17th Feb 2005 14:31
Future PLC17 February 2005 17 February 2005 Future plc UK and US circulation update Future plc (LSE: FUTR), the international magazine Group, today releases thelatest ABC audited circulation figures for the 53 titles in its UK portfolio of76 monthly and bimonthly magazines that are subject to an ABC audit, and theaudited circulation figures for its US magazines. Average monthly sales in theUK 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 containedin this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the directorsof Future plc (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is thecase), the information contained in this announcement for which they areresponsible is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely toaffect the import of such information. Notes to Editors:A list of the ABC circulation figures for each audited UK and US title isattached. The UK ABCs are the audited circulation figures for the twelve monthsJanuary to December 2004 unless where stated. The US figures are the auditedcirculation figures for the six months to December 2004. The annual comparisons referred to in the release are stated for continuingmagazines, including acquisitions and first time ABCs but excluding closures anddisposals. About FutureFuture plc was founded in the UK in 1985. Today, it publishes over 100special-interest consumer magazines worldwide with strong portfolios in thecomputing, games, music, sports, motoring, crafts and leisure sectors. It is thefifth largest magazine publisher in the UK and last year was reported as beingthe fastest growing US magazine publisher at newsstand. Future employs 1,200people in offices in the UK, US, Italy and France. Over 100 internationaleditions of Future's magazines are also published under licence in 30 othercountries 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 auditedfor 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 76,407Redline 73,807 (Jul - Dec 2004)T3 54,217Total Guitar 50,006Mountain Biking UK 45,772Classic Rock 42,030 (Jul - Dec 2004)United - Official Man Utd Magazine 40,476Metal Hammer 38,313 (Jul - Dec 2004)SFX 36,089Quick & Easy Cross Stitch 29,437Guitarist 28,354Cycling Plus 25,980Wedding Day (acquisition, bimonthly) 23,790Guitar Techniques 21,137Computer Music 20,540Future Music 18,550Good Woodworking 17,132Your Family Tree 16,498Computer Music Special (quarterly ) 14,689Hi Fi Choice 11,446Rhythm 10,866 Games Jul - Dec 2004 PlayStation Magazines: Official PlayStation 2 Magazine 172,593PSW 70,077PSM2 54,442Official PlayStation 2 Special Edition** 26,736Xbox Magazines: Official Xbox Magazine 88,136Xbox World 24,161Xbox Gamer 13,435Other Games Magazines: PC Gamer 57,023GamesMaster 62,159PC Zone (acquisition) 40,480Edge 28,790NGC 16,622 Digital Jan - Dec 2004Microsoft Windows XP: The Official Magazine 58,473PC Plus 50,100PC Format 39,269Digital Camera Magazine 30,024PC Answers 28,330Linux Format 28,314What Laptop (acquisition) 22,687Computer Arts 20,904MacFormat 15,144.net 13,774Computer Arts Projects 12,7193D World 12,399Digital Camera Shopper 10,127Adobe Focus Guide* 9,725Practical Web Pages* (bimonthly) 7,930Digital Photo Effects 6,642Windows XP Focus Guide* 6,392Broadband & Internet Advisor 5,507Mac 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 401,134PSM 400,565PC Gamer 305,290 Computing Maximum PC 304,638MacAddict 160,338 Entertainment Guitar World 180,262Guitar One 142,277 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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