Launch of New Network, etc

FUTURE NETWORK PLC
27 September 1999


         FUTURE TO LAUNCH US GAMES WEB NETWORK
                            
 Major e-commerce agreement signed with Babbage's, Etc.
        a leading US PC and video games retailer

The  Future Network plc ('Future'), the video games, home
computing   and   other  specialist  consumer   magazines
publisher,  today  announces  that  its  global  Internet
business, FutureNet (www.futurenet.com), is to  launch  a
major   new   games  web  network  in   the   US   called
DailyRadar.com (www.dailyradar.com).

As  part of this launch, FutureNet also announces that it
has  entered  into an exclusive e-commerce agreement  for
the  site  with Babbage's Etc., a leading US retailer  of
video games, PC Games and gaming accessories.  Under this
agreement,  Babbage's, Etc. will promote  the  DailyRadar
site  in  its  475 stores across the US and will  provide
online   shopping  through  its  Gamestop  online   store
(www.gamestop.com).  This exclusive e-commerce  agreement
will  enable  all  visitors to  the  DailyRadar  site  to
purchase  online  their video and PC games  software  and
related  products, including PC and console hardware  and
accessories.

DailyRadar.com   will  launch  on  18  October   with   a
guaranteed  monthly traffic figure at launch  of  400,000
unique visitors.  The site will provide news, reviews and
features  on  all  aspects of the video  games  and  home
entertainment market through its five channels:  PC  Game
Radar, Sega Radar, Nintendo Radar, PlayStation Radar  and
Showbiz Radar.  FutureNet intends to make DailyRadar  the
leading Internet site in the US for anyone interested  in
PC  and video games.  To support this aim, FutureNet  has
already  established  plans to make DailyRadar  the  most
heavily  promoted launch in PC and video-gaming  history,
targeting over 6 million gamers through print advertising
alone.

FutureNet  will  retain the advertising  and  sponsorship
revenues  generated by visitors to the  DailyRadar  games
network  site  and  will  receive royalty  payments  from
Babbages  for e-commerce transactions  generated  by
DailyRadar visitors at its Gamestop.com online store.

Commenting on the launch of DailyRadar and the e-commerce
agreement   with  Babbages,  Mark  Gross,  President   of
FutureNet said:

'Our  goal is to make DailyRadar the primary site on  the
web for US users interested in games.  To achieve this we
have assembled a high quality editorial team and have put
in  place some ambitious launch plans to promote the site
in  print, online and through retail outlets.  By linking
up with Gamestop, we can create a site where visitors can
both  read  about  games  or  gaming  products  and  then
purchase them.'

'This major e-commerce agreement was secured in part as a
result  of  the quality of our readership  base  and  the
reputation  of our US magazines.  We have similar  market
positions  in the UK and Europe and are already  involved
in discussions with a number of parties to replicate this
type of deal in these markets.'

'A large part of our audience group is already online and
participating in Internet shopping.  With  the  US  games
market estimated to be worth some $6bn this year,  if  we
can   attract   our   share  of  this  business   through
DailyRadar,  we have the capacity to generate significant
revenues for Future over time.'

In  addition  to DailyRadar, FutureNet's existing  online
activities  include  the operation of  over  18  magazine
websites, with a further three due for launch in the next
four weeks, the publication of an e-mail games newsletter
and  the creation of four web networks focused on  games,
music and football.  FutureNet recently signed agreements
with  three  leading  Internet  technology  companies  to
provide  online  auction  services  (Fairmarket),  online
discussion  forums  (Delphi), and  free  e-mail  services
(Critical Path) to users of its websites.


For further information:

Greg Ingham, Chief Executive     Tel: [phone]
Future Network

Mark Gross, President            Tel: [phone]
FutureNet

James Longfield                  Tel: [phone]
Hogarth Partnership


Background on the Future Network:

The Future Network was founded in the UK in 1985.  Since
this time it has become the leading publisher of video
games and home computing magazines in the UK, France,
Italy and the US.  Headquartered in Bath, England, Future
is the fourth largest publisher in the UK.  It employs
over 1,400 people in offices in Bath, London, San
Francisco, New York, Paris, Milan and Munich.  Future
publishes 112 magazines worldwide and has extensive
online activities generating over 50 million page views
per month.  Future was floated on the London Stock
Exchange in June 1999 and has a current market
capitalisation of over £850 million.

Background on FutureNet:

FutureNet is the global Internet business activity of The
Future Network.  It currently server the PC, Mac, Games,
Music and Football communities in the US and the UK with
sites like maximumpc.com, macdaily.com, samplenet.co.uk,
and ufn.co.uk.  FutureNet provides rich, community and
information-based services to people in these and related
markets worldwide.  The FutureNet model is simple:
Aggregate content (from Future's magazines and affiliated
sites) and provide services (such as auctions, e-mail and
discussion forums) to build high traffic in concentrated
areas that will be of great value to marketers.
FutureNet plans to role out in Germany, France, Italy and
other Future Network territories next year.

Background on Babbage's, Etc.:

Babbage's Etc (www.babbages.com) is a leading US
speciality retailer of video games, PC games and gaming
accessories.  A privately owned company, Babbage's, Etc.
is a national retailer, with over 475 stores in 47 states
and Puerto Rico.  Headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, the
company operates under the Babbage's, Software Etc.,
Gamestop, SuperSoftware and Planet X retail brands.