# Venus Liquidation Inc.

> United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York · July 9, 2023

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10460973

## Case

- **Court:** United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York
- **Decided:** July 9, 2023
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10460973

## How later opinions describe it (automated extraction)

- holding that a franchising and licensing agreement was not a personal services contract
- holding that seventeen “essentially identical” physician contracts were not contracts for personal services
- holding that an agreement to serve as a general manager was a contract for personal services
- holding that an artist’s recording contract was a contract for personal services

## Opinion text

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
---------------------------------------------------------x
In re: Chapter 11

Case No. 23-10738 (JPM)
VICE GROUP HOLDING INC., et al.,1
(Jointly Administered)

Debtors. FOR PUBLICATION
---------------------------------------------------------x

MEMORANDUM OPINION

APPEARANCES:

TOGUT, SEGAL & SEGAL LLP
Proposed Counsel for Debtors
One Penn Plaza, Suite 3335
New York, NY 10119
By: Kyle J. Ortiz, Esq.
Brian F. Moore, Esq.
John C. Gallego, Esq.

SHEARMAN & STERLING
Proposed Counsel for Debtors
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
By: Ian Roberts, Esq.
Noah Bloom, Esq.

1 The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases, along with the last four digits of each Debtor’s tax identification number, are:
Vice Group Holding Inc. (4250); Vice Impact Inc. (9603); Vice Media LLC (5144); Villain LLC (3050); Boy Who
Cried Author LLC (6199); Carrot Operations LLC (1596); Carrot Creative LLC (8652); Channel 271 Productions
LLC (1637); Clifford Benski, Inc. (9387); Dana Made LLC (1065); Inverness Collective LLC (6542); JT Leroy
Holding LLC (7555); PLDM Films LLC (5217); Project Change LLC (2758); R29 Pride, LLC (7011); R29
Productions, LLC (6344); Refinery 29 Inc. (7749); Valvi LLC (6110); Vice Content Development, LLC (5165); Vice
Distribution LLC (5515); Vice Europe Holding Limited (N/A); Vice Europe Pulse Holding Limited (N/A); Vice Food
LLC (1693); Vice Holding Inc. (2658); Vice International Holding, Inc. (5669); Vice Music Publishing LLC (3022);
Vice Payroll LLC (6626); Vice Productions LLC (5399); Vice Project Services LLC (6473); Virtue Worldwide, LLC
(7212); Visur LLC (9336); VTV Productions LLC (6854); and Goldie Films, Inc. (1241). The location of the Debtors’
service address for purposes of these chapter 11 cases is: 49 South 2nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249.
GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
Counsel for DIP Lenders and Proposed Purchaser
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166
By: David M. Feldman, Esq.
Tommy Scheffer, Esq.
Michael S. Neumeister, Esq.

STROOCK & STROOCK & LAVAN LLP
Counsel for Paramount Global and Affiliates
180 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
By: Stephan E. Hornung, Esq.
Alex Talesnick, Esq.

DOSHI LEGAL GROUP
Counsel for Oracle America, Inc.
1979 Marcus Avenue, Suite 210E North
New Hyde Park, NY 11042
By: Amish R. Doshi, Esq.

PACHULSKI STANG ZIEHL & JONES LLP
Counsel for Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
780 Third Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10017
By: Robert J. Feinstein, Esq.
Bradford J. Sandler, Esq.
Cia H. Mackle, Esq.

SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP
Counsel for A&E Television Networks, LLC
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
By: Nicholas E. Baker, Esq.
Sunny Singh, Esq.

SPIVAK LIPTON LLP
Counsel for Writers Guild of America, East
1040 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10018
By: Eric R. Greene, Esq.
STARK & STARK
Counsel for Conopco, Inc. d/b/a Unilever United States, Inc.
993 Lenox Drive, Building 2
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648
By: Joseph H. Lemkin, Esq.

BROWN & CONNERY, LLP
Counsel for Concur Technologies, Inc.
6 North Broad Street
Woodbury, NJ 08096
By: Donald K. Ludman, Esq.

CONNOLLY GALLAGHER LLP
Counsel for Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company
1201 North Market Street, 20th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
By: Jeffrey C. Wisler, Esq.

SHIPMAN GOODWIN, LLP
Counsel for Wilmington Trust, N.A.
One Constitution Plaza
Hartford, CT 06103
By: Marie C. Pollio, Esq.
Latonia C. Williams, Esq.

VORYS, SATER, SEYMOUR AND PEASE LLP
Counsel for CNN Productions, Inc. and Home Box Office, Inc.
52 East Gay Street
Columbus, OH 43215
By: Tiffany Strelow Cobb, Esq.

HOLLAND & HART LLP
Counsel for Entertainment Industry Employers Association
800 W. Main Street, Suite 1750
Boise, ID 83702
By: Robert Faucher, Esq.

MCGRAIL & BENSINGER LLP
Counsel for Entertainment Industry Employers Association
888-C 8th Avenue, Suite 107
New York, NY 10019
By: Veronique Urban, Esq.
WHITE AND WILLIAMS LLP
Counsel for Fastly, Inc.
7 Times Square, Suite 2900
New York, NY 10036
By: James C. Vandermark, Esq.

THE LAW OFFICE OF MAGDALENA ZALEWSKI PLLC
Counsel for Datasite, LLC
1250 Broadway, 36th Floor
New York, NY 10001
By: Magdalena Zalewski, Esq.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of the United States Trustee
One Bowling Green, Suite 534
New York, NY 10004
By: Andrea Schwartz, Esq.
Daniel Rudewicz, Esq.

JOHN P. MASTANDO III
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

INTRODUCTION2

Before the Court is the motion (the “Motion”) [Docket No. 16] of Debtors Vice Group
Holding Inc., et al. (the “Debtors”) seeking an order approving the assumption of certain leases
and assigning those leases to Vice Acquisition Holdco, LLC, the purchaser of substantially all of
the Debtors’ assets (the “Purchaser”). Debtors also filed four supplemental notices of the contracts
to be assumed by Debtors and assigned to Purchaser [Docket Nos. 109, 179, 240, 254]. As of June
29, 2023, the objections of Web Holdings, LLC [Docket No. 117], 49 South Second Street LLC
[Docket No. 118], Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company [Docket No. 140], Entertainment
Industry Employers Association [Docket No. 141], American Broadcast Companies, Inc. [Docket
No. 149], Fastly, Inc. [Docket No. 159], Datasite, LLC [Docket No. 164], GMN Cayman Holdco
LLC [Docket No. 167], Concur Technologies, Inc. [Docket No. 169] and A&E Television

2 References to “Docket No. __” are to filings entered on the docket in In re Vice Group Holding Inc., Case No. 23-
10738.
Networks, LLC [Docket No. 180] and CNN Productions, Inc. [Docket No. 186] have been settled.
The objections of Oracle America Inc. (“Oracle”) [Docket No. 160] and Showtime Networks Inc.
(“Showtime”) [Docket No. 174] remained outstanding.
Debtors filed a response to Showtime on June 29, 2023 [Docket No. 234], along with the
Declaration of Frank A. Pometti in Support of Debtors’ Reply to Objection and Reservation of

Rights of Showtime to Debtors’ Sale Motion (the “Pometti Declaration”) [Docket No. 238] and
the Declaration of Jay Weinberger (the “Weinberger Declaration”) [Docket No. 236]. Frank A.
Pometti is the Chief Restructuring Officer for Debtors and a partner and managing director of
AlixPartners, LLP, and Jay Weinberger is a Managing Director in the Financial Restructuring
Group of Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc., financial advisor to Purchaser’s owners. The Court
approved the sale of substantially all of Debtors’ assets on June 23, 2023 [Docket No. 214] and
scheduled a hearing on the outstanding objections for June 29, 2023.
The Court held a hearing on the Motion on June 29, 2023 (the “Hearing”). At the Hearing,
Debtors sought to admit the Pometti Declaration and the Weinberger Declaration. Although

Showtime did not object to the entry of the declarations into evidence and did not seek to cross-
examine the witnesses, it did object to statements made in paragraphs nine and ten of the Pometti
Declaration and paragraph thirteen of the Weinberger Declaration. [Hr’g Tr. 39–40, 45–46.] The
Court overruled both objections and admitted both the Pometti Declaration and the Weinberger
Declaration into evidence in full. [Id. at 18, 42: 12–17, 56: 10–14.] At the hearing, Debtors
asserted, and Oracle agreed, that the parties’ outstanding issues were likely to be resolved, and the
Court adjourned the matter to a future date. [Id. at 14–15.] Therefore, the only dispute concerns
the objection of Showtime (the “Showtime Objection”).
Based on the filings before the Court and the record made at the Hearing, the Court
GRANTS the Motion and overrules the Showtime Objection.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Debtors and Showtime are parties to an agreement (the “Showtime Contract”) for the
production and licensing of a television documentary series (the “Vice Series”), which Debtors

seek to assume and assign to Purchaser. [Showtime Objection Ex. A; Reply ¶ 1.] Purchaser is an
acquisition vehicle formed by three asset management companies: Fortress Credit Advisors LLC,
Monroe Capital LLC and Soros Fund Management LLC (the “Prepetition Secured Lenders”).
[Weinberger Declaration ¶ 6.] Combined, the Prepetition Secured Lenders had over $60 billion in
assets under management as of March 31, 2023. [Id. at ¶¶ 7–9.] The Prepetition Secured Lenders
lent Debtors $474.6 million under a prepetition secured debt facility, $57 million in new money
loans to fund Debtors’ operations and $10 million of new money debtor in possession financing.
[Id. at ¶ 10.] Purchaser is acquiring Debtors’ assets as a going concern and anticipates retaining
management and key employees. [Id. at ¶¶ 11–13.]

The Vice Series is a “weekly newsmagazine docuseries featur[ing] award-winning
journalists delivering on-the-ground-reporting on a wide range of pressing global issues.”
[Showtime Objection ¶ 10.] At the time the parties signed the Showtime Contract, Debtors had
already become a notable creator of documentary series, including winning two Emmys. [Id.] The
Vice Series has continued to win awards since airing on Showtime. [Id.]
Under the terms of the Showtime Contract, Debtors were to “produce, deliver, and license
. . . a documentary series” up to eight seasons3 for exhibition on Showtime’s premium television

3 The parties’ pleadings are inconsistent on this point—Showtime states that the Showtime Contract “provided for an
initial season and . . . options for up to five additional seasons,” Debtors claim that they “would produce an initial
season and grant[] Showtime the option to order the production of six subsequent seasons,” and paragraph seven of
the Agreed Terms in the Showtime Contract provides for options to order up to “six (6) seasons in addition to the first
network. [Showtime Objection Ex. A.] Showtime agreed to pay Debtors certain, specified amounts
for each season of the Vice Series as long as Debtors met the episode minimums. [Id.] The
Showtime Contract provides that “timely Delivery and the first-class technical quality of the [Vice]
Series are of the essence of the [Showtime Contract].” [Id.] In performance of their duties under
the Showtime Contract, Debtors oversee production activities, “writ[e] and assist[] in the

development of ideas and concepts,” supply personnel and administer licenses, releases and
contracts. [Showtime Objection ¶ 11.] Showtime has approval rights over creative elements and
key personnel involved in creating the Vice Series, including “talent, executive producers,
showrunner, director, line producer, production accountant, production counsel and department
heads.” [Showtime Objection Ex. A.] Showtime also has takeover rights if the “approved director
of the [Vice] Series shall be incapacitated from performing directing services.” [Id.] However, the
Showtime Contract does not identify specific individuals required to produce the Vice Series.
[Pometti Declaration ¶ 4.] Showtime is currently airing the first part of season 4 of the Vice Series,
with the second part of season 4 planned to air later this year. [Hr’g Tr. 24: 8–15.]

LEGAL STANDARD
Under 11 U.S.C. § 365(a), a debtor in possession may, “subject to the court’s approval . . .
assume or reject any executory contract or unexpired lease of the debtor.” In determining whether
a contract is executory, most courts look to the Countryman test, which defines an executory
contract as “a contract under which the obligation of both the bankrupt and the other party to the
contract are so far unperformed that the failure of either to complete performance would constitute
a material breach excusing performance of the other.” In re Times Square JV LLC, 648 B.R. 277,

two seasons.” [Showtime Objection ¶ 12; Reply ¶ 4; Showtime Objection Ex. A.] The Court need not identify the
exact number of seasons in order to resolve the issue at hand, as the parties agree that Showtime ordered third and
fourth seasons of the Vice Series. [Showtime Objection ¶ 13; Reply ¶ 4.]
284 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2023) (citing In re Penn Traffic Co., 524 F.3d 373, 379 (2d Cir. 2008)
(quoting Vern Countryman, Executory Contracts in Bankruptcy: Part I, 57 Minn. L. Rev. 439, 460
(1973))). However, if performance only remains due on one side, the contract is not executory. In
re Hawker Beechcraft, Inc., 486 B.R. 264, 276 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2013). According to the
legislative history of 11 U.S.C. § 365, executory contracts “generally include[] contracts on which

performance remains due to some extent on both sides.” H.R. Rep. No. 95–595, at 347 (1977),
1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. 5963, 6303; S. Rep. No. 95–989, at 58 (1978), 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. 5787, 5844;
accord NLRB v. Bildisco & Bildisco, 465 U.S. 513, 522 n.6 (1984).
Under 11 U.S.C. § 365(c)(1), a debtor in possession may not assume or assign an executory
contract if
applicable law excuses a party, other than the debtor, to such contract or lease from
accepting performance from or rendering performance to an entity other than the
debtor or the debtor in possession, whether or not such contract or lease prohibits
or restricts assignment of rights or delegation of duties; and such party does not
consent to such assumption or assignment.

Exceptions to assignability under 11 U.S.C. § 365(c)(1) are narrowly construed, as executory
contracts can be valuable assets for the debtor’s estate. In re Grove Rich Realty Corp., 200 B.R.
502, 506–07 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. 1996). The Showtime Contract is governed by California law,
which prevents the assignment of contracts for personal services. Superbrace, Inc. v. Tidwell, 21
Cal. Rptr. 3d 404, 415–16 (Cal. Ct. App. 2004) (citing Gribling v. Bohan, 148 P. 530, 531 (Cal.
Dist. Ct. App. 1915); [Showtime Objection Ex. A.] Courts make the determination of whether a
contract is for personal services under state law in consideration of all facts and circumstances. In
re Health Plan of the Redwoods, 286 B.R. 407, 409 (Bankr. N.D. Cal. 2002) (citing In re
Headquarters Dodge, Inc., 13 F.3d 674, 683 (3d Cir. 1993)). A “personal services” contract is one
in which a special relationship exists between the parties or the skill possessed by the performing
party is specialized or unique such that no replacement performance could satisfy the contractual
requirements. Id. Contracts to serve as a general manager and artist recording contracts are
contracts for personal services, while franchise agreements and contracts for physician services
are not. Compare id. (holding that seventeen “essentially identical” physician contracts were not
contracts for personal services), and Husain v. McDonald’s Corp., 140 Cal. Rptr. 3d 370, 378–79

(Cal. Ct. App. 2012) (holding that a franchising and licensing agreement was not a personal
services contract), with Rautenberg v. Westland, 38 Cal. Rptr. 797, 801 (Cal. Dist. Ct. App. 1964)
(holding that an agreement to serve as a general manager was a contract for personal services),
and Beverly Glen Music, Inc. v. Warner Commc’ns, Inc., 224 Cal. Rptr. 260, 261–62 (Cal. Ct.
App. 1986) (holding that an artist’s recording contract was a contract for personal services). Courts
applying California law have found the fact that a party contracted with a corporation as evidence
that a contract is not for personal services. See Lauter v. Rosenblatt, 2020 WL 3545733, at *3
(C.D. Cal. June 30, 2020); Haldor, Inc. v. Beebe, 164 P.2d 568, 572–73 (Cal. Dist. Ct. App. 1945).
“These services are not assignable by the party under obligation to perform without the consent of

the other contracting party.” In re Rooster, Inc., 100 B.R. 228, 232 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 1989).
Under 11 U.S.C. § 365(f)(2)(B), a debtor in possession “may assign an executory contract
or unexpired lease . . . only if adequate assurance of future performance by the assignee of such
contract or lease is provided.” “Adequate assurance of future performance” is not defined in the
Bankruptcy Code, and the term is given a “pragmatic construction” based on the facts of the case.
In re Bygaph, Inc., 56 B.R. 596, 605 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 1986). Adequate assurance of future
performance does not require insurance of success or profit. In re Natco Indus., Inc., 54 B.R. 436,
440 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 1985). The primary focus is the assignee’s ability to provide the
counterparty with the full benefit of its bargain, including an analysis of assignee’s financial
condition and ability to meet financial obligations. Matter of U.L. Radio Corp., 19 B.R. 537, 541–
42 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 1982). However, the assignee is not required to literally comply with each
term of the contract. Id. at 544. As noted supra, exceptions to a debtor in possession’s ability to
assume and assign executory contracts are construed narrowly.
DISCUSSION

At the Hearing, Debtors asserted, and Showtime did not dispute, that Debtors are current
on their obligations under the Showtime Contract and no cure amount exists.4 [Hr’g Tr. 21: 2–5.]
The parties also do not dispute that the Showtime Contract is executory in nature. The remaining
issues are (i) whether the Showtime Contract is a contract for personal services and therefore
unassumable and unassignable and (ii) whether Purchaser has provided adequate assurance of
future performance of the Showtime Contract as required for assignment under 11 U.S.C.
§ 365(f)(2)(B). The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 and
157(a) and (b)(1) and the Amended Standing Order of Reference dated January 31, 2012 (Preska,
C.J.). This is a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2).

A. The Showtime Contract Is Not a Contract for Personal Services

Showtime alleges that California law, which governs the contract, prohibits the assignment
of personal services contracts, such as the Showtime Contract, absent Showtime’s consent
pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 365(c). [Showtime Objection ¶ 14.] As the production of the Vice Series
involves “a personal relation of confidence that is reliant on Vice Media’s specialized skills and
knowledge,” Showtime argues that the Showtime Contract is a “quintessential personal services
contract.” [Id. at ¶ 17.] Showtime notes that Debtors have unique skills that have resulted in award-

4 Debtors assert that Showtime has thus far failed to remit payment for the production and delivery of part of season
4 of the Vice Series, which Debtors claim was due on June 16, 2023. [Reply ¶¶ 27–29.] Showtime disputes owing
Debtors this payment. [Hr’g Tr. 46: 20–25.]
winning documentary productions. [Id.] Furthermore, Showtime expresses concern that Purchaser
will not retain the key personnel and creative talent involved with the Vice Series. [Id. at ¶ 19.] As
evidence that Showtime bargained for the personal services of specific individuals, Showtime
points to language in the Showtime Contract that provides for Showtime to have approval rights
over key personnel and replacement of the director. [Id. at ¶ 18.] Showtime also contends that,

while anti-assignment clauses are not typically honored in bankruptcy, they are honored where
“specified personal services are required by the contract.” [Id. at ¶ 20.] Ultimately, Showtime
states that it “bargained for Vice News produced by Vice, not Vice by Fortress.” [Hr’g Tr. 41: 21–
22.]
While Debtors agree that personal services contracts cannot be assigned absent consent
under California law, Debtors dispute Showtime’s characterization of the Showtime Contract and
contend that it is not a contract for personal services. [Id. at 21: 11–20.] Debtors argue that the
Showtime Contract does not identify specific individual performances for which Showtime
bargained. [Reply ¶ 11.] Moreover, Debtors state that Showtime will suffer no harm if the

Showtime Contract is assigned, since Purchaser plans on retaining “existing management and the
key employees” that currently produce the Vice Series. [Id. at ¶ 17.] As the same staff would
produce the Vice Series regardless of owner, Debtors contend that Showtime would be in the same
position whether the Showtime Contract is assigned to Purchaser or assumed by Debtors. [Id. at
¶¶ 19–21.]
The Court finds that the Showtime Contract is not a contract for personal services, and,
therefore, the Showtime Contract is not excepted from assumption and assignment under 11 U.S.C.
§ 365(c)(1). Showtime contracted with a corporate entity rather than an individual, which is
evidence that the contract is not one for personal services. See Lauter v. Rosenblatt, 2020 WL
3545733, at *3; [Showtime Objection Ex. A.] The Showtime Contract requires Debtors to
“produce, deliver, and license” the Vice Series to Showtime, requirements Purchaser asserts it can
meet. [Showtime Objection Ex. A; Weinberger Declaration ¶¶ 11–14; Hr’g Tr. 48: 2–18.] “Timely
Delivery” and “first-class technical quality” are “of the essence” of the Showtime Contract.
[Showtime Objection Ex. A.] These requirements are not sufficiently specific to qualify as

personal services, and Showtime would be able to receive the benefit of its bargain from Purchaser.
See In re Health Plan of the Redwoods, 286 B.R. at 409–10. Although the Showtime Contract
gives Showtime some control over key personnel, the contract does not identify specific
individuals to be involved in the creation of the Vice Series. [Pometti Declaration ¶ 4.] Showtime
relies on Debtors to furnish the services of “basically every single person that is involved in making
the show, from the on-air talent, to the camera operator, to the editors after filming has wrapped.”
[Hr’g Tr. 34: 23–25.] The inclusion of a provision allowing Showtime control over key personnel,
including “the right to require Producer to dismiss or replace any such key personnel,”
demonstrates that the parties anticipated the replacement of at least some employees. [Showtime

Objection Ex. A.] Additionally, Debtor is transferring its assets to Purchaser as a going concern,
ensuring continuity in the production of the Vice Series. [Pometti Declaration ¶ 10; Weinberger
Declaration ¶ 13.]
Showtime relies on a California appellate case, Woolley v. Embassy Suites, Inc., for the
proposition that, under California law, a personal services contract exists where the contract
“call[s] for a series of complex and delicate business decisions and require[s] mutual cooperation
and trust.” Woolley v. Embassy Suites, Inc., 278 Cal. Rptr. 719, 727 (Cal. Ct. App. 1991);
[Showtime Objection ¶ 21.] The Woolley decision concerned different circumstances than the
instant issue before the Court, as the Woolley defendant opposed plaintiffs’ request for a judicial
declaration that a contract for management services could be terminated. Woolley, 278 Cal. Rptr.
at 721–22. The Woolley court found that, under California’s Civil Code and the Thirteenth
Amendment, the defendant could not compel the plaintiffs to perform under the management
contract because it was a personal services contract. Id. at 727. Here, Showtime seeks to prevent
the assignment of the Showtime Contract to another party rather than a declaration that the

Showtime Contract can be terminated. [Showtime Objection ¶ 1.] Unlike Woolley, the present case
does not implicate prohibitions on ordering specific performance of personal services contracts.
Furthermore, the court in Woolley found the contract at issue a personal services contract
because the contract was managerial in nature, relying on Corbin on Contracts. Woolley, 278 Cal.
Rptr. at 727. Corbin on Contracts lists “the contracts of actors and artists, managers, sales agents,
school-teachers, mechanics, cooks, and contracts for the furnishing of personal care and support”
as examples of personal services contracts. 5A Corbin on Contracts § 1204 (1964 ed.). Unlike the
contract in Woolley, the Showtime Contract is not a management contract. The first paragraph of
the Showtime Contract’s Agreement provides that Debtors “shall produce, deliver, and license”

the Vice Series to Showtime. [Showtime Objection Ex. A.] The second and third paragraphs of the
Agreed Terms in the Showtime Contract states that Showtime will pay Debtors for each season of
the Vice Series produced and set a delivery date for the first season. [Id.] The Showtime Contract
also provided Showtime with the option to order additional seasons of the Vice Series, rather than
an extension for a certain time period. [Id.] These provisions are indicative of a contract for the
creation and delivery of a product rather than the management of a project. Moreover, the
Showtime Contract does not evidence the “mutual confidence” and “degree of close cooperation”
demonstrated by the Woolley plaintiffs. According to Showtime, Debtors are required to produce
the Vice Series, which “requires everything . . . includ[ing] writing and assisting in the
development of ideas and concepts for the [Vice Series]; entering into and administering all
required licenses, releases and contracts; [and] furnishing the services of all below-the-line and
above-the-line personnel.” [H’rg Tr. 34: 17–22.] Although Showtime exercises some control over
key personnel, Showtime also stated at the Hearing that it “trust[s] [Debtors] to choose the right
employees.” [Id. at 41: 15–22.] The language of the Showtime Contract and the arguments made

at the Hearing demonstrate that Showtime contracted for the production, delivery and licensing of
a finished product rather than a partnership requiring close cooperation. Therefore, the Court finds
Woolley distinguishable from the present case.5
B. Purchaser Has Provided Adequate Assurance of Future Performance

Showtime also argues that Debtors and Purchaser have not provided adequate assurance of
future performance as required by 11 U.S.C. § 365(f)(2)(B). [Showtime Objection ¶ 22.] Showtime
further states that it has not received an adequate assurance package and reserves all rights until it
receives “adequate information to make an informed decision.” [Id.] Debtors respond that payment
for the first part of season 4 of the Vice Series will be applied toward production of the second
part of season 4, Purchaser will not be encumbered by the significant debt that currently burdens
Debtors and Purchaser will retain the staff necessary to produce the second part of season 4 of the
Vice Series. [Reply ¶ 26.]
The Court finds that Purchaser has provided adequate assurance of future performance
pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 365(f)(2)(B). Both the Pometti Declaration and the Weinberger
Declaration aver that the deleveraging of the Debtors’ assets will leave the Purchaser in a stronger
financial position than Debtors. [Pometti Declaration ¶ 15; Weinberger Declaration ¶ 12.]

5 As noted supra, In re Health Plan of the Redwoods, cited by the Showtime Objection, found that the contracts of
seventeen medical doctors, which required those doctors to provide physician services to members and make
arrangements to ensure continuity of care when the doctors were unavailable, were not contracts for personal services.
286 B.R. at 409; [Showtime Objection ¶ 16.]
Furthermore, the Prepetition Secured Lenders, owners of the Purchaser, have advanced $57 million
in new money loans and $10 million in new money debtor in possession financing. [Weinberger
Declaration ¶ 10.] According to the Pometti Declaration and the Weinberger Declaration,
Purchaser has agreed to utilize the same team that produced the first part of season 4 of the Vice
Series to produce the second part of season 4. [Id. at ¶ 14; Pometti Declaration ¶ 10.] Considering

the Prepetition Secured Lender’s financial commitments to Debtor and Purchaser’s plans to retain
management and creative talent, the Court finds that Purchaser is likely to be able to perform under
the Showtime Contract and has provided adequate assurance of its ability to do so.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS the Debtors’ Motion to assume and assign
the Showtime Contract and overrules the Showtime Objection. Debtors shall submit a proposed
order consistent with the findings in this decision.

Dated: July 7, 2023
New York, New York

/s/John P. Mastando III
HON. JOHN P. MASTANDO III
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10460973. Public record. Not legal advice.