Future plc Releases Trading Update

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Future plc, the international specialist media group and leading digital publisher, today published a business update in respect of its financial year which ends on September 30, 2012. Preliminary results for the year will be announced on November 23, 2012.

Business in the fourth quarter has been encouraging in both the U.K. and the U.S., Future's two biggest markets. This has reinforced the company's confidence that the full year numbers for 2012 will be in line with its expectations and also provides a good trajectory into the next financial year.

Future's progress toward a predominantly digital business continues. Sales of digital editions on Apple devices have passed $8 million in the period since the Apple Newsstand was launched in October 2011. Visits to Future's websites have increased more than 50 percent this year and now total more than 45 million unique users a month, with page view and engagement metrics also improving at a comparable rate. This is evidence of the company's sustained success in audience building. 

In the U.S., Future US, Inc. continues to make strong progress and is close to returning to profitability, fulfilling a commitment Future made a year ago to be profitable in the U.S. in FY 2013.

When it releases its full year results in November, Future will outline its plans to grow and monetize its global digital audiences, leverage its position as a global leader in tablet products and software, and diversify its revenues further.

About Future 
Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today the company has operations in the U.K., U.S., and Australia creating over 200 special-interest publications, apps, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. The company holds strong market positions in games, music, technology, action sports, film, automotive and crafts. The biggest-selling magazines in the U.S. include Official Xbox Magazine, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, PC Gamer, Maximum PC and Mac|Life, while the U.K. business publishes leading titles such as T3, Total Film,and Classic Rock. The company's web sites include GamesRadar, BikeRadar, TechRadar and MusicRadar. Future sells over 2.2 million magazines each month; attracting more than 45 million unique visitors to its websites; and delivering over 100 digital editions and bespoke apps on tablet. In addition, Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 89 countries internationally, making it the U.K.'s biggest exporter of monthly magazines.

SOURCE Future plc