Acquisition

FUTURE NEWTORK PLC
20 July 1999


                      THE FUTURE NETWORK PLC
                  ACQUISITION OF GERMAN PUBLISHER

The  Future Network plc ('Future'), the video game, home  computing
and  other  specialist consumer magazines and  Internet  web  sites
publisher,  today  announces  that it has  acquired  Weka  Consumer
Medien  GmbH,  a  publisher  of PC and  video  games  magazines  in
Germany, from its parent company Weka Firmengruppe GmbH.

This acquisition comes less than a month after the flotation of The
Future  Network and is in line with the strategy outlined  at  that
time  that  Future  would  be seeking selective  acquisitions  that
enhance its market position in its target markets.

Weka  Consumer  Medien  publishes  four  magazines  -  PC  Player,
PlayStation  - das Fun Magazin, Power Play and Video Games  -  and
has  current monthly copy sales of approximately 300,000.   As  at
31st  December 1998, Weka Consumer Medien had a turnover of DM  40
million  (approx. £13.4 million) and a profit before interest  and
tax  of  DM  2.98  million (approx. £1 million).  In  addition  to
goodwill  and  the  rights to the magazine  titles,  assets  worth
approximately DM 100,000 are being acquired.

The terms of the acquisition are for a maximum consideration of  DM
24  million  (approx. £8 million) of which DM 20  million  (approx.
£6.7 million) will be payable upon completion and a maximum of DM 4
million  (approx.  £1.3  million) as deferred  consideration.   The
exact  amount of deferred consideration payable will be  linked  to
the  interim  results of Weka and is expected  to  be  paid  by  15
December 1999.

Commenting on the acquisition, Greg Ingham, Chief Executive of  The
Future Network said:

'We have moved fast since our flotation in pursuit of our strategy
to strengthen our European market positions in our core video game
and  home computing magazine market.  Germany is Europe's  largest
market  for  video  game  and  home  computing  magazines  and  is
therefore an important target in our European expansion plans.  We
are already the leading publisher of video game and home computing
magazines  in  the  UK, France and Italy and  have  a  significant
position  in  the  US.  The acquisition of Weka and  our  expected
success with the Sega Dreamcast magazine, now gives us a good base
from which to grow our position in Germany.'

Future established its German business in Munich in April 1999 and
was  recently appointed by Sega to be the publisher in Germany  of
the  Official Dreamcast magazine.  This magazine is scheduled  for
launch   in   August  1999.   The  acquisition  of  Weka   further
strengthens  Future's German operations and brings a portfolio  of
magazines that will complement Future's existing titles.

The  German  video game and home computing magazine market  is  the
largest  in Europe, estimated to be worth over £1 billion  in  1998
(source:  Screen Digest).  This acquisition significantly  enhances
Future's German operations and provides an excellent platform  from
which  to  further  develop  its  business  in  this  strategically
important market.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The Future Network plc:                01225 442244
Greg Ingham, Chief Executive

Hogarth Partnership:                   0171 357 9477
James Longfield/Chris Matthews

Background on The Future Network

The Future Network was founded in the UK in 1985.  Since this time
it  has  become a leading international publisher of  video  game,
home  computing  and  other  specialist  consumer  magazines   and
Internet  web  sites.   Future is the UK's  4th  largest  consumer
magazine  publisher  and  is  the  leading  video  game  and  home
computing magazine publisher in the UK, France, Italy and the  US.
Headquartered in Bath, England, Future publishes over  100  titles
and  employs  some  1,200 people in offices in Bath,  London,  San
Francisco, New York, Paris, Milan and Munich.  Future was  floated
on  the  London Stock Exchange on 25 June 1999 and has  a  current
market capitalisation in excess of £620 million.