term Loan Commitment
   Increase requested by the Borrower for the purpose of making the Bond
   Interest Payment, the making of the Bond Interest Payment shall be deemed
   irrevocably to be a request for a Term Loan Commitment Increase on the date
   thereof in the aggregate amount of the Bond Interest Payment. To the extent
   that the Incremental Term Loan Lenders agree to any such Term Loan
   Commitment Increase, the proceeds of Advances of the Incremental Term Loans
   shall be disbursed to the Borrower pursuant to clause (e) above and shall
   bear interest initially as Base Rate Advances. The Incremental Term Loan
   Lenders shall have no obligation to the Borrower to honor any such deemed
   Request for Advance, but may do so in their sole discretion.

           "(iii)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
   Agreement, the Incremental Term Loan Lenders shall not be required to act
   upon any request by the Borrower for a Term Loan Commitment Increase within
   any specified time period and may elect to fund any requested Term Loan
   Commitment Increase in their sole discretion. No Incremental Term Loan
   Lender shall be obligated to fund its portion of a requested Term Loan
   Commitment Increase unless (x) all of the Incremental Term Loan Lenders
   agree to fund such Term Loan Commitment Increase and, (y) except with
   respect to any Term Loan Commitment Increase requested or deemed requested
   to fund the Bond Interest Payment, the Forbearance Period shall then be in
   effect."

   4.   Amendment to Section 2.3.  Section 2.3(d) of the Credit Agreement,
Interest Upon Default, is hereby modified and amended by adding the following
sentence at the end thereof:

      "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, during the
   Forbearance Period, interest on the Obligations shall accrue at the Default
   Rate."

   5.  Amendment to Section 2.4.  Section 2.4(b) of the Credit Agreement,
Commitment Fees, is hereby modified and amended by deleting the reference to
"Available Revolving Commitment" therein and by substituting "Unused Revolving
Commitment" therefor.

   6.  Amendment to Section 2.7.

   (a)  Section 2.7 of the Credit Agreement, Mandatory Repayments, is hereby
modified and amended by deleting the reference to "March 31, 2002" from clause
(a) and by substituting "December 31, 2001" in lieu thereof.

   (b)  Section 2.7 of the Credit Agreement, Mandatory Repayments, is hereby
further modified and amended by deleting clause (b)(viii) in its entirety and
by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "(viii)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
   Section 2.7(b), during the Amendment Period, if the Borrower, InternetCo,
   LaunchCo or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall sell, transfer or
   otherwise dispose of (including, without limitation, by way of condemnation
   or casualty to the extent not otherwise covered by insurance), any of its
   Assets with Net Proceeds in excess of $500,000 in the aggregate during the
   period commencing on the Fifth Amendment Date through the expiration of the
   Amendment Period (including, without limitation, any Equity Interests in
   LaunchCo, but not including (A) the issuance of Equity Interests in
   InternetCo or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) the sale by the Borrower or any
   of its Subsidiaries of Equity Interests in InternetCo or any of its
   Subsidiaries to the extent that the Borrower shall have certified to the
   Agents that the Net Proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its
   Subsidiaries in connection therewith shall have simultaneously been
   re-invested in InternetCo or such Subsidiary of InternetCo, as applicable,
   (C) the sale of obsolete equipment and inventory, (D) the sale, transfer or
   other disposition of fixed Assets that are replaced by property of
   substantially equivalent value in the ordinary course of business, (E) the
   sale or lease of databases, software, subscriber lists or office or

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   laboratory space, or the licensing of intellectual property, in each case in
   the ordinary course of business, (F) the sale of Cash Equivalents, or
   (G) the sale or discount of accounts receivable in connection with
   compromise or collection (but not in connection with accounts receivable
   securitizations or similar transactions)), one hundred percent (100%) of the
   Net Proceeds from such sale, transfer or other disposition shall, (x) in the
   case of Net Proceeds received by the Borrower, be applied, and (y) in the
   case of Net Proceeds received by InternetCo, LaunchCo or any applicable
   Subsidiaries of the Borrower, be promptly distributed on a pro rata basis to
   all of such Person's equity holders and upon the Borrower's receipt of its
   pro rata share of any such Net Proceeds, be applied, in either case, to
   permanently reduce the Loans pursuant to Section 2.7(e) hereof; provided,
   however, that to the extent InternetCo shall distribute to the Borrower any
   Net Proceeds received by it in connection with the issuance of Equity
   Interests in InternetCo or any of its Subsidiaries, such Net Proceeds shall
   be applied to permanently reduce the Loans pursuant to Section 2.7(e)
   hereof."

   7.  Amendment to Section 2.8.  Section 2.8 of the Credit Agreement, Notes;
Loan Accounts, is hereby modified and amended by adding the following sentence
at the end of clause (a) thereof:

      "In the event that the Incremental Term Loan Lenders shall agree to fund
   any Term Loan Commitment Increase, any Incremental Term Loan Lender may
   request that the Borrower issue replacement Notes to the order of such
   Incremental Term Loan Lender reflecting the amount of such Incremental Term
   Loan Lender's increased Term A Commitment and increased Term B Commitment
   under this Agreement."

   8.  Amendment to Section 2.9.  Section 2.9 of the Credit Agreement, Manner
of Payment, is hereby modified and amended by adding the following new clause
(e) at the end thereof:

      "(e)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
   Agreement, the Incremental Term Loan Lenders shall decline any scheduled
   repayments and any mandatory or voluntary prepayments of the Incremental
   Term Loans or any of their other Term Loans subject to any participation
   arrangements with the Controlling Shareholders and the Co-Investors, or any
   of them, in each such case, the amount of such repayment or prepayment, as
   applicable, shall be applied, on a pro rata basis, to prepay the Term A
   Loans (other than the Term A Loans advanced by the Incremental Term Loan
   Lenders under any Incremental Term A Commitment and the Term A Loans subject
   to such participation arrangements) and the Term B Loans (other than the
   Term B Loans advanced by the Incremental Term Loan Lenders under any
   Incremental Term B Commitment and the Term B Loans subject to such
   participation arrangements) then outstanding."

   9.  Amendment to Section 3.2.  Section 3.2 of the Credit Agreement,
Conditions Precedent to Each Advance, is hereby deleted in its entirety and the
following substituted therefor:

      "Section 3.2  Conditions Precedent to Each Advance.  The obligation of
   the Lenders to make each Advance (including the initial Advance hereunder
   and any Advance of the Incremental Term Loans) is subject to the fulfillment
   of each of the following conditions immediately prior to or
   contemporaneously with such Advance:

      "(a)  All of the representations and warranties made by or with respect
   to Holdco, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or any of them, under this
   Agreement and the other Loan Documents, which, pursuant to Section 4.2
   hereof, are made at and as of the time of such Advance, shall be true and
   correct at such time in all material respects, both before and after giving
   effect to the application of the proceeds of such Advance unless
   specifically relating to an earlier date; and

      "(b)  There shall not exist, on the date of the making of such Advance
   and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Advance,
   a Default or Event of Default hereunder (other than (x) during the
   Forbearance Period, any Specified Default and (y) with respect to any
   Advance of the Incremental Term Loans the proceeds of which shall be used to
   fund the Bond Interest Payment, whether such Advance is

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   made during or after expiration of the Forbearance Period, any Default or
   Event of Default other than a Material Default), and the Administrative
   Agent shall have received a Request for Advance signed by an Authorized
   Signatory so certifying, which Request for Advance shall also (except with
   respect to Advances of the Incremental Term Loans made during the
   Forbearance Period or after expiration of the Forbearance Period for the
   purpose of funding the Bond Interest Payment) provide calculations
   demonstrating the Borrower's compliance with Sections 8.1 and 8.2 hereof
   before and after giving effect to such Advance."

   10.  Amendment to Section 4.1.  Section 4.1(l) of the Credit Agreement, No
Adverse Change, is hereby modified and amended by deleting the reference to
"December 31, 1999" and by substituting "the Fifth Amendment Date" therefor.

   11.  Amendment to Section 5.4.  Section 5.4 of the Credit Agreement,
Accounting Methods and Financial Records, is hereby modified and amended by
deleting the reference to "March 31" from the last sentence thereof and by
substituting "December 31" therefor.

   12.  Amendment to Section 5.8.  Section 5.8 of the Credit Agreement, Use of
Proceeds, is hereby modified and amended by (a) adding "(other than Advances of
the Incremental Term Loans)" immediately prior to clause (a) in the first
sentence thereof and (b) inserting the following new sentence immediately after
the first sentence thereof:

      "The Borrower will use the aggregate proceeds of all Advances of the
   Incremental Term Loans for working capital and other general corporate
   purposes of the Restricted Group and, to the extent permitted herein, the
   Unrestricted Subsidiaries."

   13.  Amendment to Section 6.1.  Section 6.1 of the Credit Agreement, Monthly
Financial Statements, is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following
substituted therefor:

      "Section 6.1  Monthly Financial Statements and Information.  With respect
   to each month ending during the Amendment Period (including, without
   limitation, September 30, 2002) and with respect to the month ending
   November 30, 2002, within thirty (30) days after the last day of each such
   month, (a) the unaudited balance sheets of the Borrower, on a consolidated
   basis with the Restricted Subsidiaries, and the related statements of
   operations and the related statements of cash flows of the Borrower, on a
   consolidated basis with the Restricted Subsidiaries, and the unaudited
   income statement of the Borrower, on a consolidated basis with the
   Restricted Subsidiaries, and (b) the related revenue and EBITDA on a
   consolidating (by publication) basis, in all cases for such month and for
   the elapsed portion of the year ended with the last day of such month, which
   shall set forth in comparative form such figures as at the end of and for
   such month and the corresponding month during the preceding fiscal year and
   as against the figures set forth for such month in the Borrower's business
   plan provided to the Credit Parties pursuant to Section 6.5(c) hereof, and
   shall be certified by a Principal Officer to be, in his or her opinion,
   complete and correct in all material respects and to present fairly in all
   material respects, in accordance with GAAP, the financial position of the
   Borrower, on a consolidated and consolidating (by publication) basis, as at
   the end of such period and the results of operations for such period, and
   for the elapsed portion of the year ended with the last day of such period,
   subject only to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes."

   14.  Amendment to Section 6.4.  Section 6.4 of the Credit Agreement,
Performance Certificates, is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following
substituted therefor:

      "Section 6.4  Performance Certificates.

      "(a)  At the time the financial statements are furnished pursuant to
   Section 6.1 hereof, a Performance Certificate:

           "(i)  setting forth as at the end of such fiscal month, (A) the
       arithmetical calculations required to establish whether the Borrower was
       in compliance with the requirements of Section 8.1 and Section 8.2

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       hereof and (B) to the extent that the Borrower or any of the Restricted
       Subsidiaries shall have made any payment during such fiscal month to
       cover operating expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business
       which are allocable to the operations of any Unrestricted Subsidiary,
       evidence that the Borrower shall have received (whether during or prior
       to such fiscal month) (I) proceeds of any Incremental Term Loans
       permitted to be invested in the Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to
       Section 7.2 hereof or (II) Specified Equity Contributions, in either
       case in an amount sufficient to cover such operating expenses and not
       used for other purposes;

           "(ii)  stating that, to the best of his or her knowledge, no Default
       or Event of Default (other than any Specified Default) has occurred as
       at the end of such period, or, if a Default or an Event of Default
       (other than a Specified Default) has occurred, disclosing each such
       Default or Event of Default and its nature, when it occurred, whether it
       is continuing and the steps being taken by the Borrower with respect to
       such Default or Event of Default; and

           "(iii)  accompanied by a forecast of weekly cash receipts and
       disbursements, (x) during the Forbearance Period, for the period
       commencing on the first day of the immediately succeeding fiscal month
       through March 29, 2002, and (y) at all other times, for the immediately
       succeeding fiscal month, in each case, certified as reasonable by a
       Principal Officer of the Borrower.

      "(b)  At the time the financial statements are furnished pursuant to
   Section 6.2 hereof, a Performance Certificate:

           "(i) setting forth as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the
       arithmetical calculations required to establish (A) whether the Borrower
       was in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Covenants, and
       (B) after the expiration of the Amendment Period, the Applicable Margin;

           "(ii) setting forth a summary of all Investments received by (x) any
       member of the InternetCo Group (other than from any other member of the
       InternetCo Group), (y) any member of the LaunchCo Group (other than from
       any other member of the LaunchCo Group) and (z) any Consumer Publication
       Joint Venture, in each case during the applicable fiscal quarter, which
       summary shall (A) include the total amount of all such Investments
       received from and after the Agreement Date, (B) identify the Person
       making such Investment, and (C) with respect to Investments made by the
       Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, indicate whether each such
       Investment was funded with Specified Equity Contributions or proceeds of
       any Incremental Term Loans permitted to be invested in the Unrestricted
       Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 7.2; and

           "(iii) stating that, to the best of his or her knowledge, no Default
       or Event of Default (other than, during the Forbearance Period, any
       Specified Default) has occurred as at the end of such period, or, if a
       Default or an Event of Default (other than, during the Forbearance
       Period, any Specified Default) has occurred, disclosing each such
       Default or Event of Default and its nature, when it occurred, whether it
       is continuing and the steps being taken by the Borrower with respect to
       such Default or Event of Default."

   15.  Amendment to Section 6.5.  Section 6.5 of the Credit Agreement, Other
Reports, is hereby modified and amended by deleting clause (c) in its entirety
and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "(c)  Annually, and in no event later than January 31 of any year, a copy
   of the Borrower's annual business plan and updated financial projections for
   itself and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such fiscal year."

   16.  Amendments to Section 7.1.

   (a)  Section 7.1 of the Credit Agreement, Indebtedness, is hereby modified
and amended by deleting clause (l) in its entirety and by substituting the
following in lieu thereof:

      "(l)  [Intentionally Omitted];"

                                      8

<PAGE>

   (b)  Section 7.1 of the Credit Agreement, Indebtedness, is hereby further
modified and amended by deleting clause (a) in its entirety and by substituting
the following in lieu thereof:

      "(a)  Indebtedness under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
   provided that during the Forbearance Period and after expiration of the
   Forbearance Period to the extent set forth in Section 2.1(e), the Borrower
   may incur Indebtedness represented by the Incremental Term Loans
   notwithstanding the existence of any Default or Event of Default;"

   17.  Amendment to Section 7.2.  Section 7.2 of the Credit Agreement,
Investments, is hereby modified and amended by deleting clause (v) from the
final paragraph thereof (starting "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, the following shall apply") and by substituting
the following in lieu thereof:

      "(v)  during the Amendment Period, all Investments or loans made by the
   Restricted Group in or to any member of the InternetCo Group, any member of
   the LaunchCo Group or any Foreign Subsidiary shall be subject to consent of
   the Required Lenders; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing
   consent requirement,

           "(I)  the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make
       Investments in the Unrestricted Subsidiaries and in the Joint Venture
       Subsidiaries (other than, except to the extent permitted pursuant to
       clause (x) below, the Consumer Publication Joint Ventures) with
       Specified Equity Contributions;

           "(II)  so long as no Default or Event of Default (other than, during
       the Forbearance Period, any Specified Default) then exists or would be
       caused thereby, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make Investments
       in Unrestricted Subsidiaries funded by the proceeds of any Incremental
       Term Loans to the extent such proceeds have not been used for any other
       purpose in an aggregate amount not to exceed, together with the amount
       of any Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries made pursuant to the
       immediately succeeding clause (III) and funded by the proceeds of any
       Incremental Term Loans, $10,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of
       this Agreement; and

           "(III)  the Borrower may make Investments in any Unrestricted
       Subsidiary to cover operating expenses incurred in the ordinary course
       of business which are allocable to the operations of such Unrestricted
       Subsidiary to the extent that the Borrower shall have received (A)
       Specified Equity Contributions or (B) so long as no Default or Event of
       Default (other than, during the Forbearance Period, any Specified
       Default) then exists or would be caused thereby, proceeds of any
       Incremental Term Loans, in either case in an amount sufficient to cover
       such operating expenses and not used for other purposes; provided that
       the aggregate amount of any such Investments funded by the proceeds of
       any Incremental Term Loans shall not, together with any Investments in
       Unrestricted Subsidiaries made pursuant to the immediately preceding
       clause (II), exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this
       Agreement;"

   18.  Amendments to Article 8.

   (a)  Section 8.1 of the Credit Agreement, Total Leverage Ratio, is hereby
modified and amended by inserting "After expiration of the Forbearance Period,"
at the beginning of clause (a) thereof.

   (b)  Section 8.2 of the Credit Agreement, Senior Leverage Ratio, is hereby
modified and amended by inserting "After expiration of the Forbearance Period,"
at the beginning of clause (a) thereof.

   (c)  Section 8.3 of the Credit Agreement, Interest Coverage Ratio, is hereby
modified and amended by inserting "After expiration of the Forbearance Period,"
at the beginning of such Section.

   (d)  Section 8.4 of the Credit Agreement, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, is
hereby modified and amended by inserting "After expiration of the Forbearance
Period," at the beginning of such Section.

                                      9

<PAGE>

   19.  Amendment to Section 12.2.  Section 12.2 of the Credit Agreement,
Expenses, is hereby modified and amended by deleting clause (d) in its entirety
and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "(d)  from and after and during the occurrence of an Event of Default
   (including, without limitation, during the Forbearance Period), (i) all
   reasonable legal and other out-of-pocket expenses of the Credit Parties
   incurred in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement and the other
   Loan Documents, (ii) all reasonable legal and other out-of-pocket expenses
   of the Credit Parties incurred in connection with any restructuring or "work
   out" of, or bankruptcy proceeding relating to, the transactions contemplated
   by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, including, but not limited
   to, the reasonable fees and disbursements of any experts, agents or
   consultants and of counsel for the Credit Parties, and any exercise by any
   of the Credit Parties of their respective remedies provided for in this
   Agreement or the other Loan Documents, (iii) all reasonable fees and
   expenses of the financial advisor engaged by counsel for the Administrative
   Agent in connection with the Fifth Amendment, and (iv) all reasonable
   out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys'
   fees and expenses) of the Administrative Agent and each of the Incremental
   Term Loan Lenders incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation
   and execution of any documentation relating to, and any administration of,
   any participation arrangements between the Incremental Term Loan Lenders and
   any of the Controlling Shareholders and Co-Investors."

   20.  Amendment to Section 12.5.  Section 12.5 of the Credit Agreement,
Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments, is hereby modified and
amended by adding the following proviso at the end of the second sentence of
clause (c) thereof:

      "; provided further that notwithstanding anything to the contrary
   contained herein, with respect to any assignment of any Term Loans by an
   Incremental Term Loan Lender, such assignment shall be made on a pro rata
   basis between the Incremental Term Loans and the Term Loans (other than the
   Incremental Term Loans) of such Incremental Term Loan Lender, and while it
   shall not be required that such assignment of the Term Loans (other than the
   Incremental Term Loans) be made on a pro rata basis between Term A Loans and
   Term B Loans, it shall be required that any assignment of the Incremental
   Term Loans be made pro rata between Term A Loans and Term B Loans and it
   shall further be required that a pro rata share of the obligation of the
   assigning Incremental Term Loan Lender to consider funding a Term Loan
   Increase be likewise assigned."

   21.  Forbearance.

   (a)  For the period beginning as of the Effective Date and ending at the
earlier of (i) 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on February 12, 2002 (the "Expiration
Date"), as such date may be extended pursuant to clause (e) below, and (ii) the
date upon which a Forbearance Default (as defined below) shall occur (such
period herein referred to as the "Forbearance Period"), the Lead Arranger, the
Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the
Credit Parties, without waiving, curing or ceasing the continuance of the
Specified Defaults, hereby agree to forbear from the exercise of their rights
and remedies available under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents
on account of the Specified Defaults. Except as expressly limited herein, the
Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the
Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties hereby expressly reserve all of
their rights and remedies under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and under Applicable Law with respect to the Specified Defaults.

   (b)  The Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the
Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties hereby further agree that the
Administrative Agent shall not deliver any notice to the trustee for the
Refinancing Securities the effect of which would be to restrict payment of the
Bond Interest Payment and to commence the "Blockage Period" provided for in the
indenture for the Refinancing Securities (a "Blockage Notice") unless (i) a
Material Default shall have occurred or (ii) any default or event of default by
any of the Participants (as defined in the Participation Agreement referenced
herein) shall have occurred under that certain Participation Agreement dated as
of the Effective Date among the Incremental Term Loan Lenders and the

                                      10

<PAGE>

Participants (as defined therein) (as the same may be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Participation
Agreement"). In the event that the Bond Interest Payment shall not have been
made with the proceeds of a Term Loan Commitment Increase by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern
time) on February 12, 2002, the Administrative Agent shall deliver a Blockage
Notice to the trustee for the Refinancing Securities based upon the existence
of the Specified Defaults and any other Events of Default occurring after the
Fifth Amendment Date.

   (c)  The agreement by the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the
Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties to grant
the forbearance herein shall be effective only with respect to the Specified
Defaults and shall automatically cease to be of any force or effect, and except
to the extent set forth in the foregoing clause (b), the Lead Arranger, the
Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the
Credit Parties shall be entitled to exercise all of their rights and remedies
under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and under Applicable
Law, in the event that (i) any Default or Event of Default (other than any
Specified Default) shall occur or exist under the Credit Agreement or any of
the other Loan Documents or (ii) any default or event of default by any of the
Participants (as defined in the Participation Agreement) shall occur under the
Participation Agreement (each such event referred to in the foregoing clauses
(i) and (ii) being herein referred to as a "Forbearance Default").

   (d)  The agreement by the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the
Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties to grant
the forbearance herein shall not be construed to limit in any manner the
effectiveness of any restriction or limitation set forth in the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents which is applicable to the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries and permits the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to engage in
certain activities only during the absence of any Default or Event of Default,
other than to the extent any such activity may be expressly permitted by this
Agreement. Such restrictions and limitations shall remain in full force and
effect notwithstanding the existence of the Forbearance Period.

   (e)  So long as (i) no Forbearance Default shall have occurred and (ii) the
Borrower shall have made the Bond Interest Payment on or before February 12,
2002, the Expiration Date with respect to the Forbearance Period shall
automatically extend to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on March 15, 2002, without any
further action necessary on the part of the Borrower, the Lead Arranger, the
Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent or any of
the Credit Parties. The parties hereto may further extend the Forbearance
Period, but the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent,
the Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties shall be under no obligation to
do so. Any additional extension of the Forbearance Period shall be in the sole
discretion of the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation
Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties and, if granted, shall
be evidenced by a written instrument executed by the Required Lenders.

   (f)  clause (b) above, (i) the forbearance granted herein is not and shall
not be deemed to constitute an undertaking by the Lead Arranger, the
Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the
Credit Parties, or any of them, to forbear or refrain at any time from
exercising any and all rights and remedies available to them under the Credit
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or under Applicable Law upon the
occurrence of any Forbearance Default or the failure to comply with any terms
of this Agreement and (ii) it shall not seek to distrain or otherwise hinder,
delay, or impair the Administrative Agent's efforts to realize upon the
Collateral, or otherwise to enforce its rights and remedies pursuant to the
Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The provisions of this paragraph
shall be specifically enforceable by the Administrative Agent.

   22.  No Other Amendments or Forbearance.  Except for the amendments and
forbearance expressly set forth above, the text of the Credit Agreement and the
other Loan Documents shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect, and
the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the
Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties hereby reserve the right to require
strict compliance with the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents in the future. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this
Agreement shall not be construed to: (a) impair the validity, perfection or
priority of any Lien or security interest securing the Obligations; (b) waive
or impair any rights, powers or remedies of the Lead Arranger, the

                                      11

<PAGE>

Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the
Credit Parties under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents upon
termination of the Forbearance Period, with respect to the Specified Defaults
or otherwise; or (c) constitute a waiver of any right of the Lead Arranger, the
Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent or the
Credit Parties to insist on strict compliance by the Borrower with each and
every term, condition and covenant of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.

   23.  Reaffirmation.  Each of the Borrower and the Guarantors (each a "Pledge
Party") acknowledges and agrees that the security and other interests granted
to the Administrative Agent and the other Credit Parties pursuant to the Loan
Documents to which each respective Pledge Party is a signatory prior to the
date hereof shall remain outstanding and in full force and effect in accordance
with the Loan Documents, and shall continue to secure the Obligations, and that
the security and other interests granted to the Administrative Agent and the
other Credit Parties thereby are hereby ratified, confirmed and continued by
execution and delivery hereof. The Loan Documents shall remain extant and in
full force and effect following the execution and delivery of this Amendment
and the other Loan Documents executed in connection therewith, and each of the
Pledge Parties hereby ratifies and confirms its respective obligations
thereunder. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that, as of the Effective Date,
principal in the amount of $189,201,198.66, plus accrued interest and
applicable fees and expenses, was owing by the Borrower under the Credit
Agreement, and further acknowledges its unconditional liability for the such
amounts, without offset, defense or counterclaim.

   24.  Upfront Fee.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay, upon the Effective
Date (as defined in Section 25 below), an upfront fee (the "Upfront Fee") to
the Incremental Term Loan Lenders in an amount equal to 2.00% of the aggregate
principal amount that the Incremental Term Loan Lenders shall agree, as of the
Effective Date, to provide to the Borrower, from time to time in their sole
discretion, in respect of Term Loan Commitment Increases. The Upfront Fee shall
be allocated among the Incremental Term Loan Lenders based upon their
respective Incremental Term Loan Ratios. The Upfront Fee shall be fully earned
when due and non-refundable when paid.

   25.  Conditions to Effectiveness.  This Agreement shall be effective as of
the date first written above (the "Effective Date") upon (a) the Administrative
Agent's receipt of a counterpart hereof duly executed by the Borrower, the
Guarantors and the Required Lenders and (b) upon the occurrence of each of the
following terms and conditions:

   (a)  The Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following in
form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel:

      (i)  The legal opinion of Kirkland & Ellis, as counsel to the Borrower
   Parties, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
   addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Credit Parties; and

      (ii)  Evidence that the Borrower shall have filed with the United States
   Copyright Office documentation sufficient to assign of record the Copyrights
   (as defined in the Intellectual Property Security Agreement) from the Seller
   to Pub Holdco.

   (b)  The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of the Borrower's
financial forecast of cash receipts and disbursements for the period from
January 1, 2002 through March 29, 2002.

   (c)  The Credit Parties shall have received payment of all fees and expenses
(including, without limitation, the Upfront Fee) due and payable on the Fifth
Amendment Date in respect of the Credit Agreement, this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

   (d)  No event shall have occurred since July 13, 2001, which shall have had
a Materially Adverse Effect on the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, except with respect to (i) the existence of the Specified
Defaults and (ii) the decline in the Borrower's business attributable to the
reduction in advertising pages and circulation, in each case, resulting from
market conditions existing as of and preceding the Effective Date.

                                      12

<PAGE>

   (e)  The Administrative Agent shall have received such other information,
documents, instruments or approvals as the Administrative Agent or its counsel
may reasonably require.

   26.  Representations and Warranties.  The Borrower, for itself and on behalf
of each of its Subsidiaries, agrees, represents and warrants in favor of the
Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the
Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties that:

   (a)  This Agreement has been executed and delivered by duly authorized
representatives of the Borrower and the Guarantors, and the Credit Agreement,
as modified and amended by this Agreement, constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Borrower and is enforceable against the Borrower in
accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally and by the application of general equitable principles;

   (b)  PubCo has sold or otherwise disposed of the Equity Interest owned by it
in MacWorld, and as a result thereof, all references in the Credit Agreement to
"MacWorld" are of no further force or effect (including, without limitation,
all references to MacWorld contained in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 of the Credit
Agreement);

   (c)  After giving effect to this Agreement, no Default or Event of Default
(other than the Specified Defaults) shall have occurred and be continuing, and
the Borrower has made full disclosure to the Administrative Agent of all
Defaults and Events of Default existing as of Effective Date as is required
under Section 6.6(c) of the Credit Agreement;

   (d)  No event contemplated in connection with this Agreement has occurred,
which has not been consented to or waived, the occurrence of which constitutes,
or with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute, a
material default by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any material
indenture, agreement or other instrument, or any judgment, decree or order, to
which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties may
be bound or affected; and

   27.  Acknowledgements.  The parties hereby acknowledge that (a) they have
not entered into a mutual disregard of the terms and provision of the Credit
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or engaged in any course of dealing at
variance with the terms and provision of the Credit Agreement or the other Loan
Documents and (b) the principal amount of any Term Loan Commitment Increase
funded by the Incremental Term Loan Lenders under the Credit Agreement shall be
allocated as follows: 26.28% to the Incremental Term A Commitment and 73.72% to
the Incremental Term B Commitment. The Borrower hereby further acknowledges
that it shall not rely upon the existence of or claim or assert that there
exists any such course of dealing or mutual disregard of terms. Each of the
Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the
Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties hereby further acknowledges that
the Specified Defaults are all of the Defaults and Events of Default existing
under the Credit Agreement of which such Person has knowledge (whether by
notice from the Borrower or otherwise) as of the Fifth Amendment Date. The
Credit Parties hereby acknowledge and consent that, to the extent that any of
the Controlling Shareholders purchases any participation interests in the
Credit Agreement, such purchases shall reduce, on a dollar for dollar basis,
any obligation of any of the Controlling Shareholders to make an investment in
Ziff Davis Holdings Inc. that may exist under Section 7 of that Stock Purchase
Agreement dated August 30, 2001 among Ziff Davis Holdings Inc. and certain
Controlling Shareholders, as such Section 7 and the obligations thereunder were
amended by that Stock Purchase Agreement dated October 31, 2001 among Ziff
Davis Holdings Inc. and such Controlling Shareholders.

   28.  Financial Advisor.  Promptly after the Effective Date, counsel to the
Administrative Agent shall have the right to engage a financial advisor to
review the Borrower's business plan on behalf of the Credit Parties and to
provide advice to the Credit Parties in connection with the financial condition
of the Borrower and the restructuring of the Loans and other Obligations under
the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Borrower will, and will
cause each of the other Borrower Parties to, permit representatives of such
financial advisor to visit and inspect their respective properties, to inspect
their respective books and records and to discuss with their respective
principal officers their respective business, assets, liabilities, financial
positions, results of

                                      13

<PAGE>

operations and business prospects, in each case, to the same extent as
permitted to representatives of the Credit Parties pursuant to Section 5.7 of
the Credit Agreement. The Borrower will, and will cause each of the other
Borrower Parties to, cooperate fully with such financial advisor and its
representatives in conducting their review of the Borrower and the other
Borrower Parties.

   29.  Release and Waiver.  In order to induce the Lead Arranger, the
Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the
Credit Parties to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, the Borrower (a)
represents and warrants that there are no claims, causes of action, suits,
debts, obligations, liabilities, demands of any kind, character or nature
whatsoever, fixed or contingent, which the Borrower may have, or claim to have,
against the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the
Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties, or any of them, with respect to
the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, and the Borrower hereby releases, acquits and forever discharges
each of the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the
Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties and their respective agents,
employees, officers, directors, servants, representatives, attorneys,
affiliates, successors and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties") from
any and all liabilities, claims, suits, debts, causes of action and the like of
any kind, character or nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent
that the Borrower may have, or claim to have, against each of the such Released
Parties from the beginning of time until and through the dates of execution and
delivery of this Agreement, and (b) hereby covenants and agrees never to
institute or cause to be instituted or continue prosecution of any suit or
other form of action or proceeding of any kind or nature whatsoever against any
Released Party, by reason of or in connection with any of the foregoing
matters, liabilities, claims, suits, debts or causes of action.

   30.  Effect on the Credit Agreement.  Except as specifically provided
herein, the Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and is
hereby ratified, reaffirmed and confirmed. This Agreement shall be deemed to be
a Loan Document for all purposes.

   31.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of separate
counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall be
deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. In proving this Agreement in
any judicial proceedings, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for
more than one such counterpart signed by the party against whom such
enforcement is sought. Any signatures delivered by a party by facsimile
transmission shall be deemed an original signature hereto.

   32.  Delivery of Lender Addenda.  Each Credit Party shall become a party to
this Agreement by delivering to the Administrative Agent a Lender Addendum,
substantially in the form of Annex A attached hereto, duly executed by such
Credit Party.

   33.  Law of Contract.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO
CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN SUCH STATE.

               [REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                      14

<PAGE>

   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed as of the day and
year first written above.

<TABLE>
<S>                                        <C>
BORROWER:                                  ZIFF DAVIS MEDIA INC.
                                           By: ________________________________
                                           Name: ______________________________
                                           Title: _____________________________

GURANTORS:                                 ZIFF DAVIS PUBLISHING HOLDINGS INC.,
                                           a Delaware corporation
                                           By: ________________________________
                                           Name: ______________________________
                                           Title:  ____________________________

                                           ZIFF DAVIS PUBLISHING INC.,
                                           a Delaware corporation
                                           By: ________________________________
                                           Name: ______________________________
                                           Title: _____________________________

                                           ZIFF DAVIS INTERNET INC.,
                                           a Delaware corporation
                                           By: ________________________________
                                           Name: ______________________________
                                           Title: _____________________________

                                           ZIFF DAVIS DEVELOPMENT INC.,
                                           a Delaware corporation
                                           By: ________________________________
                                           Name: ______________________________
                                           Title: _____________________________

                                           eTESTING LABS,INC.,
                                           a Delaware corporation
                                           By: ________________________________
                                           Name: ______________________________
                                           Title: _____________________________

LEAD ARRANGER:                             CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
                                           By: ________________________________
                                           Name: ______________________________
                                           Title: _____________________________
</TABLE>

                 [SIGNATURES CONTINUED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]

                                      15

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>
SYNDICATION AGENT:                  BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
                                   By: ________________________________________
                                   Name: ______________________________________
                                   Title: _____________________________________

DOCUMENTATION AGENT:               FLEET NATIONAL BANK
                                   By: ________________________________________
                                   Name: ______________________________________
                                   Title: _____________________________________

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:              CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE
                                   By: ________________________________________
                                   Name:  Deborah D. Strek
                                   Title: Managing Director, CIBC World Markets
                                          Corp., as Agent
</TABLE>

                                      16

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 1

                              SPECIFIED DEFAULTS

   The Borrower has failed to comply with the covenants set forth in Sections
8.1, 8.2, and 8.3 of the Credit Agreement during the period from September 30,
2001 through January 14, 2002.

                                      17

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 2

                         INCREMENTAL TERM LOAN LENDERS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          Name of Institution                       Incremental Term Loan Ratio
          -------------------                       ---------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>
Willis Stein & Partners III, L.P.                             93.555%
Willis Stein & Partners Dutch III-A, L.P.                     2.817%
Willis Stein & Partners Dutch III-B, L.P.                     2.817%
Willis Stein & Partners III-C, L.P.                           0.811%
</TABLE>

                                      18

<PAGE>

                                    ANNEX A

                            FORM OF LENDER ADDENDUM

                                [see attached]

                                      19

<PAGE>

                                    ANNEX A

                            FORM OF LENDER ADDENDUM
                        (INCREMENTAL TERM LOAN LENDER)

                             ZIFF DAVIS MEDIA INC.
                               CREDIT AGREEMENT
                           DATED AS OF APRIL 5, 2000

   Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2000, as
amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of June
12, 2000, as amended by that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated
as of July 19, 2000, as amended by that certain Third Amendment to Credit
Agreement dated as of January 22, 2001, as amended by that certain Fourth
Amendment to Credit Agreement and Reaffirmation Agreement dated as of July 13,
2001 (as further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time,
the "Credit Agreement"), by and among Ziff Davis Media Inc., as Borrower, CIBC
World Markets Corp., as lead arranger and bookrunner, Bankers Trust Company, as
syndication agent, Fleet National Bank, as documentation agent, Canadian
Imperial Bank of Commerce, as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent")
and the other Credit Parties party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein that
are not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit
Agreement.
   The Borrower has requested that the Required Lenders agree (a) to forbear
from the exercise of their remedies available under the Credit Agreement and
the other Loan Documents on account of certain Defaults and Events of Default
that have occurred and are continuing under the Credit Agreement and (b) to
amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement, in each case, on the terms
and conditions described in the Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement and
Forbearance Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Fifth
Amendment").

   By execution and delivery of this Lender Addendum as provided in Section 32
of the Fifth Amendment, the undersigned Credit Party hereby consents to and
agrees with all of the terms and conditions contained in the Fifth Amendment,
effective as of January ___, 2002. The undersigned Credit Party, by its
execution and delivery of this Lender Addendum, hereby becomes an Incremental
Term Loan Lender, effective as of January __, 2002, for all purposes applicable
to such status under the Credit Agreement (as amended by the Fifth Amendment)
and to provide, from time to time in its sole discretion at the request of the
Borrower, Incremental Term A Commitments and Incremental Term B Commitments in
an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $_________________ (maximum share
of all Term Loan Commitment Increases).

   THIS LENDER ADDENDUM SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                         [SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

                                      20

<PAGE>

   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Lender Addendum to
be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as
of this ___ day of January, 2002.

                                          _____________________________________
                                          (NAME OF CREDIT PARTY)

                                          By:________________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                      21

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A

                            COPY OF FIFTH AMENDMENT
                                [see attached]

                                      22

<PAGE>

                                    ANNEX A

                            FORM OF LENDER ADDENDUM
                      (NON-INCREMENTAL TERM LOAN LENDER)

                             ZIFF DAVIS MEDIA INC.
                               CREDIT AGREEMENT
                           DATED AS OF APRIL 5, 2000

   Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2000, as
amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of June
12, 2000, as amended by that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated
as of July 19, 2000, as amended by that certain Third Amendment to Credit
Agreement dated as of January 22, 2001, as amended by that certain Fourth
Amendment to Credit Agreement and Reaffirmation Agreement dated as of July 13,
2001 (as further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time,
the "Credit Agreement"), by and among Ziff Davis Media Inc., as Borrower, CIBC
World Markets Corp., as lead arranger and bookrunner, Bankers Trust Company, as
syndication agent, Fleet National Bank, as documentation agent, Canadian
Imperial Bank of Commerce, as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent")
and the other Credit Parties party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein that
are not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit
Agreement.
   The Borrower has requested that the Required Lenders agree (a) to forbear
from the exercise of their remedies available under the Credit Agreement and
the other Loan Documents on account of certain Defaults and Events of Default
that have occurred and are continuing under the Credit Agreement and (b) to
amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement, in each case, on the terms
and conditions described in the Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement and
Forbearance Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Fifth
Amendment").

   By execution and delivery of this Lender Addendum as provided in Section 32
of the Fifth Amendment, the undersigned Credit Party hereby consents to and
agrees with all of the terms and conditions contained in the Fifth Amendment,
effective as of January ___, 2002.

   THIS LENDER ADDENDUM SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                         [SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

                                      23

<PAGE>

   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Lender Addendum to
be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as
of this ___ day of January, 2002.

                                          _____________________________________
                                          (NAME OF CREDIT PARTY)

                                          By:________________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                      24

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A
                            COPY OF FIFTH AMENDMENT
                                [see attached]

                                      25<PAGE>

Exhibit 10.12

                      SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
                 AND FIRST AMENDMENT TO FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT

   THIS SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND FIRST AMENDMENT TO FORBEARANCE
AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of March 14, 2002, by and among
Ziff Davis Media Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), CIBC World
Markets Corp., as lead arranger and bookrunner (the "Lead Arranger"), Bankers
Trust Company, as syndication agent (the "Syndication Agent"), Fleet National
Bank, as documentation agent (the "Documentation Agent"), Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce, as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") and the
other Credit Parties party hereto (the "Credit Parties").

                             W I T N E S S E T H :

   WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the
Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties are
parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 5, 2000, as amended
by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of June 12, 2000,
as amended by that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of
July 19, 2000, as amended by that certain Third Amendment to Credit Agreement
dated as of January 22, 2001, as amended by that certain Fourth Amendment to
Credit Agreement and Reaffirmation Agreement dated as of July 13, 2001, as
amended by that certain Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement and Forbearance
Agreement dated as of January 14, 2002 (as the same may be further amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"); and

   WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested, and the Lead Arranger, the Syndication
Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties
have agreed, (a) to extend the expiration date with respect to their agreement
to forbear from the exercise of their remedies available under the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents on account of the Specified Defaults and
(b) to amend the Credit Agreement, in each case, to the extent set forth herein;

   NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms
and conditions contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby
agree that all capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, except as otherwise defined
or limited herein, and further agree, subject to the conditions precedent to
this Agreement hereinafter set forth, as follows:

   1.   Amendments to Article 1.

      (a) Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby modified
   and amended by adding the following new definitions in appropriate
   alphabetical order:

          " 'Sixth Amendment' shall mean that certain Sixth Amendment to Credit
       Agreement and First Amendment to Forbearance Agreement dated as of the
       Sixth Amendment Date among the Borrower, the Lead Arranger, the
       Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and
       the other Credit Parties party thereto.

          " 'Sixth Amendment Date' shall mean March 14, 2002."

      (b) Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby further
   modified and amended by deleting the definition of "Forbearance Period" in
   its entirety and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

          " 'Forbearance Period' shall have the meaning assigned to such term
       in the Fifth Amendment as amended and extended by the terms of the Sixth
       Amendment."

      (c) Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby further
   modified and amended by deleting the definition of "Revolving Commitment" in
   its entirety and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

          " 'Revolving Commitment' shall mean the several obligations of
       certain of the Lenders to advance the sum of $10,000,000 (as of the
       Sixth Amendment Date) to the Borrower, on or after the Agreement

                                      1

<PAGE>

       Date, in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Ratios
       and as such amount may be reduced from time to time, all pursuant to the
       terms hereof."

      (d) Article 1 of the Credit Agreement, Definitions, is hereby further
   modified and amended by deleting the definition of "Specified Default" in
   its entirety and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

          " 'Specified Default' shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
       the Fifth Amendment as such term has been amended and modified by the
       terms of the Sixth Amendment."

   2.  Amendment to Section 2.1  Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement, The
Loans, is hereby modified and amended by deleting the proviso at the end of
clause (a) and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "provided, however, the Borrower shall not be permitted to borrow any
   additional Advances under the Revolving Commitment for the fifteen (15) day
   period from and including June 28, 2002 through July 12, 2002"

   3.  Amendment to Section 2.2.  Section 2.2 of the Credit Agreement, Manner
of Borrowing and Disbursement, is hereby modified and amended by deleting the
last sentence from clause (f)(i) and by substituting the following in lieu
thereof:

      "Notwithstanding any term or provision of this Agreement which may be
   construed to the contrary, each Term Loan Commitment Increase shall be in a
   principal amount of at least $3,000,000."

   4.  Amendment to Section 2.7.  Section 2.7 of the Credit Agreement,
Mandatory Repayments, is hereby modified and amended by deleting clause (f) in
its entirety and by substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "(f) Revolving Loans.  The Borrower shall make a prepayment of the
   Revolving Loans (without any corresponding permanent reduction in the
   Revolving Commitment) (i) in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the
   aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans over the Available
   Revolving Commitment and (ii) on June 28, 2002, in an amount sufficient to
   reduce the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans to
   zero (0)."

   5.  Amendment to Section 6.1.  Section 6.1 of the Credit Agreement, Monthly
Financial Statements, is hereby modified and amended by adding the following
sentence at the end thereof:

      "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the foregoing,
   with respect to each month ending during the Forbearance Period, the
   financial statements and information required pursuant to this Section 6.1
   shall be delivered within twenty-five (25) days after the last day of each
   such month."

   6.  Amendment to Section 6.4.  Section 6.4 of the Credit Agreement,
Performance Certificates, is hereby modified and amended by deleting clause
(a)(iii) in its entirety and substituting the following in lieu thereof:

      "(iii) accompanied by a forecast of weekly cash receipts and
   disbursements, (x) during the Forbearance Period, for the period commencing
   on the first day of the immediately succeeding fiscal month through June 28,
   2002, and (y) at all other times, for the immediately succeeding fiscal
   month, in each case, certified as reasonable by a Principal Officer of the
   Borrower."

   7.  Amendment to Section 7.2.  Section 7.2 of the Credit Agreement,
Investments, is hereby modified and amended by deleting the reference to
"$10,000,000" in each of clauses (II) and (III) of subsection (v) in the final
paragraph thereof (starting "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in this Agreement, the following shall apply") and by substituting
"$15,000,000" in lieu thereof.

                                      2

<PAGE>

   8.  Amendment to Section 8.2.  Section 8.2 of the Credit Agreement, Senior
Leverage Ratio, is hereby modified and amended by inserting the following new
clause (c) at the end thereof:

      "(c) During the Forbearance Period, the Borrower shall not permit for any
   calendar month end during the periods set forth below, or as of the date of
   any Advance made on or after the Sixth Amendment Date, the Senior Leverage
   Ratio, after giving effect to such Advance (if applicable), to exceed the
   applicable ratio for such date during the periods as set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        Applicable Period                       Ratio
                        -----------------                    ------------
      <S>                                                    <C>
      February 1, 2002 through February 28, 2002............ 7.70 to 1.00
      March 1, 2002 through March 31, 2002.................. 8.70 to 1.00
      April 1, 2002 through April 30, 2002.................. 8.80 to 1.00
      May 1, 2002 through June 28, 2002..................... 8.75 to 1.00
</TABLE>

   9.  Amendments to Forbearance Agreement.

          (a) Additional Specified Defaults.  The Specified Defaults identified
       on Schedule 1 to the Fifth Amendment are hereby modified and amended to
       include the Default or Event of Default that may arise under Section 6.3
       of the Credit Agreement, Annual Financial Statements and Information,
       solely as a result of the certification of independent certified public
       accountants delivered by the Borrower thereunder with respect to the
       Borrower's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended
       December 31, 2001, containing an explanatory paragraph regarding the
       Borrower's ability to continue as a going concern.
          (b) Extension of Forbearance Period.  So long as no Forbearance
       Default (as defined in the Fifth Amendment) shall have occurred prior to
       the Sixth Amendment Date, the Expiration Date (as defined in the Fifth
       Amendment) with respect to the Forbearance Period shall be extended from
       5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on March 15, 2002 to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
       on June 28, 2002. The parties hereto may further extend the Forbearance
       Period, but the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation
       Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties shall be under no
       obligation to do so. Any additional extension of the Forbearance Period
       shall be in the sole discretion of the Lead Arranger, the Syndication
       Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Credit
       Parties and, if granted, shall be evidenced by a written instrument
       executed by the Required Lenders.

   10.  No Other Amendments or Extensions.  Except for the amendments and
extensions expressly set forth above, the text of the Credit Agreement and the
other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the terms of forbearance
set forth in the Fifth Amendment) shall remain unchanged and in full force and
effect, and the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent,
the Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties hereby reserve the right to
require strict compliance with the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other
Loan Documents in the future. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
this Agreement shall not be construed to: (a) impair the validity, perfection
or priority of any Lien or security interest securing the Obligations; (b)
waive or impair any rights, powers or remedies of the Lead Arranger, the
Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the
Credit Parties under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents upon
termination of the Forbearance Period, with respect to the Specified Defaults
or otherwise; or (c) constitute a waiver of any right of the Lead Arranger, the
Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent or the
Credit Parties to insist on strict compliance by the Borrower with each and
every term, condition and covenant of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.

   11.  Reaffirmation.  Each of the Borrower and the Guarantors (each a "Pledge
Party") acknowledges and agrees that the security and other interests granted
to the Administrative Agent and the other Credit Parties pursuant to the Loan
Documents to which each respective Pledge Party is a signatory prior to the
date hereof shall remain outstanding and in full force and effect in accordance
with the Loan Documents, and shall continue to secure the Obligations, and that
the security and other interests granted to the Administrative Agent and the

                                      3

<PAGE>

other Credit Parties thereby are hereby ratified, confirmed and continued by
execution and delivery hereof. The Loan Documents shall remain extant and in
full force and effect following the execution and delivery of this Amendment
and the other Loan Documents executed in connection therewith, and each of the
Pledge Parties hereby ratifies and confirms its respective obligations
thereunder.

   12.  Amendment Fee.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay, upon the Effective
Date (as defined in Section 13 below), to each Lender delivering its consent to
this Amendment on or before 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on March 14, 2002, an
amendment fee in the amount of 25 basis points on the amount of such Lender's
Revolving Commitment and Term Loans (other than any Term Loans subject to any
participation arrangements with any of the Controlling Shareholders or
Co-Investors) after giving effect to this Amendment and the reduction of the
Revolving Commitment made in connection herewith. The amendment fee referred to
herein shall be fully earned when due and non-refundable when paid.

   13.  Conditions to Effectiveness.  This Agreement shall be effective as of
the date first written above (the "Effective Date") upon (a) the Administrative
Agent's receipt of a counterpart hereof duly executed by the Borrower, the
Guarantors and the Required Lenders and (b) upon the occurrence of each of the
following terms and conditions:

      (a) The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of the Borrower's
   financial forecast of cash receipts and disbursements for the period from
   March 1, 2002 through June 28, 2002.

      (b) The Credit Parties shall have received payment of all fees and
   expenses (including, without limitation, the Amendment Fee) due and payable
   on the Sixth Amendment Date in respect of the Credit Agreement, this
   Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

      (c) No event shall have occurred since July 13, 2001, which shall have
   had a Materially Adverse Effect on the Borrower and its Restricted
   Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except with respect to (i) the existence of
   the Specified Defaults and (ii) the decline in the Borrower's business
   attributable to the reduction in advertising pages and circulation, in each
   case, resulting from market conditions existing as of and preceding the
   Effective Date.

      (d) The Administrative Agent shall have received such other information,
   documents, instruments or approvals as the Administrative Agent or its
   counsel may reasonably require.

   14.  Conditions Subsequent.  As a condition subsequent to the effectiveness
of this Amendment, the Borrower and representatives for the Controlling
Shareholders shall participate in a teleconference with the Credit Parties on
or before May 10, 2002, to provide the Credit Parties with an update on the
status of the Borrower's restructuring efforts. The failure of the Borrower and
such representatives to participate in such teleconference shall constitute an
Event of Default under the Credit Agreement.

   15.  Representations and Warranties.  The Borrower, for itself and on behalf
of each of its Subsidiaries, agrees, represents and warrants in favor of the
Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the
Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties that:

      (a) This Agreement has been executed and delivered by duly authorized
   representatives of the Borrower and the Guarantors, and the Credit
   Agreement, as modified and amended by this Agreement, constitutes a legal,
   valid and binding obligation of the Borrower and is enforceable against the
   Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be
   limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
   creditors' rights generally and by the application of general equitable
   principles;

      (b) After giving effect to this Agreement, no Default or Event of Default
   (other than the Specified Defaults) shall have occurred and be continuing,
   and the Borrower has made full disclosure to the

                                      4

<PAGE>

   Administrative Agent of all Defaults and Events of Default existing as of
   Effective Date as is required under Section 6.6(c) of the Credit Agreement;
   and

      (c) No event contemplated in connection with this Agreement has occurred,
   which has not been consented to or waived, the occurrence of which
   constitutes, or with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would
   constitute, a material default by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
   under any material indenture, agreement or other instrument, or any
   judgment, decree or order, to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
   is a party or by which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of
   their respective properties may be bound or affected.

   16.  Acknowledgements.  The parties hereby acknowledge that they have not
entered into a mutual disregard of the terms and provision of the Credit
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or engaged in any course of dealing at
variance with the terms and provision of the Credit Agreement or the other Loan
Documents. The Borrower hereby further acknowledges that it shall not rely upon
the existence of or claim or assert that there exists any such course of
dealing or mutual disregard of terms.

   17.  Release and Waiver.  In order to induce the Lead Arranger, the
Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent and the
Credit Parties to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, the Borrower (a)
represents and warrants that there are no claims, causes of action, suits,
debts, obligations, liabilities, demands of any kind, character or nature
whatsoever, fixed or contingent, which the Borrower may have, or claim to have,
against the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the
Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties, or any of them, with respect to
the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, and the Borrower hereby releases, acquits and forever discharges
each of the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agent, the
Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties and their respective agents,
employees, officers, directors, servants, representatives, attorneys,
affiliates, successors and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties") from
any and all liabilities, claims, suits, debts, causes of action and the like of
any kind, character or nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent
that the Borrower may have, or claim to have, against each of the such Released
Parties from the beginning of time until and through the dates of execution and
delivery of this Agreement, and (b) hereby covenants and agrees never to
institute or cause to be instituted or continue prosecution of any suit or
other form of action or proceeding of any kind or nature whatsoever against any
Released Party, by reason of or in connection with any of the foregoing
matters, liabilities, claims, suits, debts or causes of action.

   18.  Effect on the Credit Agreement.  Except as specifically provided
herein, the Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and is
hereby ratified, reaffirmed and confirmed. This Agreement shall be deemed to be
a Loan Document for all purposes.

   19.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of separate
counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall be
deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. In proving this Agreement in
any judicial proceedings, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for
more than one such counterpart signed by the party against whom such
enforcement is sought. Any signatures delivered by a party by facsimile
transmission shall be deemed an original signature hereto.

   20.  Delivery of Lender Addenda.  Each Credit Party shall become a party to
this Agreement by delivering to the Administrative Agent a Lender Addendum,
substantially in the form of Annex A attached hereto, duly executed by such
Credit Party.

   21.  Law of Contract.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO
CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN SUCH STATE.

                                      5

<PAGE>

   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed as of the day and
year first written above.

BORROWER:                                  ZIFF DAVIS MEDIA INC.

                                           By: _______________________

                                           Name: _____________________

                                           Title: ____________________

GUARANTORS:                                ZIFF DAVIS PUBLISHING
                                           HOLDINGS INC.,
                                           a Delaware corporation

                                           By: _______________________

                                           Name: _____________________

                                           Title: ____________________

                                           ZIFF DAVIS PUBLISHING INC.,
                                           a Delaware corporation

                                           By: _______________________

                                           Name: _____________________

                                           Title: ____________________

                                           ZIFF DAVIS INTERNET INC.,
                                           a Delaware corporation

                                           By: _______________________

                                           Name: _____________________

                                           Title: ____________________

                                           ZIFF DAVIS DEVELOPMENT INC.,
                                           a Delaware corporation

                                           By: _______________________

                                           Name: _____________________

                                           Title: ____________________

                                      6

<PAGE>

                                eTESTING LABS INC.,
                                a Delaware corporation

                                By: ________________________________________

                                Name: ______________________________________

                                Title: _____________________________________

LEAD ARRANGER:                  CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.

                                By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Deborah D. Strek
                                Title: Managing Director

SYNDICATION AGENT:              BANKERS TRUST COMPANY

                                By: ________________________________________

                                Name: ______________________________________

                                Title: _____________________________________

DOCUMENTATION AGENT:            FLEET NATIONAL BANK

                                By: ________________________________________

                                Name: ______________________________________

                                Title: _____________________________________

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:           CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE

                                By: ________________________________________
                                Name:  Deborah D. Strek
                                Title: Managing Director, CIBC World Markets
                                       Corp., as Agent

                                      7

<PAGE>

                                    ANNEX A

                            FORM OF LENDER ADDENDUM

                             ZIFF DAVIS MEDIA INC.
                               CREDIT AGREEMENT
                           DATED AS OF APRIL 5, 2000

   Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2000, as
amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of June
12, 2000, as amended by that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated
as of July 19, 2000, as amended by that certain Third Amendment to Credit
Agreement dated as of January 22, 2001, as amended by that certain Fourth
Amendment to Credit Agreement and Reaffirmation Agreement dated as of July 13,
2001, as amended by that certain Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement and
Forbearance Agreement (as further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), by and among Ziff Davis Media Inc.,
as Borrower, CIBC World Markets Corp., as lead arranger and bookrunner, Bankers
Trust Company, as syndication agent, Fleet National Bank, as documentation
agent, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, as administrative agent (the
"Administrative Agent") and the other Credit Parties party thereto. Capitalized
terms used herein that are not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in the Credit Agreement.

   The Borrower has requested that the Required Lenders agree (a) to extend the
expiration date with respect to their agreement to forbear from the exercise of
their remedies available under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents on account of the Specified Defaults (as defined in the Fifth
Amendment), and (b) to amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement, in
each case, on the terms and conditions described in the Sixth Amendment to
Credit Agreement and Extension of Forbearance Agreement in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A (the "Sixth Amendment").

   By execution and delivery of this Lender Addendum as provided in Section 20
of the Sixth Amendment, the undersigned Credit Party hereby consents to and
agrees with all of the terms and conditions contained in the Sixth Amendment.

   THIS LENDER ADDENDUM SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Lender Addendum to
be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as
of this        day of March, 2002.

                                    --------------------------------------
                                    (NAME OF CREDIT PARTY)

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

                                       8

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A

                            COPY OF SIXTH AMENDMENT

                                [see attached]

                                      9

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