Future Publishing ABCs

12/02/09 - Future – the special-interest media group, announces that the combined audience for its games media portfolio continues to increase, reaching and influencing more young males than ever before.

Following exceptionally strong ABC portfolio growth in the previous year, five of Future’s eleven games magazines reported further ABC increases in 2008. Additionally, the company has made significant progress in its cross-platform strategy – which includes on-disc, on-console, events and online products building engagement with its gaming audience.

Future’s Official PlayStation Magazine grew by 16.6% year-on-year to 53,644 copies, whilst Official Nintendo Magazine held firm at 58,795 copies.

Independent console titles continued to fare well – with magazines for all three consoles reporting growth. PlayStation magazine PSW expanded its readership by 10.5% year-on-year to 24,118 copies. NGamer, the UK’s only independent Nintendo title sold 4.4% more copies, at 17,801. Future’s Xbox World 360 took the leadership position in the competitive independent Xbox 360 sector, growing 6.1% period-on-period.

Online, Future’s GamesRadar Network now attracts over 10 million unique users a month across the globe, a massive 40% increase from 2007. The company’s annual Golden Joystick Awards, described by the BBC as “the Oscars of gaming” saw gamer involvement grow by 15% to hit 850,000 votes in 2008.

Future continues to reach out to new audiences through its publishing partnerships. The company recently extended its deal with Panini to produce more issues of Girl Gamer – a mini magazine distributed to more than 350,000 young females through the pages of Bliss and Mizz.

Future was also tasked to create online editorial for Game.co.uk, the website for the UK’s leading games retailer. The company also worked with Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, to create a GamesRadar branded buyer’s guide, with a print run of 500,000 copies each issue.

Moving into 2009, Future continues to extend its cross platform offering – strengthening its partnerships with Microsoft and Sony by launching rich on-console media. The company has recently launched Xbox 360: Official Xbox Magazine content through Microsoft’s Xbox Live Network and is set to launch an innovative new on-console magazine through Sony’s PlayStation Network later this year.

James Binns is Publishing Director of Future’s games portfolio:

“Future’s games print ABC results outshine men’s lifestyle titles – we do this by delivering more engaged readers committed to their special-interest. Future’s strategy of building more touchpoints around our brands is starting to pay off, with growth in web, events, on-console media and mobile activity. We are well set for 2009.”

ENDS

Quoted web traffic figures derived from internal HBX and Google Analytics audits.

About Future

Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today we have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. We hold strong market positions in games, film, music, technology, cycling, automotive and crafts.

Our biggest-selling magazines include T3, Total Film, Digital Camera, Fast Car, Classic Rock, Guitar World, Official Xbox Magazine, Official Playstation Magazine, Nintendo Power, Maximum PC and MacLife. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, techradar.com, and musicradar.com. Future produces over 4 million magazines each month; we attract more than 18 million unique visitors to our websites; and we host 25 annual live events that attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. In addition, Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally, making us the UK's number one exporter and licensor of monthly magazines.

For more information

Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager, Future UK, 01225 822517