FNET Future

RNS Number:4403T
Future Network PLC
2 November 2000




    FUTURE WINS ITALIAN LICENCE TO PUBLISH OFFICIAL PLAYSTATION 2 MAGAZINE

Three-year licence agreed with Sony Computer Entertainment Italy

The Future Network plc (LSE:FNET), the specialist consumer magazines and
online publisher, today announces that its Italian arm, Future Media Italy,
has won the exclusive licence to publish Italy's Official Magazine for
PlayStation2TM by Sony Computer Entertainment Italy.

The Italian licence is Future's second PlayStation2 deal and builds on the
successful relationship that Future already has with Sony. In July Future was
awarded the three-year UK licence to publish the UK Official PlayStation2
magazine. Future Media Italy already publishes the market leading Italian
Ufficiale PlayStation Magazine which last recorded an audited circulation of
93,000.

Commenting on the award Claudio Menegatti, Future Media Italy's Managing
Director says:

"We are extremely proud to announce this licence which confirms our excellent
relationship with Sony Computer Entertainment Italy. It was a tough pitch and
we faced stiff competition from several other leading Italian and
international publishers. With this agreement Future will continue to play a
key role in supporting Sony's vision for this revolutionary new form of
electronic entertainment."

Future's Chief Executive Greg Ingham adds:

"Future rapidly became the worldwide media market leader for the world-leading
PlayStation 1 console. We have every opportunity to do the same now with the
extraordinary PlayStation 2. We're delighted to have won this contract, and
look forward to working closely with Sony Computer Entertainment Italy again."

The new magazine - PS2 La rivista ufficiale PlayStation2 - will go on sale to
coincide with the PS2 arrival in Italy with a cover price of Lire 16.900. The
editorial team of eight will be led by current Editor of Ufficiale PlayStation
Magazine Claudio Tradardi and the publisher will be Andrea Minini Saldini.

For more information:

Future Media Italy                       0039 02 252 9161
Claudio Menegatti, Managing Director


The Future Network plc                   01225 442244
Greg Ingham, Chief Executive
Terri Davey, Communications Manager

Hogarth Partnership                      0207 357 9477
James Longfield/Harriet Keen

PlayStation Key Facts:

*        More than 74 million PlayStations have been sold worldwide since 1994

*        There are 3 million PlayStations in Italy

*        PS2 launches in Italy on 24 November

*        3 million PS2 units have been shipped to Japan since March 2000

*        3 months' comparatives show PS2 sales some 325% more than PS1 in
         Japan

*        PS2 launched in North America on October 26 where first reports state
         that most retail outlets were sold out of the consoles by 9am

*        500,000 units will go on sale on Day 1 of the European launch, two
         million by year end


About The Future Network Plc

Future was founded in the UK in 1985. Today it publishes over 130 magazines
worldwide and has extensive online activities attracting the attention of 6.5
million unique visitors and generating over 87 million page views per month.
It is the world's fastest growing major publisher; the leading publisher of
video games and home computing magazines in the UK, France, Italy, Poland and
the US; and is ranked as the fourth largest magazine publisher in the UK.
Future employs over 1,900 people in offices in Bath, London, Los Angeles, San
Francisco, New York, Paris, Milan, Munich, Rotterdam, Tokyo and Wroclaw.
Future was floated on the London Stock Exchange in June 1999.

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