Circulation Figures - 13% Sales Increase

Future Network PLC
11 February 2000


                 THE FUTURE NETWORK PLC

 New titles and Internet magazines maintain circulation
    growth and portfolio diversification at Future UK

Future Network plc (LSE: FNET), the specialist magazine
and website publisher, today announces its UK circulation
figures for the second half of 1999. The independently
audited Audit Bureau of Circulations figures showed
monthly average magazine copy sales up 13% year-on-year.

Key highlights:

*    Launches and acquisitions drive 13% year-on-year
     sales increase
*    Portfolio strengthened by diversification
*    Internet magazines grow circulations by 89%
*    Future attains market leadership in football
     magazine sector
*    Market leadership in games magazine sector
     maintained

 
The second half of 1999 has seen a strengthening of
Future's magazine portfolio in key areas including
Internet, sport, consumer electronics and games.  Driving
the growth was a strong set of launches, including
Internet Advisor, DC-UK, PlayStation Max and Planet PC,
and several acquisitions including Manchester United
Magazine, Metal Hammer and Hi-Fi Choice.  In total 15
launches and 6 acquired titles appear in the end of year
release for the first time.

The Internet magazine sector produced strong growth, with
sales up 89% year-on-year.  .net magazine, the longest
established consumer internet magazine, hit a record high
of 56,519, while Internet Works, for businesses getting
onto the net, rose 38% to 30,037.  They were augmented by
the new beginners' title Internet Advisor, which recorded
a debut figure of 47,702.  Future's online share dealing
magazine, Internet Investor, was launched too late to be
included in the ABC audit, but has debuted well.

Future Publishing has now been confirmed by these ABCs as
the market leading publisher of monthly football
magazines.  Its four football titles sold 166,789 between
them, giving Future a 52% market share.  The mountain
biking magazine, MBUK, also built on its number one
position with a market share of 52%.

In the games market, as anticipated, the impending launch
of the PlayStation 2 in September 2000 has caused a
slowdown in sales of PlayStation magazines, with the
monthly PlayStation portfolio down 3% year on year.  The
leading title in this sector, Official PlayStation
Magazine sold on average 351,775 copies, increasing its
lead to 262,000 over its nearest competitor.  The
movement in the PlayStation portfolio has been more than
offset by a 36% increase in sales of magazines for other
platforms such as Nintendo, the new Sega Dreamcast and
especially the PC.  Future's PC Gamer is up 23% and has
taken market leadership by over 5,000 on its nearest
competitor despite its coverprice being at least £1
higher.

Commenting on the figures, Greg Ingham, Future's Chief
Executive, said:

'This is another excellent set of ABC figures for Future
and clearly underlines our position as the fastest
growing major magazine publisher.  As outlined in our
strategy, we have powered on with our computing portfolio
and yet diversified and grown in other specialist sectors
by managing our portfolio at lightening speed: launching,
acquiring and in some cases, of course, closing titles in
response to consumer demand. Our ability to spot and
respond quickly to market trends has contributed to our
performance.  With a number of launches made towards the
end of 1999, such as Linux Answers, Mobile Computer User
and Internet Investor and further launches planned for
this spring, including Business 2.0 and MP3 Magazine, we
are confident that we can maintain Future's impressive
growth record.

'The strong performance of our UK magazine portfolio is
only part of the Future story.  We also have businesses
in the US, France, Germany, Italy and Holland and operate
a number of compelling web networks and sites in both the
US and UK.  We will be reporting our progress in these
markets in our full year results on the 20th March.'


For further information:

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

James Longfield/Harriet Keen       Tel: [phone]
Hogarth Partnership



A breakdown of the ABC's by sector and for Future's
individual titles is attached


                     Future Network
                            
               Summary of UK ABC figures*

Sector                  1999 ABC        YoY % change
-----------------------------------------------------
                                              
Internet                 134,248             89%
PC                       362,702             3%
PlayStation games        507,695             -3%
Other games              316,856             36%
Other computing          48,292              -4%
------------------------------------------------------
Total Computing         1,369,793            11%
------------------------------------------------------
                                              
Consumer                                      
electronics              91,758             106%
Football                 166,789            391%
Other sports and                              
entertainment            213,930             -8%
Crafts                   178,215            -18%
Music                    186,615             -1%
------------------------------------------------------
Total Specialist         837,307             17%
------------------------------------------------------
                                              
------------------------------------------------------
Total (monthly                                
only)                   2,207,100            13%
------------------------------------------------------
                                                       
Occasional                                    
publications             233,541             n/a
                                              
------------------------------------------------------
Total (excluding                              
closures and                                  
including                                     
occasional                                    
magazines)              2,440,641            29%
------------------------------------------------------
                                                       


*    Note on figures:

Please be careful when comparing these figures to other
companies to ensure that they have been calculated on the
same basis.  The above comparisons are done on monthly
titles only, ignoring occasional publications (specials
etc), and including magazines which have been sold or
closed in 1999.

Whilst some commentators ignore closures and count
occasional magazines towards the total, this gives a
potentially deceptive higher headline figures.
Calculated on this basis Future showed year on year
growth of 29% (as indicated).


Analysis of individual magazines, by sector is attached


                   The Future Network
                            
                    Sector Breakdown

Internet Magazines       1998    1999                             
------------------------------------------------
.net                    49,190  56,519     15%                    
Internet Advisor         n/a    47,702     n/a  Launch
Internet Works          21,821  30,027     38%                    
------------------------------------------------
Total monthly           71,011  134,248    89%                    
------------------------------------------------

*    .net is the longest established consumer internet magazine,
     first published in 1994. This is its highest ever ABC
     despite a year of high competition and major launches from
     rival publishers.
*    Internet Advisor, a magazine for absolute beginners,
     records its first ABC.
*    Internet Works, for businesses going on line, shows a rise
     of 38%.
*    Future is market leader in the sector with a 40% share.


PC Magazines             1998    1999                              
------------------------------------------------
PC Plus                120,265  111,054    -8%                     
PC Format               95,339  102,810    8%                      
PC Answers              31,198  42,495     36%                     
Computer Arts           34,711  38,075     10%                     
Computer Music          27,748  28,262     2%                      
Planet PC                n/a    20,419     n/a  Launch
PC Guide                23,753  19,587    -18%                     
Discontinued titles     20,502             n/a                     
-------------------------------------------------
Total monthly          353,516  362,702    3%                      
-------------------------------------------------
Computer Arts            n/a    26,383     n/a  Launch (occasional
Specials                                        publication)
Computer Publishing      n/a    15,118     n/a  Launch (bimonthly)

*    PC Format confirms position as No 1 PC leisure title
*    PC Answers, a hobbyist magazine, grows strongly
*    Computer Arts and its sister title, Computer Arts
     Specials, show good growth in the computer graphics sector
*    Planet PC is a new PC leisure magazine aimed at 10 - 14
     age group
*    Computer Publishing is a new title for home DTP users


Other computing          1998    1999                              
Magazines
------------------------------------------------
MacFormat               35,655  37,146     4%                      
Amiga Format            14,644  11,146    -24%                     
------------------------------------------------
Total monthly           50,299  48,292     -4%                     
------------------------------------------------
Your iMac                n/a    19,300     n/a  Launch (occasional
                                                publication)

*   Sales of Apple's home iMac drive growth from long
    established MacFormat and new spin off Your iMac
*   MacFormat confirmed as market leader
*   Veteran Amiga Format continues to be published despite the
    demise of the computer it writes about some six years ago.


Sector breakdown/continued:

PlayStation Magazines    1998    1999                              
------------------------------------------------
Official PlayStation   380,186  351,775    -7%                     
PlayStation Power       94,125  81,079    -14%                     
PlayStation Max          n/a    50,425     n/a  Launch
Official PlayStation    50,472  24,416    -52%                     
Tips
------------------------------------------------
Total monthly          524,783  507,695    -3%                     
------------------------------------------------
Best Games Ever          n/a    57,420     n/a  Launch (occasional
                                                publication)
Discontinued titles    268,424             n/a  (occasional
                                                publications)

*    Official PlayStation Magazine now outsells its
     nearest rival by 262,000
*    Future has 62% of the PlayStation sector
*    PlayStation Max is aimed at under 12 age group
*    Official PlayStation Tip 1998 figures based on one
     issue in period versus six issues in 1999



Other games Magazines    1998    1999                              
------------------------------------------------
PC Gamer                68,242  83,669     23%                     
N64                     73,217  67,016     -8%                     
Gamesmaster             64,565  61,106     -5%                     
Edge                    27,354  29,394     7%                      
DC-UK                    n/a    28,857     n/a  Launch
Arcade                   n/a    26,053     n/a  Launch
Nintendo World           n/a    20,761     n/a  Launch
------------------------------------------------
Total monthly          233,378  316,856    36%                     
------------------------------------------------

*   PC Gamer, a worldwide brand with editions in the
    USA, France and Germany among others, shows
    exceptional growth of 23% making it the market
    leader - despite having over £1 higher cover price
    than nearest competitor
*   DC-UK's first figure is 28,857. The Dreamcast
    console was only launched this autumn
*   Arcade - a games title targeted at older gamers -
    recorded its first July-Dec ABC.
*   Nintendo World is for under 12 users of the N64
    console.


Consumer electronics     1998    1999                              
Magazines
------------------------------------------------
T3                      44,651  46,111     3%                      
Home Entertainment       n/a    25,206     n/a  Acquisition
Hi-Fi Choice             n/a    20,441     n/a  Acquisition
------------------------------------------------
Total monthly           44,651  91,758    106%                     
------------------------------------------------

*   T3 shows 5th successive ABC rise
*   Acquisitions Home Entertainment and Hi-Fi Choice
    strengthen electronics portfolio


Football Magazines       1998    1999                              
------------------------------------------------
Manchester United        n/a    90,338     n/a  Acquisition
Magazine
Glory Glory Man Utd      n/a    30,600     n/a  Acquisition
Total Football          33,980  25,177    -26%                     
Chelsea Magazine         n/a    20,674     n/a  Acquisition
------------------------------------------------
Total monthly           33,980  166,789   391%                     
------------------------------------------------

*   Market leader in football magazines as a whole
*   Total Football showing effect of non World Cup year
*   Manchester United Magazine is best selling football
    monthly


Sector breakdown/continued:

Other sports and         1998    1999       %                     
entertainment
Magazines
------------------------------------------------
Total Film              66,474  72,225     9%                     
MBUK                    60,577  61,429     1%                     
SFX                     36,718  35,701     -3%                    
Sailing Today           25,745  25,976     1%                     
Cycling Plus            19,364  18,599     -4%                    
Discontinued titles     23,350             n/a                    
------------------------------------------------
Total monthly          232,228  213,930    -8%                    
------------------------------------------------

*   Total Film reaches new record
*   MBUK maintains market leadership in biking sector
*   SFX maintains market leadership in science fiction
    sector
*   Sailing Today maintains market position despite
    strong attack by other publishers


Craft Magazines          1998    1999                              
-------------------------------------------------
Cross Stitcher          74,221  67,317     -9%                     
Cross Stitch            36,927  33,553     -9%                     
Collection
Needlecraft             33,355  28,750    -14%                     
Quick & Easy            35,125  27,304    -22%                     
Good Woodworking        22,012  21,291     -3%                     
Discontinued titles     15,952             n/a                     
-------------------------------------------------
Total monthly          217,592  178,215   -18%                     
-------------------------------------------------
Cross Stitcher           n/a    21,449     n/a  Launch (occasional
Specials                                        publication)
Jane Greenoff's Cross    n/a    20,784     n/a  Launch (bimonthly)
Stitch
Celebrations            16,536  13,332    -19%  (bimonthly)

*    Two successful launches in sector which Future
     dominates


Music Magazines          1998    1999                                  
-----------------------------------------------
Metal Hammer             n/a    37,141     n/a  Acquisition
Total Guitar            48,150  36,062    -25%                     
Classic CD              30,152  25,173    -17%                     
Future Music            26,523  23,011    -13%                     
Guitarist               24,716  22,029    -11%                     
Guitar Techniques       19,365  16,101    -17%                     
The Mix                 15,021  12,390    -18%                     
Bassist                 8,034    7,818     -3%                     
Rhythm                  6,646    6,890     4%                      
Discontinued titles     9,057              n/a                     
-------------------------------------------------
Total monthly          187,664  186,615    -1%                     
-------------------------------------------------
Total Guitar             n/a    23,483     n/a  Launch (occasional
Collectors Special                              publication)
Guitarist Blues          n/a    20,672     n/a  Launch (occasional
Special                                         publication)
Future Music Gear        n/a    15,600     n/a  Launch (occasional
Special                                         publication)

*   Metal Hammer confirmed as market leading monthly
    hard rock magazine, acquired from Dennis in January
*   Total Guitar confirmed as market leading guitar
    magazine


Background on The Future Network
The Future Network was founded in the UK in 1985. Today
Future publishes 120 magazines worldwide and has
extensive online activities generating over 68 million ad
impressions per month. It is the world's fastest growing
major publisher; is the leading publisher of video games
and home computing magazines in the UK, France, Italy and
the US; and, ranks as the fourth largest magazine
publisher in the UK. Future employs over 1,500 people in
offices in Bath, London, San Francisco, New York, Paris,
Milan, Munich and Rotterdam. Future was floated on the
London Stock Exchange in June 1999 and has a current
market capitalisation of over £1 billion.

Future's internet activities serve the PC, Mac, Games,
Music and Football communities in the US and the UK with
fast-growing sites like maximumpc.com, maximumpc.co.uk,
macdaily.com, dailyradar.com, intermusic.com, and
ufn.co.uk. Future's websites and web networks provide
rich, community- and information-based services to people
in these and related markets worldwide.