Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.17

               FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION AGREEMENT

     This Fourth Amended and Restated Registration Agreement is entered into as
of January 18, 2002 by and among Monitronics International, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the Company'), the holders of Preferred Stock listed on the
Schedule of Preferred Holders attached hereto (the 'Preferred Holders') and the
holders of Common Stock Purchase Warrants listed on the Schedule of Warrant
Holders attached hereto (the "Warrant Holders," and collectively with the
Preferred Holders, the 'Purchasers").

                                    Recitals

     The Company and certain of the Preferred Holders are parties to a Stock
Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 21, 1994, as amended by that certain
Amendment No. Ito Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 10, 1994, that
certain Amendment No. 2 to Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 10, 1996,
that certain Amendment Agreement, dated as of November 22, 1996 (the "First
Amendment Agreement"), that certain Second Amendment Agreement, dated as of May
19, 1997 (the "Second Amendment Agreement"), that certain Transfer, Assignment
and Assumption Agreement and Third Amendment Agreement, dated as of January 1,
1998 (the "Third Amendment Agreement"), that certain Consent to Various Actions
under Various Documents, dated as of May 13, 1998, that certain Consent to
Various Actions under Various Documents and Amendment to Stock Purchase
Agreement, dated as of January 6, 1999, that certain Sixth Amendment Agreement
dated as of April 27, 2001 (the "Sixth Amendment Agreement") and that certain
Seventh Amendment Agreement dated as of January 18, 2002 (the "Seventh Amendment
Agreement"), providing, among other things, for the purchase by such Preferred
Holders of 4,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company.

     The Company and Heller Financial, Inc. ("Helter") are parties to a Warrant
Agreement, dated as of November 10, 1994, as amended by that certain First
Amendment to Warrant Agreement, dated as of June 15, 1998 (as so amended, the
"Heller Warrant Agreement"), providing, among other things, for the issuance to
Helter of a warrant to purchase 367,238 shares of Class B Common Stock (subject
to adjustment as provided in the Helter Warrant Agreement).

     The Company and certain of the Warrant Holders are parties to a Senior
Subordinated Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 10, 1996, as
supplemented and modified by (i) the Senior Subordinated Note and Warrant
Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 22, 1996, and (ii) the Senior
Subordinated Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 9, 1997, as
amended by that certain Amendment, dated as of March 13, 1998, that certain
Second Amendment, dated as of January 13, 1999, that certain Termination of Put
Rights, dated as of June 15, 1998, that certain Third Amendment, dated as of
March 9, 1999, and that certain Fourth Amendment, dated as of February 4, 2000,
(iii) the Sixth Amendment Agreement and (iv) the Seventh Amendment Agreement,
providing, among other things, for the purchase by such Warrant Holders of
warrants (the "Mezzanine Warrants") to acquire up to 569,757 shares (subject to
adjustment as provided in such Warrants) of Class A Common Stock of the Company.

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     The Company and certain of the Preferred Holders are parties to a Series B
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 19, 1997, as amended by the
Third Amendment Agreement, that certain Termination of Put Rights, dated as of
June 1 5. 1998 and the Seventh Amendment Agreement. providing, among other
things, for the purchase by such Preferred Holders of 5,000,000 shares of Series
B Preferred Stock and warrants (the "Preferred B Warrants") to acquire up to
961,700 shares (subject to adjustment as provided in such Warrants) of Class A
Common Stock of the Company.

     The Company and certain of the Preferred Holders are parties to a Series C
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 9, 1999, providing, among
other things, for the purchase by certain Preferred Holders of 1,409,375 shares
of Series C Preferred Stock of the Corn p any.

     The Company and certain of the Preferred Holders are parties to a Series C
Preferred Stock Exchange Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2001, providing, among
other things, for the exchange by certain Preferred Holders of 1,409,375 shares
of Series C Preferred Stock of the Company for 1,409,375 shares of Series C
Preferred Stock and 251,420 shares of Series C-I Preferred Stock of the Company.

     The Company and certain of the Preferred Holders have entered into a Series
C Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2001, as amended by
that certain First Amendment to Series D-1 Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement,
dated as of January 18, 2002 (the "Series D-l Purchase Agreement"), providing,
among other things, for the purchase by certain Preferred Holders of up to
70,000 shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock of the Company.

     The Company and certain of the Warrant Holders are parties to a
Subordinated Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2002
("2001 Note Agreement"), providing, among other things, for the purchase by such
Warrant Holders of warrants (the "2001 Warrants" and, together with the
Mezzanine Warrants and the Preferred B Warrants, the "Warrants") to acquire up
to 1,133,328 shares (subject to adjustment as provided in such Warrants) of
Class A Common Stock of the Company.

     The Company, the Preferred Holders referred to therein, the Warrant Holders
referred to therein and the Common Shareholders referred to therein are parties
to a Third Amended and Restated Registration Agreement, dated as of April 27,
2001 (the "Third Amended and Restated Registration Agreement").

     The parties hereto are parties to a Fourth Amended and Restated
Shareholders Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as in effect from time to
time, the "Shareholders Agreement").

     The parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Third Amended and
Restated Registration Agreement in its entirety in order to facilitate the
transactions contemplated by the 2001 Note Agreement.

     Capitalized terms not defined elsewhere herein shall have the respective
meanings assigned to them in the Shareholders Agreement.

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     The parties hereto agree that the Third Amended and Restated Registration
Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety by this Agreement as
follows:

     1.   Demand Registrations.

          (a)  Requests for Registration.

               (i) At any time and from time to time (A) after the date hereof,
the holders of at least 662/3% of the shares of the Series A Underlying Common
Stock and the Series C Underlying Common Stock, (B) following the initial public
offering of Company Securities, the holders of at least 662/3% of the shares of
the Series C Underlying Common Stock (in addition to the rights granted pursuant
to Subparagraph 1(a)(i)(A) above), (C) following the initial public offering of
Company Securities, the holders of at least 662/3% of the shares of the Series D
Underlying Common Stock (the Series A Underlying Common Stock, Series C
Underlying Common Stock and Series D Underlying Common Stock hereinafter
referred to as the "Underlying Common Stock"), and (D) following the initial
public offering of Company Securities, the holders of at least 662/3% of the
2001 Warrant Shares (each of the groups described in (A), (B), (C) and (D), a
"Demand Registrant"), may request registration under the Securities Act of all
or any part of their Underlying Common Stock or 2001 Warrant Shares as the case
may be (each, a "Demand Registration"), subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement. Any request (a "Registration Request") for a Demand Registration
shall specify (i) the approximate number of shares of Underlying Common Stock or
2001 Warrant Shares requested to be registered (but not less than a majority of
the total number of shares of Underlying Common Stock or 2001 Warrant Shares, as
the case may be, issued or issuable to the Demand Registrant) and (ii) that the
intended method of distribution of such shares shall be a firm commitment
underwritten offering managed by one or more underwriters selected as provided
in Paragraph 1(b), below. Within 10 days after the date of the receipt by the
Company of a Registration Request, the Company will give written notice of such
requested registration to all other holders of Underlying Common Stock and to
all holders of Warrant Shares and will (subject to clause (iii) below) include
in such registration all shares of Underlying Common Stock and all Warrant
Shares that holders of Underlying Common Stock or Warrant Shares request the
Company to include in such registration by written notice given to the Company
within 15 days after the date of the receipt of the Company's notice.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to rescind a
Demand Registration by delivering written notice to the Demand Registrant within
10 days of the receipt of the Registration Request in respect of such Demand
Registration; provided, the Company promptly undertakes a Primary Piggyback
Registration (as defined in Paragraph 2(c) of this Agreement) pursuant to
Paragraph 2 of this Agreement. Any such rescinded Demand Registration will not
be deemed to have been requested for purposes of Paragraph l(a)(ii) of this
Agreement.

               (ii) Subject to Paragraph l(a)(i), each of (A) the holders of at
least 662/3% of the shares of the Series A Underlying Common Stock and Series C
Underlying Common Stock will be entitled to request up to two Demand
Registrations at any time and from time to time after the date hereof, (B) the
holders of at least 662/3% of the shares of the Series C Underlying Common Stock
will be entitled to request up to two Demand Registrations at any time and from
time to time after the initial public offering of Company Securities, (C) the
holders of at least 662/3% of the shares of the Series D Underlying Common Stock
will he

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entitled to request up to two Demand Registrations at any time and from time to
time after the initial public offering of Company Securities, and (D) the
holders of at least 662/3% of the 2001 Warrant Shares will be entitled to
request one Demand Registration at any time after the initial public offering of
Company Securities. A Demand Registrant requesting a Demand Registration under
this Part I may, at any time prior to the effective date of the registration
statement relating to such Demand Registration, revoke such request by providing
written notice thereof to the Company, in which case such Demand Registration
will not be deemed to have been requested for purposes of this Paragraph I
(a)(ii). Any Demand Registration requested by a Demand Registrant shall not be
deemed to have been effected (and, therefore, not requested for purposes of this
Paragraph 1(a)(ii)) unless it has become effective and there has not been any
stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") or other governmental agency or court
suspending such effectiveness.

               (iii) Subject to the provisions of the Helter Warrant, the
Company will not include in any Demand Registration any Company Securities other
than Underlying Common Stock and Warrant Shares of the Demand Registrant without
the prior written consent of the Demand Registrant, except that the Company
shall include in such registration shares of Common Stock to be sold for the
account of the Company, for the account of other holders of Underlying Common
Stock and for the account of other holders of Warrant Shares if the managing
underwriter(s) advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the shares of
Underlying Common Stock, Warrant Shares and other shares of Common Stock
proposed to be included in such offering can be sold in an orderly manner in
such offering within a price range acceptable to the Demand Registrant. If the
managing underwriter(s) advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the
number of shares of Underlying Common Stock, Warrant Shares and shares of Common
Stock proposed to be included in such Demand Registration for sale by the
Company, Heller and holders of Underlying Common Stock and Warrant Shares
exceeds the number of shares which can be sold in an orderly manner in such
offering within a price range acceptable to the Demand Registrant, the Company
will include in such Demand Registration, prior to the inclusion of any other
shares, (i) first, the Issued Warrant Shares (as defined in the Heller Warrant),
(ii) second, the number of shares of Underlying Common Stock and Warrant Shares
requested to be registered by the Demand Registrant, and (iii) third, the number
of other shares of Underlying Common Stock and Warrant Shares requested to be
included that, in the opinion of such underwriter(s), can be sold in an orderly
manner within the price range of such offering, pro rata among the respective
holders thereof on the basis of the number of shares of Underlying Common Stock
and Warrant Shares that each such holder has requested the Company to include in
such registration. For purposes of this Paragraph 1(a)(iii), in any Demand
Registration requested in accordance with Subparagraph 1(a)(i)(A) above, all
shares of Series D Underlying Common Stock and Warrant Shares requested to be
registered in the Demand Registration shall be deemed to be requested by the
Demand Registrant.

          (b) Selection of Underwriter. The Demand Registrant shall select the
managing underwriter(s) to manage each offering effected pursuant to a Demand
Registration.

          (c) Registration on Forms S-2, S-3. Following its initial public
offering of Company Securities under the Securities Act, the Company shall use
its commercially reasonable best efforts to qualify for registration on Forms
S-2 or S-3 or any comparable or successor form or forms. After the Company has
qualified for the use of Forms S-2 or S-3 or any

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comparable or successor form of forms, in addition to the rights contained in
the Paragraphs 1(a) and (b). each of (i) the holders of at least 25% of the
Underlying Common Stock, (ii) the holders of at least 30% of the Warrant Shares
(other than the 2001 Warrant Shares), (iii) holders of a majority of the Series
C Underlying Common Stock, (iv) the holders of a majority of the Series D
Underlying Common Stock and (v) the holders of a majority of the 2001 Warrant
Shares shall have the right at any time and from time to time to request
registrations on Forms S-2 or S-3 or any comparable or successor form or forms;
provided, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect a registration under
this Paragraph 1(c) if the fair market value of the shares to be registered is
less than $10 million; provided further, that the Company shall not be obligated
to effect more than two registrations on Form S-2 or S-3 or any comparable or
successor form or forms during any 12-month period. Such requests shall be in
writing and shall state the number of shares of Underlying Common Stock or
Warrant Shares, as applicable, proposed to be disposed of and the intended
method of distribution of such shares by such holder or holders. Within 10 days
after the date of the receipt by the Company of a registration request pursuant
to this Paragraph 1(c), the Company will give written notice of such requested
registration to all other holders of Underlying Common Stock and to all holders
of Warrant Shares and will (subject to Paragraph l(a)(iii) above) include in
such registration all shares of Underlying Common Stock and all Warrant Shares
that holders of Underlying Common Stock or Warrant Shares request the Company to
include in such registration by written notice given to the Company within 15
days after the date of the receipt of the Company's notice, pro rata among the
respective holders thereof on the basis of the number of shares of Underlying
Common Stock and Warrant Shares that each such holder has requested the Company
to include in such registration.

          (d) Right to Defer Registration. The Company shall not be obligated to
effect any registration within 180 days after the effective date of a previous
registration statement on Form S-I in which the holders of Underlying Common
Stock participated or were given an opportunity to participate and declined to
do so. The Company may postpone for up to 180 days the filing or the
effectiveness of a registration statement for a registration requested pursuant
to this Paragraph 1 if (i) the Board of Directors determines, reasonably and in
good faith, that such registration might have an adverse effect on any proposal
or plan by the Company, including, without limitation, a plan or proposal to
engage in any acquisition, merger, consolidation, tender offer, offering or
similar transaction or (ii) any other material, nonpublic development or
transaction is pending; provided, that the Company may not postpone the filing
or effectiveness of a registration statement pursuant to this sentence more
frequently than once during any period of 12 consecutive months.

     2.   Piggyback Registrations.

          (a) Right to Piggyback. If the Company proposes to register any
Company Securities under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to a Demand
Registration, a registration pursuant to Subparagraph 1(c) or a registration
solely in connection with an employee benefit or stock ownership plan),
including in connection with the initial public offering, and the registration
form to be used may be used for the registration of Underlying Common Stock
and/or Warrant Shares (a "Piggyback Registration"), the Company will give prompt
written notice to all holders of Underlying Common Stock and to all holders of
Warrant Shares of its intention to effect such a registration (each, a
"Piggyback Notice"). Subject to Subparagraph 2(c)

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below and the provisions of the Heller Warrant Agreement. the Company will
include in such registration all shares of Underlying Common Stock that holders
of Underlying Common Stock and all Warrant Shares that holders of Warrant Shares
request the Company to include in such registration by written notice given to
the Company within 15 days after the date of sending the Piggyback Notice.

          (b) Piggyback Expenses. The Registration Expenses of the holders of
Underlying Common Stock and the holders of Warrant Shares will be paid by the
Company in all Piggyback Registrations.

          (c) Priority on Primary Registrations. If a Piggyback Registration
relates to an underwritten public offering of Company Securities on behalf of
the Company (a "Primary Piggyback Registration") and the managing underwriters
advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of Company
Securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number that
can be sold in an orderly manner in such offering within a price range
acceptable to the Company, the Company will include in such registration (i)
first, the Company Securities proposed to be sold by the Company, (ii) second,
the Issued Warrant Shares (as defined in the Helter Warrant Agreement), (iii)
third, the Underlying Common Stock and Warrant Shares requested to be included
in such registration, pro rata among the holders of such Underlying Common Stock
and Warrant Shares on the basis of the number of shares requested to be included
in such registration by each such holder and (iv) fourth, other Company
Securities requested to be included in such registration.

          (d) Priority on Secondary Registrations. If a Piggyback Registration
relates to an underwritten public offering of Company Securities on behalf of
the holders of Company Securities and the managing underwriters advise the
Company in writing that in their opinion the number of Company Securities
requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be
sold in an orderly manner in such offering within a price range acceptable to
the holders initially requesting such registration, the Company will include in
such registration (i) first, the Issued Warrant Shares (as defined in the Helter
Warrant Agreement), (ii) second, the Company Securities requested to be included
therein by the holders requesting such registration, (iii) third, the Underlying
Common Stock and Warrant Shares requested to be included in such registration,
pro rata among the holders of such Underlying Common Stock and Warrant Shares on
the basis of the number of shares requested to be included in such registration
by each such holder and (iv) fourth, other Company Securities requested to be
included in such registration.

     3. Registration Procedures. Whenever the holders of Underlying Common Stock
or Warrant Shares have requested that any Underlying Common Stock or Warrant
Shares be registered pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will use its best
efforts consistent with legal requirements and, in the case of an offering by
the Company, prevailing market conditions, to effect the registration and the
sale of such Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as applicable, in
accordance with the intended method of distribution thereof and will as
expeditiously as possible:

          (a) prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement with
respect to such Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as applicable,
and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become
effective, provided that before filing a registration

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statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company
will furnish to the selling shareholders' counsel selected by the holders of a
majority of an aggregate of the Underlying Common Stock and Warrant Shares
covered by such registration statement in the case of a Piggyback Registration
and to counsel selected by the Demand Registrant in the case of a Demand
Registration copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents
will be subject to the review of such counsel;

          (b) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection
therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for
a period of up to six months, and comply with the provisions of the Securities
Act with respect to the disposition of all Company Securities covered by such
registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended
methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration
statement;

          (c) furnish to each seller of Underlying Common Stock and Warrant
Shares, as applicable, such number of copies of such registration statement,
each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such
registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus) and such other
documents as each such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
disposition of the Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as applicable,
owned by each such seller;

          (d) use its best efforts to register or qualify such Underlying Common
Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as applicable, under such other securities or blue
sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and
all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to
enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as applicable, owned by such
seller, provided that the Company will not be required (i) to qualify generally
to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify but for this Subparagraph, (ii) to subject itself to taxation in any
such jurisdiction or (iii) to consent to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction;

          (e) notify each seller of such Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant
Shares, as applicable, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event
as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, and, at the request of any such
seller, the Company will prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so
that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Underlying Common Stock
and/or Warrant Shares, as applicable, such prospectus will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading;

          (f) cause all such Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as
applicable, to be listed for trading on each securities exchange on which
similar Company Securities issued by the Company are then listed and to be
qualified for trading on each system on which similar securities issued by the
Company are from time to time qualified;

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          (g) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Underlying
Common Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as applicable, not later than the effective
date of such registration statement and thereafter maintain such a transfer
agent and registrar;

          (h) enter into such customary agreements (including underwriting
agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the holders of
a majority of the aggregate of the shares of Underlying Common Stock and Warrant
Shares being sold or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to
expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Underlying Common Stock and/or
Warrant Shares, as applicable;

          (i) make available for inspection by any underwriter participating in
any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney,
accountant or other agent retained by any such underwriter, all financial and
other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and
cause the Company's officers, directors, employees and independent accountants
to supply all information reasonably requested by any such underwriter,
attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

          (j) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders,
as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of
at least 12 months beginning with the first day of the Company's first full
calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which
earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

          (k) permit any holder of Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant
Shares, as applicable, which might be deemed, in the sole and exclusive judgment
of such holder, to be an underwriter or a controlling Person of the Company, to
participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and
to require the insertion therein of material, furnished to the Company in
writing, which in the reasonable judgment of such holder and its counsel should
be included; and

          (l) in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a registration statement, or of any order suspending or
preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of
any Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as applicable, included in
such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction, the Company will use
its reasonable best efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order.

If any such registration or comparable statement refers to any holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any Company Securities and if, in its sole and
exclusive judgment, such holder is or might be deemed to be a controlling Person
of the Company, such holder shall have the right to require (i) the inclusion in
such registration statement of language, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to such holder, to the effect that the holding of such Company
Securities by such holder is not to be construed as a recommendation by such
holder of the investment quality of the Company Securities covered thereby and
that such holding does not imply that such holder will assist in meeting any
future financial requirements of the Company, or (ii) in the event that such
reference to such holder by name or otherwise is not required by the Securities
Act or any similar federal statute then in force, the deletion of the reference
to such holder;

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provided, that with respect to this clause (ii) such holder shall furnish to the
Company an opinion of counsel to such effect, which opinion and counsel shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

     4.   Registration Expenses.

          (a) Definition. The term "Registration Expenses" means all expenses
incident to the Company's performance of or compliance with this Agreement,
including without limitation all registration and filing fees, fees and expenses
of compliance with securities or blue sky laws, printing expenses, messenger and
delivery expenses, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants and other experts
(and fees and expenses of underwriters and their attorneys and experts, other
than underwriters' discounts and commissions on shares of Underlying Common
Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as applicable), and the fees and expenses of
attorneys for holders of Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as
applicable.

          (b) Payment. The Company shall pay the Registration Expenses of all
holders of Underlying Common Stock and Warrant Shares in connection with (i) up
to two Demand Registrations requested by the holders of 662/3% of the shares of
the Series A Underlying Common Stock and Series C Underlying Common Stock, (ii)
up to two Demand Registrations requested by the holders of 662/3% of the shares
of the Series C Underlying Common Stock (in addition to Demand Registrations
requested by the holders of 662/3% of the shares of Series A Underlying Common
Stock and Series C Underlying Common Stock), (iii) up to two Demand
Registrations requested by the holders of 662/3% of the shares of the Series D
Underlying Common Stock, (iv) one Demand Registration requested by the holders
of 662/3% of the 2001 Warrant Shares, (v) any and all registrations on Forms S-2
and S-3 or any comparable or successor form or forms pursuant to Subparagraph
1(c) and (vi) any and all Piggyback Registrations.

     5.   Indemnification.

          (a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify to
the extent permitted by law, each holder of Underlying Common Stock and Warrant
Shares and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, partners and
agents and each Person who controls such holder (within the meaning of the
Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses
(including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses and reasonable costs of
investigation and any amounts paid in any settlement effected with the consent
of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) caused by (i)
any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any
registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of any
federal or state law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company and relating
to any action required by, or the inaction of, the Company in connection with
any the registration of Company Securities, except insofar as the same are
caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by
such holder expressly for use in any registration statement, prospectus or
preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or by such
holders failure to deliver a copy of the registration statement or prospectus or
any amendments or

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supplements thereto after the Company has furnished such holder with a
sufficient number of copies of the same. In connection with any underwritten
offering, the Company will indemnify the underwriters, their officers and
directors and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of
the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the
indemnification of the holders of Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant Shares,
as applicable.

          (b) Indemnification by Holders. In connection with any registration
statement in which a holder of Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as
applicable, is participating, each such holder will furnish to the Company in
writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for
use in connection with any such registration statement or prospectus and, to the
extent permitted by law, will severally but not jointly indemnify the Company,
its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within the
meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities
and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material
fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary
prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or
alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such
untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so
furnished in writing by such holder expressly for use in any registration
statement or prospectus relating to such registration or should have been
contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such
holder; provided, that the obligation to indemnify will be individual to each
holder and will be limited to the net amount of proceeds received by such holder
from the sale of Underlying Common Stock and/or Warrant Shares, as applicable,
pursuant to such registration statement.

          (c) Notice: Defense of Claims. Any Person entitled to indemnification
hereunder will (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any
claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) unless in such
indemnified party's reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such
indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim,
permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed,
the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement
made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent will not be
unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects
not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and
expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such
indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment
of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such
indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such
claim.

          (d) Survival: Contribution. The indemnification provided for under
this agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer,
director or Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such
indemnified party and will survive the transfer of Company Securities. Subject
to the limitations and conditions of this Paragraph 5, the Company also agrees
to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for
contribution to

<PAGE>

such party in the event the Company's indemnification provided herein is
unavailable for any reason.

     6. Participation in Underwritten Registrations. No party hereto may
participate in any registration hereunder that is underwritten unless such party
(i) agrees to sell such party's Company Securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting arrangements approved by the Person(s) entitled hereunder to
approve such arrangements, and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires,
powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided, that no
holder of Underlying Common Stock or Warrant Shares included in any underwritten
registration shall be required to make any representations or warranties to the
Company or the underwriters other than representations and warranties regarding
such holder and such holder's intended method of distribution and a statement to
the effect that nothing has come to the attention of such holder that would lead
such holder to believe that the registration statement or the prospectus
included therein contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein in order to make the
statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; provided, further, that the obligation to indemnify
will be individual to each holder and will be limited to the net amount of
proceeds received by such holder from the sale of Underlying Common Stock and/or
Warrant Shares, as applicable, pursuant to such registration statement.

     7.   Miscellaneous.

          (a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not hereafter enter
into any agreement with respect to any Company Securities which is inconsistent
with or violates the rights granted to the holders of Underlying Common Stock or
Warrant Shares in this Agreement.

          (b) Adjustments Affecting Underlying Common Stock. The Company will
not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to Company
Securities for the purpose of materially and adversely affecting the ability of
the holders of Underlying Common Stock or Warrant Shares to include such
Underlying Common Stock or Warrant Shares in a registration undertaken pursuant
to this Agreement or materially and adversely affecting the marketability of
such Underlying Common Stock or Warrant Shares in any such registration
(including, without limitation, effecting a stock split or a combination of
shares), provided that this Subparagraph (b) shall not apply to actions or
changes with respect to the Company's business, earnings or revenues where the
effect of such actions or changes on the Underlying Common Stock and Warrant
Shares is merely incidental.

          (c) Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be given
or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement will be in
writing and will be deemed to have been given when delivered personally or by
cable, telex, facsimile transmission. telegram or overnight delivery service, or
72 hours after having been mailed by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested and postage prepaid, to the recipient. Such notices. demands
and other communications will be sent to each party at the address indicated
below:

<PAGE>

     To the Company:   Monitronics International, Inc.
                       12801 Stemmons Freeway
                       Suite 821
                       Dallas, TX 75234
                       Facsimile: (972) 919-1985
                       Attn: James R. Hull

     With a copy to:   Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
                       2001 Ross Avenue
                       Suite 3700
                       Dallas, TX 75201
                       Facsimile: (214) 999-7714
                       Attn: Christine Hathaway

     To Preferred Holders or Warrant Holders to their addresses set forth on the
Schedule of Preferred Holders or Warrant Holders, as the case may be,

With a copy to:        If to Austin Ventures:
                       Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
                       600 Congress Avenue
                       Suite 2700
                       Austin, TX 78701
                       Facsimile:  (512) 236-3450
                       Attn:  William R. Volk

                       and

                       If to Windward:
                       Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
                       Four Times Square
                       New York, NY 10036
                       Facsimile: (212) 735-2000
                       Attn: Howard L. Ellin

                       and

                       If to ABRY:
                       Kirkland & Ellis
                       153 East 53rd Street
                       New York, NY 10022
                       Facsimile: (212) 446-4900
                       Attn: John L. Kuehn

                       and

<PAGE>

                       If to CRL:
                       Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP
                       125 High Street
                       Boston, MA 02110
                       Facsimile: (617) 248-7100
                       Attn: Andrew E. Taylor, Jr.

                       and

                       If to NML:
                       Schiff Hardin & Waite
                       6600 Sears Tower
                       Chicago, IL 60606
                       Facsimile: (312) 258-5600
                       Attn: Andrew A. Kling

or to such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the
recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

          (d) Remedies. Any Person having rights under any provision of this
Agreement will be entitled to enforce such rights specifically to recover
damages caused by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to
exercise all other rights granted by law. The parties hereto agree and
acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of
the provisions of this Agreement and that any party may in its sole discretion
apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting
any bond or other security) for specific performance and for other injunctive
relief in order to enforce or prevent violation of the provisions of this
Agreement.

          (e) Amendments, Waivers and Termination. Except as otherwise provided
herein, no amendment, modification, waiver, termination or cancellation of this
Agreement or any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing
signed by the Company and the holders of a majority of the then outstanding
shares of Underlying Common Stock and, in the case of any amendment,
modification, waiver, termination or cancellation which adversely affects the
rights or interests of any holder or holders of Warrants (other than 2001
Warrants) or Warrant Shares (other than 2001 Warrant Shares) hereunder, the
holders of at least 662/3% of the Warrant Shares (other than 2001 Warrant
Shares), and, in the case of any amendment, modification, waiver, termination or
cancellation that adversely affects the rights or interests of any holder or
holders of Series A Preferred Stock or Series A Underlying Common Stock
hereunder, the holders of at least 662/3% of the Series A Underlying Common
Stock, and, in the case of any amendment, modification, waiver, termination or
cancellation that adversely affects the rights or interests of any holder or
holders of Series C Preferred Stock or Series C Underlying Common Stock
hereunder, the holders of at least 662/3% of the Series C Underlying Common
Stock, and, in the case of any amendment, modification, waiver, termination or
cancellation that adversely affects the rights or interests of any holder or
holders of Series D Preferred Stock or Series D Underlying Common Stock
hereunder, the holders of at least 662/3% of the Series D Underlying Common
Stock, and, in the case of any amendment, modification, waiver. termination or
cancellation that adversely affects the rights or interests of any holder or
holders

<PAGE>

of 2001 Warrants or 2001 Warrant Shares hereunder, the holders of at least
662/3% of the 2001 Warrant Shares.

          (f) Successors and Assigns. The rights of the parties under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and this Agreement shall be binding
upon, the successors and assigns of the parties hereto. In addition, whether or
not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which
are (i) for the benefit of the Purchasers or holders of Underlying Common Stock
are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent holder of
Underlying Common Stock, and (ii) for the benefit of the holders of Warrants and
Warrant Shares are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent
holder of Warrants or Warrant Shares.

          (g) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable
law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or
invalid under applicable law, such provision will be ineffective only to the
extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of
this Agreement.

          (h) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the addendum, exhibits and
schedules hereto embody the entire agreement and understanding between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter.

          (i) Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this
Agreement.

          (j) Governing Law. The construction, validity and interpretation of
this Agreement will be governed by the internal laws of the State of Texas
without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule
(whether of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the
application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas.

          (k) Further Assurances. Each party to this Agreement hereby covenants
and agrees, without the necessity of any further consideration, to execute and
deliver any and all such further documents and take any and all such other
actions as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent and purposes
of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.

          (l) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall
be one and the same document.

          (m) Reporting. When it is first legally required to do so, the Company
shall register its Common Stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and shall
keep effective such registration and timely file such information, documents and
reports as the Commission may require or prescribe under Section 13 of the
Exchange Act. From and after the effective date of the first registration
statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act, the Company shall
(whether or not it shall then be required to do so) timely file such
information, documents and

<PAGE>

reports that a corporation, partnership or other entity subject to Section 13 or
15(d) (whichever is applicable) of the Exchange Act is required to file.
Immediately upon becoming subject to the reporting requirements of either
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall promptly upon request
furnish any holder of Underlying Common Stock or Warrant Shares (i) a written
statement by the Company that it has complied with such reporting requirements,
(ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and
(iii) such other reports and documents filed by the Company with the Commission
as such holder may reasonably request in availing itself of an exemption for the
sale of Underlying Common Stock and Warrant Shares without registration under
the Securities Act. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the purposes of the
requirements contained in this Paragraph 7(m) are to enable any such holder to
comply with the current public information requirement contained in paragraph
(c) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, should such holder ever wish to
dispose of any Company Securities acquired by it without registration under the
Securities Act in reliance upon Rule 144 (or any other similar exemptive
provision), and to qualify the Company for the use of registration statements on
Form S-3. In addition, the Company shall take such other measures and file such
other information, documents and reports, as shall hereafter be required by the
Commission as a condition to the availability of Rule 144 under the Securities
Act (or any similar exemptive provision hereafter in effect) and the use of Form
S-3. The Company also covenants to use its reasonable best efforts, to the
extent that it is reasonably within its power to do so, to qualify for the use
of Form S-3.

          (n) Rule 144A Information. The Company shall, at all times during
which it is neither subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, nor exempt from reporting pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under
the Exchange Act, upon the written request of any Purchaser, provide in writing
to such Purchaser and to any prospective transferee of any Company Securities of
such Purchaser the information concerning the Company described in Rule
144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A Information"). Upon the written
request of any Purchaser, the Company shall cooperate with and assist such
Purchaser or any member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
PORTAL system in applying to designate and thereafter maintain the eligibility
of the Company Securities for trading through PORTAL. The Company's obligations
under this Paragraph 7(n) shall at all times be contingent upon receipt from the
prospective transferee of Company Securities of a written agreement to take all
reasonable precautions to safeguard the Rule 144A Information from disclosure to
anyone other than Persons who will assist such transferee in evaluating the
purchase of any Company Securities.

          (o) Termination. This Agreement shall terminate on the later to occur
of (i) July 31, 2007, (ii) with respect to Windward, the date on which Windward
owns less than 1% of the Common Stock on a fully diluted basis, (iii) with
respect to ABRY, the date on which ABRY owns less than 1% of the Common Stock on
a fully diluted basis, and (iv) with respect to The Northwestern Mutual Life
Insurance Company ("NML"), the date on which NML owns less than 1% of the Common
Stock on a fully diluted basis, except that, in each of clauses (i) through
(iv), Paragraph S and Paragraph 7(m) of this Agreement shall continue in effect
for so long as any shares of Underlying Common Stock or Warrant Shares remain
outstanding.

                                     * * * *

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.

                                         COMPANY:

                                         MONITRONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                         By: /s/ James R. Hull
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             James R. Hull,
                                             President

                                         PURCHASERS

                                         AUSTIN VENTURES III-A, L.P.

                                         By: AV Partners III, L.P.,
                                             Its General Partner

                                             By: /s/ Blaine F. Wesner
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Blaine F. Wesner,
                                                 Authorized Signatory

                                         AUSTIN VENTURES III-B, L.P.

                                         By: AV Partners III, L.P.,
                                             Its General Partner

                                             By: /s/ Blaine F. Wesner
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Blaine F. Wesner,
                                                 Authorized Signatory

                                         AUSTIN VENTURES V, L.P.

                                         By: AV Partners V, L.P.,
                                             Its General Partner

                                             By: /s/ Blaine F. Wesner
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Blaine F. Wesner,
                                                 Authorized Signatory

<PAGE>

                                         AUSTIN VENTURES V AFFILIATES FUND, L.P.

                                         By: AV Partners V, L.P.
                                             Its General Partner

                                             By: /s/  Blaine F. Wesner
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Blaine F. Wesner,
                                                 General Partner

                                         CAPITAL RESOURCES LENDERS II, L.P.

                                         By: Capital Resource Partners II, L.P.,
                                             Its General Partner

                                             By: /s/ Stephen M. Jenks
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 General Partner

                                         WINDWARD CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.

                                         By: Windward Capital GP II, LLC,
                                             Its General Partner

                                             By: /s/ Peter S. Macdonald
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Peter S. Macdonald,
                                                 Managing Member

                                         WINDWARD CAPITAL LP II, LLC

                                         By: /s/ Peter S. Macdonald
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Peter S. Macdonald,
                                             Managing Member<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.18

                            SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK

                                   AND WARRANT

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                            Dated as of May 19, 1997

                                      Among

                         Monitronics International, Inc.

                                 (the "Company")

                                       and

                        Capital Resource Lenders II, L.P.

                                       and

                             Austin Ventures V, L.P.

                               (the "Purchasers")

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.  Authorization and Sale of Shares and Warrants..............................1
       1A.  Authorization......................................................1
       1B.  Sale of Shares of Series B Preferred Stock.........................1
       1C.  Sale of Warrants...................................................1
       1D.  Separate Sales.....................................................1
       1E.  Use of Proceeds....................................................1
2.  The Closing................................................................1
3.  Representations and Warranties of the Company..............................2
       3A.  Organization and Standing..........................................2
       3B.  Capitalization.....................................................2
       3C.  Subsidiaries, Etc..................................................3
       3D.  Shareholder List and Agreements....................................3
       3E.  Issuance of Shares and Warrants....................................3
       3F.  Authority for Agreement............................................3
       3G.  Governmental Consents..............................................4
       3H.  Litigation.........................................................4
       3I.  Financial Statements...............................................4
       3J.  Absence of Liabilities.............................................4
       3K.  Taxes..............................................................4
       3L.  Property and Assets................................................5
       3M.  Intellectual Property..............................................5
       3N.  Insurance..........................................................5
       3O.  Material Contracts and Obligations.................................6
       3P.  Compliance.........................................................6
       3Q.  Absence of Changes.................................................6
       3R.  Employees..........................................................8
       3S.  ERISA..............................................................8
       3T.  Books and Records..................................................8
       3U.  Disclosures........................................................8
4.  Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers...........................9
       4A.  Investment.........................................................9
       4B.  Authority..........................................................9
       4C.  Accredited Investor................................................9
5.  Conditions to the Obligations of the Purchasers............................9
       5A.  Accuracy of Representations and Warranties.........................9
       5B.  Performance........................................................9
       5C.  Opinion of Counsel................................................10
       5D.  Ancillary Agreements..............................................10
       5E.  Certificates and Documents........................................10
       5F.  Amendments to Articles of Incorporation...........................10
       5G.  Loan Agreement....................................................10
       5H.  Note Agreement....................................................10
       5I.  Compliance Certificate............................................11
       5J.  Other Matters.....................................................11

                                       i

<PAGE>

6.  Condition to the Obligations of the Company...............................11
       6A.  Accuracy of Representations and Warranties........................11
       6B.  Minimum Investment................................................11
       6C.  Other Matters.....................................................11
7.  Covenants of the Company..................................................11
       7A.  Inspection and Observation........................................11
       7B.  Financial Statements and Other Information........................11
       7C.  Material Changes and Litigation...................................12
       7D.  Negative Covenants................................................12
       7E.  Termination of Covenants..........................................13
       7F.  Reservation of Common Stock.......................................13
       7G.  Qualified Small Business Stock....................................13
8.  Obligation to Repurchase Warrants.........................................13
       8A.  Right to Put Warrants and Warrant Shares..........................13
       8B.  Notice and Payment................................................14
       8C.  Insufficiency of Funds............................................14
       8D.  Repurchase Price for Warrants and Warrant Shares..................14
       8E.  Delivery of Certificates; Reissuance..............................15
       8F.  Right to Purchase New Mezzanine Securities........................15
       8G.  Right to Purchase New Equity Securities...........................16
       8H.  Termination Upon Qualified Public Offering........................16
9.  Transfer of Shares and Warrants...........................................16
       9A.  Restrictions......................................................16
       9B.  Requirements for Transfer.........................................16
       9C.  Legends...........................................................17
       9D.  Rule 144A Information.............................................17
10.    Definitions............................................................17
11.    Miscellaneous..........................................................20
       11A. Successors and Assigns............................................20
       11B. Confidentiality...................................................21
       11C. Survival of Representations and Warranties........................21
       11D. Expenses..........................................................21
       11E. Notices...........................................................22
       11F. Brokers...........................................................22
       11G. Entire Agreement..................................................22
       11H. Amendments and Waivers............................................22
       11I. Counterparts......................................................23
       11J. Headings..........................................................23
       11K. Severability......................................................23
       11L. Governing Law.....................................................23
       11M. Further Assurances................................................23
       11N. Indemnification...................................................23
       11O. Exculpation Among Purchasers......................................24

                                       ii

<PAGE>

                            SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK
                         AND WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

     This Series B Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement (the
"Agreement") dated as of May 19, 1997 is entered into by and among Monitronics
International, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), and the persons listed
on Exhibit A attached hereto (individually, a "Purchaser" and, collectively, the
"Purchasers"). Capitalized terms not defined elsewhere herein shall have the
respective meanings assigned to them in part 10 of this Agreement.

     In consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained in this
Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

     1. Authorization and Sale of Shares and Warrants.

          1A. Authorization. The Company has, or before the Closing (as defined
in part 2) will have, duly authorized the issuance and sale, pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement, of up to 5,000,000 shares of its Series B Preferred
Stock, having the rights, restrictions, privileges and preferences set forth in
the Certificate of Designation of Series B of Class B Preferred Stock attached
as Exhibit B (the "Certificate of Designation") and Warrants for the purchase of
an aggregate of 961,700 shares of Class A Common Stock. The Company has, or
before the Closing will have, adopted and filed the Certificate of Designation
with the Secretary of State of the State of Texas. The shares of Class A Common
Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants are referred to as
the "Warrant Shares." The shares of Series B Preferred Stock being sold under
this Agreement and, unless the context otherwise requires, the Warrant Shares
are referred to collectively as the "Shares."

          1B. Sale of Shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, the Company will issue and
sell to each of the Purchasers, and each of the Purchasers will purchase, the
number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock set forth opposite such Purchaser's
name on Exhibit A for the purchase price of $1.00 per share.

          1C. Sale of Warrants. Subject to the terms and, conditions of this
Agreement, at the Closing, the Company will issue and sell to each of the
Purchasers, and each of the Purchasers will purchase Warrants entitling each
such Purchaser to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock set forth
opposite such Purchaser's name on Exhibit A, for the aggregate purchase price
set forth opposite such Purchaser's name on Exhibit A.

          1D. Separate Sales. The Company's agreement with each of the
Purchasers is a separate agreement, and the sale of Series B Preferred Stock and
Warrants to each of the Purchasers is a separate sale.

          1E. Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the proceeds from the sale
of the Series B Preferred Stock for working capital and other general corporate
purposes.

     2. The Closing. The closing of the issuance, sale and purchase of the
shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Warrants under this Agreement (the
"Closing") shall take place on May 19, 1997. The Closing shall be held at the
offices of Hughes & Luce, L.L.P., 111 Congress

<PAGE>

Avenue, Suite 900, Austin, Texas at 10:00 a.m. on the date specified for such
Closing above, or at such other place or such other time as the Company and the
Purchasers may agree in writing. At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to
each of the Purchasers (i) a certificate representing the number of Shares of
Series B Preferred Stock being purchased by such Purchaser, registered in the
name of such Purchaser, against payment to the Company of the purchase price
therefor, by wire transfer, check, or other method acceptable to the Company,
and (ii) a Warrant, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, to purchase the
number of Shares of Class A Common Stock set forth opposite such Purchaser's
name on Exhibit A, registered in the name of such Purchaser, against payment to
the Company of the purchase price therefor, by wire transfer, check, or other
method acceptable to the Company. If at the Closing any of the conditions
specified in part 5 shall not have been fulfilled, each of the Purchasers shall,
at its election, be relieved of all of its obligations under this Agreement to
be performed at such Closing.

     3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. Subject to and except as
disclosed by the Company in the Schedule of Exceptions attached as Exhibit D,
the Company hereby represents and warrants to each of the Purchasers as follows:

          3A. Organization and Standing. The Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Texas and has full corporate power and authority to conduct its business as
presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted by it and to enter into and
perform this Agreement and to carry out the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The Company is duly qualified and in good standing to do business as
a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified
would have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company has furnished
to each Purchaser true and complete copies of its Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws, each as amended to date and currently in effect.

          3B. Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of (i) 15,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, of which 475,338
shares are issued and outstanding, (ii) 700,000 shares of Class B Common Stock,
of which no shares are issued and outstanding, and (iii) 19,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock, of which 4,000,000 shares are Class A Preferred Stock, all of
which shares of Class A Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding, and
15,000,000 shares are Class B Preferred Stock, of which 5,000,000 are designated
Series B Preferred Stock; none of which shares of Class B Preferred Stock are
issued or outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A
Common Stock and Class A Preferred Stock have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except (i) pursuant to the
Company's Incentive Stock Compensation Plan, dated October 21, 1994, as amended
to date (the "1994 Stock Plan"), which provides for the issuance of up to
919,567 shares of Class A Common Stock, (ii) upon exercise of the Mezzanine
Warrants, (iii) upon exercise of the Heller Warrant, (iv) as provided in this
Agreement, the Class A Purchase Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, or (v) as set forth in Exhibit D: (1) no subscription,
warrant, option, convertible security or other right (contingent or otherwise)
to purchase or acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company is authorized
or outstanding; (2) the Company has no obligation (contingent or otherwise) to
issue any subscription, warrant, option, convertible security or other such
right or to issue or distribute to holders of any shares of its capital stock
any evidences of indebtedness or assets of the Company; and (3) the Company has
no obligation (contingent or otherwise) to purchase, redeem

                                       2

<PAGE>

or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any interest therein or
to pay any dividend or make any other distribution in respect thereof. All of
the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been
offered, issued and sold by the Company in compliance with applicable federal
and state securities laws.

          3C. Subsidiaries, Etc. The Company has no Subsidiaries and does not
own or control, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of any other
corporation or any interest in any partnership, joint venture or other
non-corporate business enterprise.

          3D. Shareholder List and Agreements. Exhibit D sets forth a true and
complete list of the shareholders of the Company, showing the number of shares
of Class A Common Stock, Class A Preferred Stock, the Mezzanine Warrants, the
Heller Warrant or other securities of the Company held by each shareholder as of
the date of this Agreement and date of each Closing and the consideration paid
to the Company, if any, therefor. Except (i) pursuant to the 1994 Stock Plan,
(ii) as provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or the various
agreements amended by the Amendment Agreement), or (iii) as set forth in Exhibit
D, there are no agreements, written or oral, between the Company and any holder
of its capital stock, or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, among any
holders of its capital stock, relating to the acquisition (including without
limitation rights of first refusal or preemptive rights), disposition,
registration under the Securities Act, or voting of the capital stock of the
Company.

          3E. Issuance of Shares and Warrants. The issuance, sale and delivery
of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Warrants in accordance with this
Agreement, and the issuance and delivery of the Warrant Shares upon exercise of
the Warrants, have been, or will be on or prior to the Closing, duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and all such
Shares have been duly reserved for issuance. The Series B Preferred Stock, when
so issued, sold and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, and the Warrant Shares, when issued upon exercise
of the Warrants in accordance with the terms of the Warrants, will be duly and
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable..

          3F. Authority for Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance
by the Company of this Agreement and all Ancillary Agreements, and the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action. This Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements have been duly executed and delivered by the Company
and constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in
accordance with their respective terms. The execution, delivery and performance
of the-transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements
(including the various agreements amended by the Amendment Agreement) and
compliance with their provisions by the Company will not violate any provision
of law and will not conflict with or result in any breach of any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or require a consent
or waiver under, its Articles of incorporation or Bylaws (each as amended to
date) or any indenture, lease, agreement or other instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound, or any
decree, judgment, order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company.

                                       3

<PAGE>

          3G. Governmental Consents. No consent, approval, order or
authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or
filing with, any governmental authority is required on the part of the Company
in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the offer,
issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares, or the other transactions to be
consummated at the Closings, as contemplated by this Agreement, except such
filings as shall have been made prior to and shall be effective on and as of
each Closing. Based in part on the representations made by each of the
Purchasers in part 4 of this Agreement, the offer and sale of the Shares and the
Warrants to each of the Purchasers will be in compliance with applicable federal
and state securities laws.

          3H. Litigation. There is no action, suit or proceeding, or
governmental inquiry or investigation, pending, or, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, any basis therefor or threat thereof, against the Company, which
questions the validity of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or any of
the various agreements amended by the Amendment Agreement) or the right of the
Company to enter into or perform this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or
which could reasonably be expected to hay; either individually or in the
aggregate, any material adverse effect on the business, prospects, assets or
condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company, nor is there any litigation
pending, or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, any basis therefor or
threat thereof, against the Company by reason of the proposed activities of the
Company, or negotiations by the Company with possible investors in the Company.

          3I. Financial Statements. The Company has furnished to each of the
Purchasers a complete and correct copy of the following financial statements
(collectively, the "Financial Statements"): (i) the Company's audited balance
sheet, statement of income, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows for
the fiscal year end June 30, 1996, and (ii) the Company's unaudited balance
sheet (the "Balance Sheet") as of March 31, 1997 (the "Balance Sheet Date") and
the related statement of operations and cash flow for the nine-month period
ended as of the Balance Sheet Date (the "Most Recent Financial Statements"). The
Financial Statements are complete and correct, are in accordance with the books
and records of the Company and present fairly the financial condition and
results of operations of the company, as at the dates and for the periods
indicated, and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied, except that the Most Recent
Financial Statements lack footnotes and other presentation items and axe subject
to normal year-end audit adjustments, which will not be material, individually
or in the aggregate.

          3J. Absence of Liabilities. Except as disclosed in Exhibit D, at the
Balance Sheet Date, the Company did not have any liabilities of any type that in
the aggregate exceeded $40,000, whether absolute or contingent, which were not
fully reflected on the Balance Sheet, and since the Balance Sheet Date the
Company. has not incurred or otherwise become subject to any such liabilities or
obligations except in the ordinary course of business.

          3K. Taxes. The amount shown on the Balance Sheet as provision for
taxes is sufficient in all material respects for payment of all accrued and
unpaid federal, state, county, local and foreign taxes for the period then ended
and all prior periods. The Company has filed all federal, state, county, local
and foreign tax returns which are required to be filed by it on or prior to the
date of each Closing, such returns are true and correct and all taxes shown
thereon to be due have been timely paid with exceptions not material to the
Company. Federal income tax

                                       4

<PAGE>

returns of the Company have not been audited by the Internal Revenue Service,
and no controversy with respect to taxes of any type is pending or, to the best
of the Company's knowledge, threatened. Neither the Company nor any of its
shareholders has ever filed (i) an election pursuant to Section 1362 of the
Code, that the Company be taxed as an S Corporation or (ii) a consent pursuant
to Section 341(f) of the Code relating to collapsible corporations.

          3L. Property and Assets. The Company has good and indefeasible title
to or a valid leasehold interest in all of its properties and assets, which
comprise all of the properties and assets reflected in the Balance Sheet (except
those disposed of since the Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of
business) and all of the properties and assets necessary or useful for the
conduct of its business as currently conducted by the Company, and none of such
properties or assets is subject to any Lien of any nature whatsoever other than
those the material terms of which are described in the Balance Sheet or in
Exhibit D.

          3M. Intellectual Property. The Company is the sole owner of or
possesses all legal rights to all patents, patent applications, trademarks,
service marks, trademark and service mark applications, trade names, copyrights,
trade secrets, licenses, information and proprietary rights and processes
presently used by the Company or necessary for the conduct of the Company's
business as conducted and as proposed to be conducted (the "Intellectual
Property Rights"). The Company has taken all actions reasonable in light of its
financial position to protect the Intellectual Property Rights. The business
conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Company does not and. will not
cause the Company to infringe or violate any of the trademarks, service marks,
trade names, copyrights,. licenses, trade secrets or other intellectual property
rights or the patents of any other Person, and, except as set forth in Exhibit
D, does not and will not require the Company to obtain any license or other
agreement to use any trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights,
licenses, trade secrets or other intellectual property rights or patents of
others. Except for standard end-user license agreements, there are no
outstanding options, licenses or agreements of any kind relating to the
Intellectual Property Rights, nor is the Company bound by or a party to any
options, licenses or agreements of any kind with respect to the patents,
trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses,
information and proprietary rights and processes of any other Person. The.
Company has not received any communications alleging that the Company has
violated or, by conducting its business as proposed to be conducted, would
violate any of the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights,
trade secrets, licenses, information and proprietary rights and processes of any
other Person. Exhibit D contains a complete list of patents, pending patent
applications, trademarks and service marks of the Company. The Company is not
aware that any employee of the Company is obligated under any contract
(including any license, covenant or commitment of any nature), or subject to any
judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would
conflict or interfere with (i) the performance of the any employee's duties as
an officer, employee or director of the Company, (ii) the use of any employee's
best efforts to promote the interests of the Company, or (iii) the Company's
business as conducted or proposed to be conducted. The Company does not believe
that it is or will be necessary to use any inventions or works of authorship of
its employees (or persons it currently intends to hire) made prior to their
employment by the Company.

          3N. Insurance. The Company maintains valid policies of insurance with
respect to its properties and business of the kinds and in the amounts not less
than is customarily

                                       5

<PAGE>

obtained by corporations engaged in the same or similar business and similarly
situated, including, without limitation, employee injury benefit insurance and
insurance against casualty loss, public liability, libel, slander, defamation,
advertising injury and other risks. Exhibit D sets forth a schedule and brief
description of the policies of insurance currently maintained by the Company.
With respect to each such insurance policy: (i) the policy is in full force and
effect; (ii) the Company is not in breach or default (including with respect to
the payment of premiums or the giving of notices), and no event has occurred
which, with notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or
default or permit termination, cancellation, modification or denial of coverage
under the policy and (iii) no party to the policy has repudiated any of its
provisions.

          3O. Material Contracts and Obligations. Exhibit D sets forth a list of
all material agreements or commitments of any nature to which the Company is a
party or by which it is bound, other than alarm monitoring purchase agreements
entered in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation (i)
each agreement which requires future expenditures by the Company in excess o.
$50,000 or which might result in payments to the Company in excess of $50,000,
(ii) all employment and consulting agreements, employee benefit, bonus, pension,
profit-sharing, stock option, stock purchase and similar plans and arrangements,
and distributor and sales representative agreements, (iii) each agreement with
any stockholder, officer or director of the Company, or any "affiliate" or
"associate" of such persons (as such terms are defined in the rules and
regulations promulgated under the Securities Act), including without limitation
any agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services by,
rental of real or personal property from, or otherwise requiring payments to,
any such person or entity, and (iv) any agreement relating to the Intellectual
Property Rights. The Company has delivered to the Purchasers copies of such of
the foregoing agreements as the Purchasers have requested. All of such
agreements and contracts are valid, binding and in full force and effect.

          3P. Compliance. The Company has complied in all material respects with
all laws, regulations and orders applicable to its present and proposed business
and has all material permits and licenses required thereby. There is no term or
provision of any mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement or instrument to which
the Company is a party or by which it is bound or of any provision of any
existing state or federal judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation
applicable to or binding upon the Company, which materially adversely affects
or, so far as the Company may now reasonably foresee, in the future is
reasonably likely to materially adversely affect, the business, prospects,
assets or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company. To the best of the
Company's knowledge, no employee of the Company is in violation of any term of
any contract or covenant (either with the Company or with another entity)
relating to employment, patents, proprietary information disclosure,
noncompetition or non-solicitation.

          3Q. Absence of Changes. Since the Balance Sheet Date, there has been
no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, net worth
or results of operations of the Company, other than changes occurring in the
ordinary course of business which changes have not, individually or in the
aggregate, had a materially adverse effect on the business, prospects,
properties or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company. Without
limiting the foregoing and except as set forth in Exhibit D, since that date:

                                       6

<PAGE>

          (i) the Company has riot sold, leased, transferred, or assigned any of
     its assets, tangible or intangible, other than for a fair consideration in
     the ordinary course of business;

          (ii) the Company has not entered into any agreement, contract, lease,
     or license (or series of related agreements, contracts, leases, and
     licenses) either involving more than $25,000 (other than alarm monitoring
     purchase agreements entered in the ordinary course of business) or outside
     the ordinary course of business;

          (iii) no party (including the Company) has accelerated, terminated,
     modified, or cancelled any agreement, contract, lease, or license (or
     series of related agreements, contracts, leases, and licenses) involving
     more than $25,000 to which the Company is a party or by which the Company
     or its assets are bound;

          (iv) the Company has not imposed or permitted any other Person to
     impose any Lien upon any of its assets, tangible or intangible;

          (v) the Company has not made any capital expenditure (or series of
     related capital expenditures) either involving more than $25,000 or outside
     the ordinary course of business;

          (vi) the Company has not made any capital investment in, any loan to,
     or any acquisition of the securities or assets of, any other Person (or
     series of related capital investments, loans, and acquisitions) either
     involving more than $25,000 (other than alarm monitoring purchase
     agreements entered in the ordinary course of business) or outside the
     ordinary course of business;

          (vii) the Company has not issued any note, bond, or other debt
     security or created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed any indebtedness for
     borrowed money or capitalized lease obligation either involving more than
     $5,000 alone or $l5,000 in the aggregate;

          (viii) the Company has not delayed or postponed the payment of
     accounts payable or any other liabilities outside the ordinary course of
     business;

          (ix) the Company has not cancelled, compromised, waived, or released
     any right or claim (or series of related rights and claims) either
     involving more than $25,000 or outside the ordinary course of business;

          (x) the Company has not granted any license or sublicense of any
     rights under or with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights except in
     the ordinary course of business;

          (xi) the Company has not declared, set aside, or paid any dividend or
     made any distribution with respect to its capital stock (whether in cash or
     in kind) or redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired any of its capital
     stock;

                                       7

<PAGE>

          (xii) the Company has not experienced any damage, destruction, or loss
     (whether or not covered by insurance) to its property;

          (xiii) the Company has not made any loan to, or entered into any other
     transaction with, any of its directors, officers, and employees outside the
     ordinary course of business;

          (xiv) the Company has not entered into any employment contract or
     collective bargaining agreement, written or oral, or modified the terms of
     any such contract or agreement,

          (xv) the Company has not granted any increase in the base compensation
     of any of its directors, officers, and employees outside the ordinary
     course of business;

          (xvi) the Company has not adopted, amended, modified or terminated any
     bonus, profit-sharing, incentive, severance, or other plan, contract, or
     commitment for the benefit of any of its directors, officers, and employees
     (or taken any such action with respect to any other benefit plan);

          (xvii) the Company has not made any other change in employment terms
     for any of its directors, officers, and employees outside the ordinary
     course of business;

          (xviii) the Company has not made or pledged to make any charitable or
     other capital contribution outside the ordinary course of business;

          (xix) there has not been any other material occurrence, event,
     incident, action, failure to act, or transaction outside the ordinary
     course of business involving the Company or its assets or business; and

          (xx) the Company has not committed to do any of the foregoing.

          3R. Employees. None of the employees of the Company is represented by
any labor union, and there is no labor strike or other labor trouble pending
with respect to the Company (including, without limitation, any organizational
drive) or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, threatened.

          3S. ERISA. The Company does not have or otherwise contribute to or
participate in any employee benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (other than a medical benefit plan with respect to
which the Company has made all required contributions and has complied with all
applicable laws).

          3T. Books and Records. The minute books of the Company contain
complete and accurate records of all meetings and other corporate actions of its
shareholders and its Board of Directors and committees thereof. The stock ledger
of the Company is complete and reflects all issuances, transfers, repurchases
and cancellations of shares of capital stock of the Company.

          3U. Disclosures. Neither this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement nor
any exhibit hereto or thereto, nor any report, certificate or instrument
furnished to any of the

                                       8

<PAGE>

Purchasers in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or
the Ancillary Agreements, when. read together, contains any untrue statement of
a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements contained herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The Company knows of no information or
fact that has or would have, a material adverse effect on the business,
prospects, assets or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company which has
not been disclosed to the Purchasers in this Agreement, the exhibits hereto, or
other written materials furnished to the Purchasers.

     4. Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers. Each of the Purchasers
severally represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

          4A. Investment. Such Purchaser is acquiring the Shares and the
Warrants for its own account for investment and not with a view' to, or for sale
in connection with, any distribution thereof, nor with any present intention of
distributing or selling the same, and, except as contemplated by this Agreement,
the Ancillary Agreements, and the exhibits hereto and thereto, such Purchaser
has no present or contemplated agreement, undertaking, arrangement, obligation,
indebtedness or commitment providing for the disposition thereof. Such Purchaser
acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of the Shares and the Warrants set
forth in part 9 of this Agreement. Nothing contained in this part 4 shall limit
or restrict the ability of a Purchaser from pledging or granting a Lien in
respect of any Shares to secure bona fide obligations or indebtedness of the
Purchaser.

          4B. Authority. Such Purchaser has full power and authority to enter
into and to perform this Agreement in accordance with its terms. Any Purchaser
which is a corporation, partnership or trust represents that it has not been
organized, reorganized or recapitalized specifically for the purpose of
investing in the Company.

          4C. Accredited Investor. Such Purchaser has carefully reviewed the
representations concerning the Company contained in this Agreement and has made
detailed inquiry concerning the Company, its business and its personnel; the
officers of the Company have made available to such Purchaser any and all
written information which it has requested and have answered to such Purchaser's
satisfaction all inquiries made by such Purchaser; and such Purchaser is an
"accredited investor," as such term is defined in Regulation D promulgated under
the Securities Act.

     5. Conditions to the Obligations of the Purchasers. The obligation of each
of the Purchasers to purchase Series B Preferred Stock at the Closing is subject
to the fulfillment, or the waiver by such Purchaser, of each of the following
conditions on or before such Closing:

          5A. Accuracy of Representations and Warranties. Each representation
and warranty contained in part 3 shall be true at and as of the Closing with the
same effect as though such representation and warranty had been made on and as
of the date of the Closing.

          5B. Performance. The Company shall have performed and complied with
all agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement required to be
performed or complied with by the Company prior to or at the Closing.

                                       9

<PAGE>

          5C. Opinion of Counsel. Each Purchaser shall have received an opinion
from Glast, Phillips & Murray, a Professional Corporation, counsel for the
Company, dated the date of the Closing, addressed to the Purchasers, and
satisfactory in form and substance to the Purchasers and their special counsel,
substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E hereto.

          5D. Ancillary Agreements. The Second Amendment Agreement attached
hereto as Exhibit F (the "Amendment Agreement") shall have been executed and
delivered by the Company, the holders of the Class A Common Stock, Austin
Ventures III, and each of the Purchasers and shall be in full force and effect

          5E. Certificates and Documents. The Company shall have delivered to
the Purchasers or special counsel to the Purchasers:

          (i) the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, including the
     Certificate of Designation, as amended and in effect as of the Closing,
     certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Texas;

          (ii) certificates, as of the most recent practicable dates, as to the
     existence and corporate good standing of the Company issued by the
     Secretary of State of the State of Texas;

          (iii) Bylaws of the Company, certified by its Secretary as of the date
     of such Closing;

          (iv) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, authorizing
     and approving all matters in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary
     Agreements and the transactions contemplated herein and therein, certified
     by the Secretary of the Company as of the date of such Closing; and

          (v) such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated in
     this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements as any Purchaser may reasonably
     request.

          5F. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation. The Certificate of
Designation shall have been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Texas and, thereafter, the Articles of Amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation of the Company, in the form attached as Exhibit G hereto, shall
have been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Texas.

          5G. Loan Agreement. The Company shall have contemporaneously with the
Closing entered into that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term
Loan Agreement with the lenders named therein on terms satisfactory to the
Purchasers, and the Company shall have access to the funds with respect thereto.

          5H. Note Agreement. The Company shall have contemporaneously with the
Closing entered into that certain Senior Subordinated Note and Warrant Purchase
Agreement with CRL (the "Additional Note Agreement") on terms satisfactory to
the Purchasers, and the Company shall have simultaneously closed on the issuance
and sale of its 12.0% Senior Subordinated Note, due June 30, 2003, in the
aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000 under the Additional Note Agreement.

                                       10

<PAGE>

          5I. Compliance Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to the
Purchasers a certificate, executed by the President of the Company, dated the
date of such Closing, certifying to the fulfillment of the conditions specified
in paragraphs 5A, 5B, 5D and 5F through 5H.

          5J. Other Matters. All corporate and other proceedings in connection
with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall
be reasonably satisfactory in substance and form to the Purchasers and their
special counsel, and the Purchasers and their special counsel shall have
received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such
documents as they may reasonably request.

     6. Condition to the Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the
Company to issue and sell the Series B Preferred Stock to the Purchasers at a
Closing are subject to fulfillment, or the waiver by the Company, of each of the
following conditions on or before such Closing:

          6A. Accuracy of Representations and Warranties. The representations
and warranties of the Purchasers contained in part 4 shall be true at and as of
such Closing with the same effect as though such representations and warranties
had been made on and as of the date of such Closing.

          6B. Minimum Investment. Purchasers shall have tendered at the Closing
aggregate consideration of not less than $5,000,000 for the purchase of Series B
Preferred Stock.

          6C. Other Matters. All corporate and other proceedings in connection
with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall
be reasonably satisfactory in substance and form to the Company and its counsel,
and the Company and its counsel shall have received all such counterpart
originals or certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably
request.

     7. Covenants of the Company.

          7A. Inspection and Observation. The Company shall permit each Major
Purchaser or any authorized representative thereof, to visit and inspect the
properties of the Company, including its corporate and financial records, and to
discuss its business and finances with officers of the Company, during normal
business hours following reasonable notice, without interference to the conduct
of the Company's business and as often as may be reasonably requested.

          7B. Financial Statements and Other Information. The Company shall
deliver to each Qualified Holder:

          (i) within 100 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company,
     an audited balance sheet of the Company as at the end of such year and
     audited statements of operations and of cash flows of the Company for such
     year, certified by Arthur Andersen LLP or another firm of certified public
     accountants of established national

                                       11

<PAGE>

     reputation selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the
     Purchasers, and prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
     principles;

          (ii) within 30 days after the end of each month, an unaudited balance
     sheet of the Company as at the end of such month and unaudited statements
     of operations and of cash flows of the Company for such month and for the
     current fiscal year to the end of such month, setting forth in comparative
     form the Company's operating budget for the corresponding periods for the
     current fiscal year, accompanied by an executive summary of the activities
     of the Company during such. month, signed by the Company's chief executive
     officer and chief financial officer;

          (iii) as soon as available, but in any event not later than 30 days
     prior to the beginning of each new fiscal year, an operating budget for
     such fiscal year approved by the Board of Directors;

          (iv) with reasonable promptness, such other notices, information and
     data with respect to the Company as the Company delivers to the holders of
     its Class A Common Stock or Class A Preferred Stock, and such other
     information and data as such Major Purchaser may from time to time
     reasonably request.

The foregoing financial statements shall be prepared on a consolidated basis,.
if the Company then has any Subsidiaries. The financial statements delivered
pursuant to clause (ii) shall be accompanied by a certificate of the chief
financial officer of the Company stating, in the name and on behalf of the
Company, that such statements have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied and fairly present the
financial condition and results of operations of the Company at the date thereof
and for the periods covered thereby.

          7C. Material Changes and Litigation. The Company shall promptly notify
each Purchaser of any material adverse change in the business, prospects, assets
or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company and of any litigation or
governmental proceeding or investigation brought or, to the best of the
Company's knowledge, threatened against the Company, or against any officer,
director, key employee or principal shareholder of the Company materially
adversely affecting or which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be
expected to materially adversely affect its business, prospects, assets or
condition, financial or otherwise.

          7D. Negative Covenants. The Company shall not, without the written
approval of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares:

          (i) make (or permit any subsidiary to make) any loan or advance to, or
     own any stock or other securities of, any subsidiary or other corporation,
     partnership, or other entity unless it is wholly owned by the Company;

          (ii) issue any Equity Securities except (a) the Shares pursuant to
     this Agreement, (b) the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants, (c)
     upon conversion of the Class A Preferred Stock or the Class B Common Stock,
     (d) upon exercise of the Mezzanine Warrants, (e) upon exercise of the
     Heller Warrant, or (f) pursuant to an Approved Plan;

                                       12

<PAGE>

          (iii) make any loan or advance to any Person, including, without
     limitation, any employee or director of the Company or any Subsidiary,
     except advances and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business
     or under the terms of an Approved Plan;

          (iv) guarantee directly or indirectly, any indebtedness except for
     trade accounts of any Subsidiary arising in the ordinary course of
     business;

          (v) acquire, by purchase, exchange, merger or otherwise, all or
     substantially all of the properties or assets of any other Person, other
     than purchases of alarm monitoring contracts pursuant to alarm monitoring
     purchase agreements entered in the ordinary course of business;

          (vi) adopt any stock option, stock purchase or similar incentive plan
     or arrangement other than an Approved Plan;

          (vii) amend, modify or waive any provisions of any stock option or
     restricted stock grant granted or issued pursuant to an Approved Plan
     except as contemplated in this Agreement; or

          (viii) redeem, purchase or acquire any capital stock or Equity
     Security except (a) pursuant to this Agreement, (b) shares of Class A
     Preferred Stock or Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to the Articles of
     Incorporation, or (c) pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement.

          7E. Termination of Covenants. The covenants of the Company contained
in paragraphs 7A through 7D shall terminate, and be of no further force or
effect; at the time of and subject to the closing and funding of a Qualified
Public Offering.

          7F. Reservation of Common Stock. The Company shall reserve and
maintain a sufficient number of shares of Class A Common Stock for issuance upon
exercise of all of the outstanding Warrants.

          7G. Qualified Small Business Stock. The Company shall comply with a~1y
applicable filing or reporting requirements imposed under the Code on issues of
Qualified Small Business Stock. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company
shall submit to its shareholders (including the Purchasers.) and to the Internal
Revenue Service any reports that may be required under Section 1202(d)(1)(C) of
the Code and the Regulations promulgated thereunder. In addition, within ten
days after any Purchaser's written request therefor, the Company shall deliver
to such Purchaser a written statement indicating whether such Purchaser's
interest in the Company constitutes Qualified Small Business Stock.

     8. Obligation to Repurchase Warrants.

          8A. Right to Put Warrants and Warrant Shares. For a period of 365 days
(the "Put Exercise Period") commencing with the earlier to occur of (i) the date
upon which the Company shall have effected the redemption of all of the
outstanding shares of Class A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock in
accordance with Article Four of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended from
time to time, or (ii) the date upon which the Company shall have

                                       13

<PAGE>

effected the redemption or repurchase of all outstanding shares of Series B
Preferred Stock and at least ninety percent (90%) of the outstanding shares of
Class A Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase offer made to the holders of
Class A Preferred Stock pursuant to Article Four of the Articles of
Incorporation, as amended from time to time, each holder of the Warrants and
Warrant Shares shall have the right and option (the "Put Option") to sell to the
Company and to require the Company to purchase from such holder, at the
Repurchase Price (as defined in paragraph 8D) all or any number of the Warrants
and Warrant Shares held by such holder. The Company shall provide each holder of
Warrants and Warrant Shares at least ten days' prior written notice of any event
described in clause (i) or (ii) above.

          8B. Notice and Payment. To exercise the Put Option, a holder of
Warrants or Warrant Shares shall give the Company written notice during the Put
Exercise Period (the "Put Notice") and shall specify in such notice the number
of Warrants and/or Warrant Shares to be sold and may specify in such notice a
proposed date of sale. The closing of any repurchase of the Warrants or Warrant
Shares pursuant to paragraph 8A shall take place at the offices of the Company
at 10:00 a.m., Dallas, Texas time, on a business day (the "Put Closing Date")
which shall not be later than the latest to occur (i) the date specified `in the
Put Notice (which shall not be less than 15 business days after the date of the
Put Notice or more than 15 business days after then end of the Put Exercise
Period) and (ii) the date 15 business days after a final determination of the
Repurchase Price pursuant to paragraph 8D.

     On or prior to the Put Closing Date, the Company shall deliver a certified
or bank cashier's check to the holder of the Warrants or Warrant Shares being
repurchased, at his or its address as the same appears in the transfer records
of the Company, in an amount equal to the aggregate Repurchase Price for the
Warrants and Warrant shares being repurchased from such holder, determined in
accordance with paragraph 8D, or shall transfer such amount by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to any account specified in writing by such holder
to the Company.

          8C. Insufficiency of Funds. In the event that any or all of the
Repurchase Price is not paid to any holder entitled thereto as a result of the
insufficiency of legally available funds under the Texas Business Corporation
Act or otherwise, the obligation to effect the repurchase shall remain an
obligation of the Company and shall be performed as soon as there are funds
legally available therefor.

          8D. Repurchase Price for Warrants and Warrant Shares. (a) The
repurchase price (the "Repurchase Price") for each Warrant (determined on the
basis of the number of Warrant Shares into which it is then exercisable) and
each Warrant Share which is to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to
paragraph 8A shall be the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Fair Market
Value (as defined below) of the aggregate of all of the outstanding Common Stock
as of the end of the Company's last full fiscal quarter immediately preceding
the Put Notice, including in such outstanding Common Stock the Warrant Shares
and all shares of Common Stock which could be acquired from the Company upon
exercise or conversion of any outstanding options or other securities then
exercisable or convertible into Common Stock (collectively, as of any time of
determination, the "Outstanding Common Stock"), by (ii) the number of shares of
Outstanding Common Stock. For purposes of this paragraph 8D, the "Fair Market
Value" of the Outstanding Common Stock shall be determined in good faith by the

                                       14

<PAGE>

holders of Warrants and/or Warrant Shares exercising Put Options (the
"Exercising Holders") and the Company. If the Exercising Holders and the Company
are unable to agree on such fair market value, the Exercising Holders shall
select a pool of three independent and nationally-recognized investment banking
firms from which the Company shall select one such firm to appraise the fair
market value of the Outstanding Common Stock and to perform the computations
involved. The determination of such investment banking firm shall be binding
upon the Company, the Exercising Holders and any other holder of Warrants or
Warrant Shares. All expenses of such investment banking firm shall be borne
one-half by the Company and one-half by the Exercising Holders. In all cases,
the determination of fair market value shall be made without consideration of
the, lack of a liquid public market for the Outstanding Common Stock and without
consideration of any "control premium" or any discount for holding less than a
majority or controlling interest of the Outstanding Common Stock.

          8E. Delivery of Certificates; Reissuance. Upon the timely receipt of
the Repurchase Price (plus interest, if applicable) for Warrants or Warrant
Shares sold the Company pursuant to paragraph 8A, the holder thereof shall
forward on or prior to the Put Closing Date the Warrants and/or the certificates
representing Warrant Shares, as the case may be, so sold to the Company. To the
extent that less than all the holder's Warrants or Warrant Shares are sold, the
Company shall forthwith issue and deliver to such holder, as appropriate, (a)
Warrants in every respect identical to the Warrants so forwarded, except that
the same shall provide for the purchase by the holder of such lesser number of
Warrant Shares as shall be represented by the Warrants which the Company has not
repurchased and (b) certificates representing outstanding Warrant Shares which
the Company has not repurchased. Upon timely payment of the Repurchase Price
therefor (plus interest, if applicable), Warrants or Warrant Shares so
repurchased shall no longer be exercisable or be considered issued and
outstanding or have any validity whatsoever.

          8F. Right to Purchase New Mezzanine Securities. Prior to issuing any
subordinated debt, whether or not in combination with warrants or other equity
securities (such subordinated debt and warrants or other equity securities, if
any, herein referred to collectively as "Mezzanine Securities"), of the Company,
or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person, the Company will first give, or cause
such Subsidiary to give to each of the holders of the Warrants and the Warrant
Shares the right to purchase, on the same terms, the same proportion of the
Mezzanine Securities proposed to be sold by the Company or such Subsidiary as
the number of Warrants and Warrant Shares owned by such holder bears to the
total number of shares of Outstanding Common Stock at that lime. Persons
electing to purchase Mezzanine Securities pursuant to this paragraph shall also
be entitled to purchase (pro rata according to their holdings of Warrants and
Warrant Shares) offered Mezzanine Securities that other holders decline to
purchase. Any such right of purchase shall be exercisable for a period of 20
days after the holders receive written notice of a proposed issuance of
Mezzanine Securities (and any such notice by the Company or a Subsidiary shall
be give not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to any such issuance). The
Company shall be entitled to sell any Mezzanine Securities not purchased by the
holders of Warrants and Warrant Shares pursuant to this paragraph 8F: (i) during
the period ending six months after the date of the Company's notice to such
holders and (ii) at not less than the same price and upon terms not materially
Less favorable to the Company than those offered to the holders of Warrants and
Warrant Shares, but may not otherwise sell such Mezzanine Securities without
renewed compliance with this paragraph 8F.

                                       15

<PAGE>

          8G. Right to Purchase New Equity Securities. Prior to issuing any
equity securities or any options or convertible securities exercisable for or
convertible into such equity securities (other than (i) those outstanding as of
the Closing Date, (ii) those granted under an Approved Plan, (iii) Common Stock
issued upon conversion of the Class A Preferred Stock outstanding on the Closing
Date or (iv) pursuant to a merger, share exchange or issuance of securities in
connection with the acquisition by the Company of another Person if the
Purchasers and the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such
transaction share dilution equally as a result of such transaction)
(collectively, "Equity Securities") of the Company or any Subsidiary to any
Person, the Company will first give or cause such Subsidiary to give to each of
the holders of the Warrants and Warrant Shares the right, to purchase, on the
same terms, the same proportion of the securities proposed to be sold by the
Company or such Subsidiary as the number of Warrants and Warrant Shares owned by
such holder bears to the total number of shares of Outstanding Common Stock at
that time. Persons electing to purchase Equity Securities pursuant to this
paragraph shall also be entitled to purchase (pro rata according to their
holdings of Warrants and Warrant Shares) offered Equity Securities that other
holders decline to purchase. Any such right of purchase shall be exercisable for
a period of 20 days after the holders receive written notice of a proposed
issuance of Equity Securities (any such notice by the Company or a Subsidiary
shall be given not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to any such
issuance).

          8H. Termination Upon Qualified Public Offering. The Put Options set
forth in paragraph 8A, the right of holders of Warrants and Warrant Shares to
purchase new Mezzanine Securities set forth in paragraph 8F and the right of
holders of Warrants and Warrant Shares to purchase new Equity Securities set
forth in paragraph 80 shall terminate immediately prior to the closing of a
Qualified Public Offering.

     9. Transfer of Shares and Warrants.

          9A. Restrictions. The restrictions on the sale or transfer of Shares
or Warrants set forth in this part 9 shall cease to apply to such Shares or
Warrants (i) upon any sale of such Shares or Warrants pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement, Section 4(1) of the Securities Act, or Rule 144
under the Securities Act or (ii) at such time as such Shares or Warrants become
eligible for resale under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

          9B. Requirements for Transfer.

          (i) Shares or Warrants shall not be sold or transferred unless either
     (a) they first shall have been registered under the Securities Act, or (b)
     the Company first shall have been furnished with an opinion of legal
     counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such
     sale or transfer is exempt from the registration requirements of the
     Securities Act.

          (ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no registration or opinion of
     counsel shall be required for (a) a transfer by a Purchaser which is a
     corporation or a partnership to a shareholder or partner of such Purchaser,
     or to the estate of any such shareholder or partner, if the transferee
     agrees in writing to be subject to the terms of this part 9 to the same
     extent as if such shareholder or partner were an original Purchaser'
     hereunder, or (b) a transfer made in accordance with Rule 144 under the
     Securities Act.

                                       16

<PAGE>

          9C. Legends. Each certificate representing Shares and each Warrant
shall bear a legend substantially in the following form:

          "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
          UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE
          SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED WITHOUT COMPLIANCE
          WITH THE REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION PROVISIONS OF APPLICABLE
          FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR APPLICABLE EXEMPTIONS THEREFROM."

     The foregoing legend shall be removed from the certificates representing
any Shares or Warrants, at the request of the holder thereof, at such time as
they become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities
Act.

          9D. Rule 144A Information. The Company shall, at all times during
which it is neither subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, nor exempt from reporting pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under
the Exchange Act, upon the written request of any Purchaser, provide in writing
to such Purchaser and to any prospective transferee of any Shares or Warrants of
such Purchaser the information concerning the Company described in Rule
144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A Information"). Upon the written
request of any Purchaser, the Company shall cooperate with and assist such
Purchaser or any member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
PORTAL system in applying to designate and thereafter maintain the eligibility
of the Shares or Warrants for trading through PORTAL. The Company's obligations
under this paragraph 9D shall at all times be contingent upon receipt from the
prospective transferee of Shares or Warrants of a written agreement to take all
reasonable precautions to safeguard the Rule 144A Information from disclosure to
anyone other than persons who will assist such transferee in evaluating the
purchase of any Shares or Warrants.

     10. Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the meanings set forth below:

     "Additional Note Agreement" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 5H.

     "Affiliate" means with respect to any Person, a Person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is
under common control with, such Person, and, in the case of an individual,
includes any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative or such spouse,
who has the same home as such Person. The term "control" means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.

     "Ancillary Agreements" mean any and all agreements other than this
Agreement required to be executed by the parties to this Agreement on or prior
to the Closing pursuant to paragraph 5D.

     "Amendment Agreement" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 5D.

                                       17

<PAGE>

     "Approved Plan" means the 1994 Stock Plan and any other written stock
option, stock purchase or similar incentive plan (or option agreements for the
purchase of up to 400,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, of which options to
purchase 150,000 shares of Class A Common Stock to be cancelled and regranted,
or amended, with a reduced exercise price) approved by a majority of the Board
of Directors.

     "Articles of Incorporation" means the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company, and as otherwise amended from time to time.

     "Austin Ventures III" means Austin Ventures III-A, L.P. and Austin Ventures
III-B, L.P., collectively.

     "Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Company.

     "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public
holiday or the equivalent for banks in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

     "Bylaws" means the bylaws of the Company, as amended and in effect at the
Closing.

     "Class A Common Stock" means the Company's Class A Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share.

     "Class A Preferred Stock" means the Company's Class A Preferred Stock
(formerly Series A Preferred Stock), par value $0.01 per share, more fully
described in the Articles of Incorporation.

     "Class A Purchase Agreement" means the Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of
October 21, 1994, as amended, among the Company and Austin Ventures III,
providing, among other things, for the purchase and sale of Class A Preferred
Stock, and as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time
to time.

     "Class B Common Stock" means the Company's Class B Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share.

     "Class B Preferred Stock" means the Company's Class B Preferred Stock, par
value $.0l per share.

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

     "CRL" means Capital Resource Lenders II, L.P.

     "Equity Securities" means any capital stock or similar security, including
without limitation, securities containing equity features and securities
containing profit participation features, or any security convertible or
exchangeable, with or without consideration, into or for any stock or similar
security, or any security carrying any warrant or right to subscribe for or
purchase any stock or similar security, or any such warrant or right.

     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

                                       18

<PAGE>

     "Fair Market Value" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8D.

     "Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 31.

     "Heller Warrant" means the Company's Warrant for the purchase (subject to
adjustment as provided therein) of 367,238 shares of Class B Common Stock,
issued to Heller Financial, Inc. ("Heller") pursuant to that certain Warrant
Agreement, by and between the Company and Heller, dated November 10, 1994.

     "Lien" means any lien, security interest, pledge, mortgage, deed of trust,
charge or encumbrance in real, personal or mixed property (tangible or
intangible, and wherever located).

     "Mezzanine Securities" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8F.

     "Mezzanine Warrants" means the Company's Common Stock Purchase Warrants for
the purchase (subject to adjustment as provided therein) of an aggregate of
565,819 shares of Class A Common Stock, issued to Austin Ventures III and CRL
pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement.

     "Note Purchase Agreement" means the Senior Subordinated Note and Warrant
Purchase Agreement dated as of May 10, 1996, by and among the Company, Austin
Ventures III and CRL, as supplemented and modified by (i) the Senior
Subordinated Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of November 22, 1996,
and (ii) the Additional Note Agreement, and as such agreement may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time.

     "Outstanding Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8D.

     "Person" means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an association,
a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, a limited liability company, an
unincorporated organization or a governmental entity or any department, agency
or political subdivision thereof.

     "Preferred Stock" means the Company's Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, more fully described in the Articles of Incorporation.

     "Put Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8B.

     "Put Exercise Period" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8A.

     "Put Option" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8A.

     "Put Notice" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8B.

     "Qualified Holder" means a Purchaser holding not less than 100,000 Shares,
and for purposes of determining whether the number of Shares held by a Purchaser
qualifies such Purchaser as a Qualified Holder, (a) the foregoing numbers shall
be adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar
events, (b) Shares shall include Warrant Shares which have been issued pursuant
to the exercise of Warrants, so long as such Warrant Shares are held by such
Purchaser, and (c) Shares shall include Shares held by Affiliates of such
Purchaser

                                       19

<PAGE>

and, with respect to a Purchaser that is a corporation or partnership, Shares
distributed to and held by its shareholders or partners.

     "Qualified Public Offering" has the meaning set forth in the Certificate of
Designation.

     "Qualified Small Business Stock" means "qualified small business stock," as
defined in Section 1202(c) of the Code.

     "Repurchase Price" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8D.

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any
similar federal law then in force.

     "Series B Preferred Stock" means the Company's Series B-l of the Class B
Preferred Stock, more fully described in the Certificate of Designation.

     "Shareholders Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Shareholders
Agreement dated as of May 10, 1996, among the Company, Austin Ventures III, and
the Purchasers, and as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented
from time to time.

     "Subsidiary" means any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting
securities of which are owned by the Company or any Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, or a partnership or limited liability company in which the Company
or any Subsidiary is a general partner or manager or holds interests entitling
it to receive more than 50% of the profits or losses of the partnership or
limited liability company.

     "Warrants" means the Company's Common Stock Purchase Warrants for the
purchase (subject to adjustment as provided therein) of an aggregate of 961,700
shares of Class A Common Stock, in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto, to be
issued and sold to the Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement.

     11. Miscellaneous.

          11A. Successors and Assigns. The rights and obligations of each
Purchaser under this Agreement, may be assigned by such Purchaser to any person
or entity to which Shares or Warrants are transferred by such Purchaser, and
such transferee shall be deemed a "Purchaser" for purposes of this Agreement,
provided that the transferee provides written notice of such assignment to the
Company.

          11B. Confidentiality. Except as required by law, each Purchaser agrees
that it will keep confidential and will not disclose or divulge any
confidential, proprietary or secret information which such Purchaser may obtain
from the Company pursuant to financial statements, reports and other materials
submitted by the Company to such Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement or
otherwise, or pursuant to visitation or inspection rights granted hereunder,
unless such information is known, or until such information becomes known, to
the public; provided, however, that a Purchaser may disclose such information
(i) to its attorneys, accountants, consultants and other professionals to the
extent necessary to obtain their services in connection with its investment in
the Company, (ii) to any prospective purchaser of any Shares

                                       20

<PAGE>

or Warrants from such Purchaser as long as such prospective purchaser agrees in
writing to be bound by the provisions of this paragraph 11B or (iii) to any
Affiliate of such Purchaser or to a partner or shareholder of such Purchaser.

          11C. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All agreements,
representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the closing of the transactions contemplated
herein, regardless of any investigation by the Purchasers or on behalf of the
Purchasers.

          11D. Expenses. The Company agrees to pay and hold the Purchasers and
holders of the Shares and Warrants harmless from liability for the payment of:

          (i) the fees and expenses of the Purchasers, including the reasonable
     fees and expenses of Hughes & Luce, L.L.P. and Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault,
     LLP, special counsel to the Purchasers, arising in connection with the
     negotiation and execution of this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and
     the Certificate of Designation and consummation of the transactions
     contemplated herein;

          (ii) the fees and expenses incurred with respect to the interpretation
     of, or any amendments or waivers to this Agreement, the Ancillary
     Agreements (including the various agreements amended by the Amendment
     Agreement) or the Certificate of Designation (whether or not the same
     become effective);

          (iii) if a Purchaser or other holder of Shares or Warrants desires to
     sell or otherwise transfer any or all of the Shares or Warrants held by it
     and counsel for the Company declines to render a legal opinion to such
     Purchaser or holder, without cost or expense to such Purchaser or holder,
     whether or not registration under the Securities Act will be required for
     such sale or transfer, the fees and expenses of counsel for such Purchaser
     or holder in obtaining such an opinion;

          (iv) stamp and other taxes, excluding income taxes, which may be
     payable with respect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
     issuance, delivery or acquisition of Shares or Warrants or upon the
     exercise of the Warrants;

          (v) the fees and expenses incurred in respect of the enforcement of
     the rights granted under this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements
     (including the various agreements amended by the Amendment Agreement) and
     the Certificate of Designation;

          (vi) all costs, fees and expenses incurred by the Company in its
     performance of and compliance with this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements
     (including the various agreements amended by the Amendment Agreement) and
     the Certificate of Designation, it being understood and agreed that such
     costs, fees and expenses shall be borne solely by the Company; and

          (vii) fees and expenses incurred by each such Person in any filing
     with any governmental agency with respect to its investment in the Company
     or in any other filing with any governmental agency with respect to the
     Company which mentions such Person.

                                       21

<PAGE>

          11E. Notices. All notices, requests, consents, and other
communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered
personally or by facsimile transmission or by overnight delivery service or 72
hours after having been mailed by first class certified or registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid:

     If to the Company, at Monitronics International, Inc., 12801 Stemmons
Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75234, Attention: James R. Hull, President (fax (972)
484-1393), or at such other address or addresses as may have been furnished in
writing by the Company to the Purchasers, with a copy to Glast, Phillips &
Murray, P.C., Suite 2200, L.B. 48, One Galleria Tower, Dallas, Texas 75240-8329,
Attention: Mike Parsons, (fax (972) 419-8329).

     If to a Purchaser, at its address set forth on Exhibit A, or at such other
address or addresses as may have been furnished to the Company in writing by
such Purchaser, with a copy to Hughes & Luce, L.L.P., ill Congress Avenue, Suite
900, Austin, Texas 78701, Attention: William R. Volk (fax (512) 482-6859).

     Notices provided in accordance with this paragraph 11E shall be deemed
delivered upon personal delivery or two business days after deposit in the mail.

          11F. Brokers. The Company and each Purchaser (i) represents and
warrants to the other parties hereto that it has retained no finder or broker in
connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, and (ii) will
indemnify and save the other parties harmless from and against any and all
claims, liabilities or obligations with respect to brokerage or finders, fees or
commissions, or consulting fees in connection with the transactions contemplated
in this Agreement asserted by any person on the basis of any statement or
representation alleged to have been made by such indemnifying party.

          11G. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the exhibits hereto and the
Ancillary Agreements (including the various agreements amended by the Amendment
Agreement) embody the entire agreement and understanding between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter.

          11H. Amendments and Waivers. Except as otherwise expressly set forth
in this Agreement, any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance
of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular
instance and either retroactively or prospectively), with the written consent of
the Company and the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares (including Warrant
Shares issuable upon exercise of Warrants); provided, however, that the
unanimous written consent of the holders of the Shares (including Warrant Shares
issuable upon exercise of Warrants) is required for any amendment to part 8 of
this Agreement. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this
paragraph 11H shall be binding upon each holder of any Shares (including Warrant
Shares issued upon exercise of Warrants) or Warrants, each future holder of all
such Shares or Warrants and the Company. No waivers of or exceptions to any
term, condition or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances,
shall be deemed to be, or construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any
such term, condition or provision.

                                       22

<PAGE>

          11I. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall be one and the same document.

          11J. Headings. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only
and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

          11K. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement.

          11L. Governing Law. The construction, validity and interpretation of
this Agreement will be governed by the internal laws of the State of Texas
without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule
(whether of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the
application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas.

          11M. Further Assurances. Each party to this Agreement hereby covenants
and agrees, without the necessity of any further consideration, to execute and
deliver any and all such further documents and take any and all such other
actions as may be necessary to appropriate to carry out the intent and purposes
of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.

          11N. Indemnification. The Company, without limitation as to time, will
indemnify each Purchaser and its agents and representatives against, and hold
each Purchaser and its agents and representatives harmless from, all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including the costs of preparation and
attorneys' fees and expenses) (collectively, the "Losses") incurred pursuant to
any investigation or proceeding against the Company, any Purchaser or any of
their agents and representatives arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement (or any other document or instrument executed
pursuant hereto or thereto, or any of the various agreements amended by the
Amendment Agreement), which investigation or proceeding requires the
participation of, or is commenced or filed against, one or more of the
Purchasers and any of their agents because of this Agreement, the Ancillary
Agreements (including the various agreements amended by the Amendment Agreement)
and the transactions contemplated herein and therein, other than any Losses
resulting from action on the part of such Purchaser or its agents or
representatives which is finally determined in such proceeding to be primarily
and directly a result of (i) such Purchaser's gross negligence or willful
misconduct, (ii) a breach of a fiduciary duty, if any, owed by such Purchaser to
the Company, (iii) an act or omission that involves intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law by such Purchaser, (iv) a transaction from which the
Purchaser received an improper personal benefit, or (v) Losses incurred by or on
behalf of an agent of a Purchaser which are the subject of the indemnification
agreement entered into by the Company and such agent pursuant to the
Shareholders Agreement, as to which Losses such indemnification agreement,
rather than this paragraph 11N, shall apply. The Company agrees to reimburse
each Purchaser and its agents and representatives promptly for all such Losses
as they are incurred by such Purchaser and its agents. Each Purchaser agrees to
reimburse the Company for any payments made by the Company to such Purchaser
pursuant to this paragraph 11N for Losses which are finally determined in such
proceeding to primarily

                                       23

<PAGE>

and directly result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
Purchaser. The obligations of the Company to each Purchaser and its agents and
representatives under this paragraph 11N will be separate obligations. The
obligations of the Company under this paragraph 11N will survive any transfer of
securities by any Purchaser and the termination of this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement (including the various agreements amended by the Amendment
Agreement).

          11O. Exculpation Among Purchasers. Each Purchaser acknowledges that it
is not relying upon any other Purchaser, or any officer, director, employee,
agent, partner or Affiliate of any such other Purchaser, in making its
investment or decision to invest in the Company or in monitoring such
investment. Each Purchaser agrees that no Purchaser nor any controlling person,
officer, director, shareholder, partner, agent or employee of any Purchaser
shall be liable for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be
taken by any of them relating to or in connection with the Company or the
Shares, or both. Without limiting the foregoing, no Purchaser (nor any of its
Affiliates, officers, directors, shareholders, partners, agents or employees) or
other holder of any Shares or Warrants shall have any obligation, liability or
responsibility whatsoever for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of any or
all information about the Company or any subsidiary or their respective
properties, business or financial and other affairs, acquired by such Purchaser
or holder from the Company or any subsidiary or the respective officers,
directors, employees, agents, representatives, counsel or auditors of either,
and in turn provided to another Purchaser or holder, nor shall any such
Purchaser (or such other person) have any obligation or responsibility
whatsoever to provide any such information to any other Purchaser (or such other
person) or holder or to continue to provide any such information if any
information is provided.

                                      * * *

                                       24

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto
as of the date first written above.

                                        COMPANY:

                                        MONITRONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                        By: /s/ James R. Hull
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            James R. Hull,
                                            President

                                        PURCHASERS:

                                        CAPITAL RESOURCE LENDERS II, L.P.

                                        By: Capital Resource Partners II, L.P.
                                            Its General Partner

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title: General Partner

                                        AUSTIN VENTURES V, L.P.

                                        By: AV Partners V, L.P.,
                                            Its General Partner

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Blaine F. Wesner,
                                            General Partner

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by the parties
hereto as of the date first written above.

                                        COMPANY:

                                        MONITRONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            James R. Hull,
                                            President

                                        PURCHASERS:

                                        CAPITAL RESOURCE LENDERS II, L.P.

                                        By: Capital Resource Partners II, L.P.
                                            Its General Partner

                                        By: /s/ Fred C. Danforth
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Fred C. Danforth
                                        Title: General Partner

                                        AUSTIN VENTURES V, L.P.

                                        By: AV Partners V, L.P.,
                                            Its General Partner

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Blaine F. Wesner,
                                            General Partner

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by the parties
hereto as of the date first written above.

                                        COMPANY:

                                        MONITRONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            James R. Hull,
                                            President

                                        PURCHASERS:

                                        CAPITAL RESOURCE LENDERS II, L.P.

                                        By: Capital Resource Partners II, L.P.
                                            Its General Partner

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                        Title: General Partner

                                        AUSTIN VENTURES V, L.P.

                                        By: AV Partners V, L.P.,
                                            Its General Partner

                                        By: /s/ Blaine F. Wesner
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Blaine F. Wesner,
                                            General Partner

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                             SCHEDULE OF PURCHASERS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Warrant
                                                  Purchase    Warrant   Purchase
         Purchaser                    Shares       Price      Shares      Price
         ---------                   ---------   ----------   -------   ---------
<S>                                  <C>         <C>          <C>       <C>
Capital Resource Lenders, II, L.P.
175 Portland Street, Suite 300
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
Fax: (617) 723-9819
Attn: Stephen M. Jenks               1,000,000   $1,000,000   192,340   $1,923.40

Austin Ventures V, L.P.
1300 Norwood Tower
114 W. 7th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Fax: (512) 476-3952
Attn: Blaine F. Wesner               4,000,000    4,000,000   769,300    7,693.60
                                     ---------   ----------   -------   ---------

   Total:                            5,000,000   $5,000,000   961,700   $9,617.00
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

                                Included at Tab 2

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

                                 FORM OF WARRANT

                                  See attached.

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT D

                             SCHEDULE OF EXCEPTIONS

                                  See attached.

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT E

                    OPINION OF GLAST, PHILLIPS & MURRAY, P.C.

                                Included at Tab 7

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT F

                           SECOND AMENDMENT AGREEMENT

                                  See attached.

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT G

               ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

                                Included at Tab 3

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