Future's Games Publications Continue To Deliver Largest Target Audience in Industry and Guaranteed Rate Bases
(March 3, 2005)
Brisbane, CA
(March 3, 2005)
Future Network USA games publications once again delivered the largest
targeted audience in the magazine industry among single-platform games
magazines, according to the newly released Audit Bureau of Circulation
(ABC) FAS-FAX report. Future Network USA is a subsidiary of UK-based
Future plc. (FUTR).
Covering the six months ending December 2004, the ABC FAS-FAX report reveals that
Official Xbox Magazine (OXM),
PSM: 100% Independent PlayStation 2 Magazine and
PC Gamer Magazine
hit their rate base guarantees and surpassed their competitor Ziff
Davis in overall paid circulation among all competing single-platform
publications.
In this edition of the ABC FAS-FAX report (July - December 2004), Future�s
Official Xbox Magazine
again reached its rate base of 400,000, leading the single-platform
category with a total paid circulation of 401,134. The newest ABC
FAS-FAX report also reveals that Official Xbox Magazine has more than twice the subscribers of Ziff Davis' Official US PlayStation Magazine (OPM) and on average exceeds OPM by more than 100,000 paid copies per issue.
For the fourth consecutive audit period OXM maintains its
status as the world's best-selling, officially licensed games magazine
on any platform. Its direct competitor, Ziff Davis' single-platform
Xbox title, XBN, ceased monthly publication with its February issue.
The December 2004 ABC FAS-FAX also reveals that PSM's average paid circulation was 400,565, once again hitting its guaranteed rate base of 400,000. PSM continues to outsell its category rival, Official US PlayStation Magazine, which does not offer a rate base guarantee and posted a paid circulation of 262,038.
Future�s PC Gamer continued to meet its rate base of
300,000 paid circulation, maintaining its category leadership in
circulation. As per the FAS-FAX report, Future's PC Gamer's paid circulation is 35% higher than its rival Computer Gaming World and outsells its rival at newsstand 2.6:1.
"We are extremely pleased with this new ABC report," stated Games Group
Publishing Director Simon Whitcombe. "These numbers reinforce the fact
that Future has established itself among single-platform game
magazines. Our goal is to provide the highest-quality entertainment to
our dedicated readers and quantifiable value to our advertisers. We
feel that the ABC FAS-FAX report demonstrates this ongoing commitment."
About PSM: 100% Independent PlayStation 2 Magazine
Launched in September 1997, PSM: 100% Independent PlayStation 2 Magazine
is the category-leading magazine for PS2 and PSP news, games, hardware
and culture, and reaches the largest PS2 audience in the world with its
unique and irreverent content. PSM's status as the proudly
independent and unofficial source for PlayStation 2 game players makes
it a true advocacy magazine for PS2 lovers. With its recent redesign
and its magazine/website interactivity, PSM is the most engaging and entertaining PS2 games magazine on newsstands today.
www.psmonline.com
About Official Xbox Magazine
Future is the official licensor of Official Xbox Magazine
for Microsoft, making it the only monthly magazine 100% dedicated to
everything Xbox�. As a global publication with an exclusive playable
Game Disc, it aims to inspire and sustain the passion its readers feel
about the Xbox and become an essential part of their Xbox experience.
Launched in Fall 2001, Official Xbox Magazine is the first source readers turn to for official game demos, independent reviews, and the latest Xbox news.
www.oxmonline.com
About PC Gamer Magazine
Launched in May 1994, PC Gamer
is the world's best-selling PC games magazine. The magazine has earned
this coveted position by hiring hardcore gamers who know what other
gamers need to satisfy their enthusiasm. The magazine delivers
hard-hitting reviews, winning game strategies, explanations for complex
games technology and news about what's next in this rapidly changing
arena. Smart, irreverent, and well connected, PC Gamer not only keeps readers "in the know", but also invites new computer users into the rich and entertaining world of PC games.
www.pcgamer.com
About Future
Future is the leading US publisher of cutting-edge games, computing,
action sports and musician magazines, which sell in excess of 2.2
million copies per month. Future's publications reach a young, active,
affluent male audience and rank 13th among audited newsstand publishers
in gross newsstand revenue. Its category-leading titles include Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer, PSM: 100% Independent PlayStation 2 Magazine, Mobile PC, Maximum PC, MacAddict, EZ Tech Guides, Snowboarding Trade News, Skateboard Trade News, Guitar World, Guitar One, Future Music, Guitar World Acoustic, Guitar World Bass Guitar and Guitar World Legends. Future is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in New York, Los Angeles and San Diego.
(www.futurenetworkusa.com)
About Future plc
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 sixth 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 license in 30 other countries across the world.
The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).
