ABC Circulation Figures

Future PLC
17 February 2005


17 February 2005


                                   Future plc
                                        
                                        
                          UK and US circulation update
                                        
Future plc (LSE: FUTR), the international magazine Group, today releases the
latest ABC audited circulation figures for the 53 titles in its UK portfolio of
76 monthly and bimonthly magazines that are subject to an ABC audit, and the
audited circulation figures for its US magazines. Average monthly sales in the
UK for the audited titles were 1,816,285 copies and in the US were 1,894,504.

UK circulation highlights for audited titles:

  • In 2004 Future continued to develop its UK magazine portfolio by
    launching and acquiring. The overall trends for Future's UK portfolio are:
    (i) continuing diversification of the overall portfolio as well as growth in
    the music-making, music-listening, motoring, stitching and home
    entertainment sectors;
    (ii) a steady performance within games;
    (iii) developing and adapting the computing portfolio.
   
   • Future's UK entertainment portfolio increased 3.4% to 778,346 copies
    per month. Within this, there were some notable circulation rises in the
    guitar and music listening portfolios which were up 11.3% and 15.4%
    respectively and included strong performances from Metal Hammer, up
    30.9% year-on-year to 38,313 monthly copies and Total Guitar which was
    up 16.0% to 50,006 monthly copies. Other strong entertainment
    performances were drumming title Rhythm which increased by 27.6% to
    10,866 and motoring magazine Redline which saw a fifth successive
    circulation rise - up 2.4% to 73,807. In the crafts and hobbies sector
    Cross Stitcher saw a 5.8% rise to 76,407 monthly sales.

   • Future's UK games magazines were up 5.7% to 654,654 copies per
    month, and down just 0.8% when excluding the acquisition of PC Zone
    in the period. Overall sales of PlayStation magazines held steady at
    323,848 copies while a 6.5% increase for Official Xbox Magazine
    offset declines elsewhere in the Xbox portfolio.
              
   • Future's UK computing portfolio showed a 0.4% rise including
    new titles and first time ABCs, but excluding these titles the
    portfolio was down 13.1% reflecting difficult newsstand
    conditions. There were good performances from Linux Format, up
    8.7% to 28,314 and Digital Camera Shopper, which grew by 9.5% to
    10,127.
                
US circulation highlights for audited titles:


   • US audited circulation figures for the period July -
    December 2004 were flat overall year-on-year at 1,894,504
    copies per month, with increases in subscriptions offset by
    lower newsstand sales in the period.
                      
   • The guitar titles, acquired in 2003, produced a good
    performance, up 7.2% overall, with gains in
    subscriptions for both Guitar One and Guitar World.
    Future's two computing titles were down 5.7%. These
    figures do not include data for Mobile PC, which
    launched during the year.
    
   • Games magazines were down 0.5% at 1,106,989
    copies per month. PSM and Official Xbox Magazine
    both strengthened their positions in the single
    format console categories.

    Greg Ingham, Future's Chief Executive, commented:

    'Overall these are a reasonable set of circulation
    figures in both the UK and the US. Future continues to
    diversify its portfolio and the benefits of such
    diversity are shown by a good performance from many of
    our UK entertainment titles and the continued growth of
    our US guitar titles. Our most recent acquisitions and
    launches are not yet reflected in these figures.

    'Within Games, both our UK and US PlayStation and Xbox
    magazine portfolios held steady as expected. We are
    responding to the challenges of the Computing magazine
    sector with new launches and innovations.'

    For further information:
    Future plc 01225 442244
    Greg Ingham, Chief Executive
    John Bowman, Group Finance Director

    Hogarth Partnership
    James Longfield/Georgina Briscoe 020 7357 9477

The directors of Future plc accept responsibility for the information contained
in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the directors
of Future plc (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the
case), the information contained in this announcement for which they are
responsible is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to
affect the import of such information.

Notes to Editors:
A list of the ABC circulation figures for each audited UK and US title is
attached. The UK ABCs are the audited circulation figures for the twelve months
January to December 2004 unless where stated. The US figures are the audited
circulation figures for the six months to December 2004.

The annual comparisons referred to in the release are stated for continuing
magazines, including acquisitions and first time ABCs but excluding closures and
disposals.

About Future
Future plc was founded in the UK in 1985. Today, it publishes over 100
special-interest consumer magazines worldwide with strong portfolios in the
computing, games, music, sports, motoring, crafts and leisure sectors. It is the
fifth largest magazine publisher in the UK and last year was reported as being
the fastest growing US magazine publisher at newsstand. Future employs 1,200
people in offices in the UK, US, Italy and France. Over 100 international
editions of Future's magazines are also published under licence in 30 other
countries across the world. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange
(symbol FUTR).

A breakdown of the ABC figures for Future's individual UK titles audited
for the period for Jan - Dec 2004 and Jul - Dec 2004

Entertainment                               Jan - Dec 2004 (except where marked)
Total Film                                               82,810 (Jul - Dec 2004)
Cross Stitcher                                                          76,407
Redline                                                  73,807 (Jul - Dec 2004)
T3                                                                      54,217
Total Guitar                                                            50,006
Mountain Biking UK                                                      45,772
Classic Rock                                             42,030 (Jul - Dec 2004)
United - Official Man Utd Magazine                                      40,476
Metal Hammer                                             38,313 (Jul - Dec 2004)
SFX                                                                     36,089
Quick & Easy Cross Stitch                                               29,437
Guitarist                                                               28,354
Cycling Plus                                                            25,980
Wedding Day (acquisition, bimonthly)                                    23,790
Guitar Techniques                                                       21,137
Computer Music                                                          20,540
Future Music                                                            18,550
Good Woodworking                                                        17,132
Your Family Tree                                                        16,498
Computer Music Special (quarterly )                                     14,689
Hi Fi Choice                                                            11,446
Rhythm                                                                  10,866

Games                                                             Jul - Dec 2004

PlayStation Magazines:

Official PlayStation 2 Magazine                                        172,593
PSW                                                                     70,077
PSM2                                                                    54,442
Official PlayStation 2 Special Edition**                                26,736
Xbox Magazines:

Official Xbox Magazine                                                  88,136
Xbox World                                                              24,161
Xbox Gamer                                                              13,435
Other Games Magazines:

PC Gamer                                                                57,023
GamesMaster                                                             62,159
PC Zone (acquisition)                                                   40,480
Edge                                                                    28,790
NGC                                                                     16,622

Digital                                                           Jan - Dec 2004
Microsoft Windows XP: The Official Magazine                             58,473
PC Plus                                                                 50,100
PC Format                                                               39,269
Digital Camera Magazine                                                 30,024
PC Answers                                                              28,330
Linux Format                                                            28,314
What Laptop (acquisition)                                               22,687
Computer Arts                                                           20,904
MacFormat                                                               15,144
.net                                                                    13,774
Computer Arts Projects                                                  12,719
3D World                                                                12,399
Digital Camera Shopper                                                  10,127
Adobe Focus Guide*                                                       9,725
Practical Web Pages* (bimonthly)                                         7,930
Digital Photo Effects                                                    6,642
Windows XP Focus Guide*                                                  6,392
Broadband & Internet Advisor                                             5,507
Mac Focus Guide*                                                         4,825

   • *first time ABC release
   • ** two issues during the period

    A breakdown of the ABC and BPA figures for Future's individual US
    titles audited for the period Jul - Dec 2004

Games                                                             Jul - Dec 2004

Official Xbox Magazine                                                 401,134
PSM                                                                    400,565
PC Gamer                                                               305,290

Computing

Maximum PC                                                             304,638
MacAddict                                                              160,338

Entertainment

Guitar World                                                           180,262
Guitar One                                                             142,277





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