Future US Appoints William O'Neal as Editor-in-Chief of TechRadar.com in the US

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Future US, a leading publisher of gaming and technology media properties, today announced William O'Neal as the Editor-in-Chief of TechRadar.com in the US. In his role, O'Neal will manage the US-based editorial team when the site launches in April.

O'Neal brings to TechRadar.com extensive experience in the industry. He most recently served as Editor-in-Chief of @GAMER Magazine, the Official Games Magazine of Best Buy, where he launched and grew the magazine into a successful property. He was also technical editor for several Ziff Davis Media publications – including Computer Gaming World and ComputerLife – and senior editor of mobile at CNET.com. In addition to his print and online editorial experience, O'Neal served two years as the gadget and technology correspondent on G4TV's "Attack of the Show."

"William O'Neal has exemplified exceptional leadership as Editor-in-Chief of @GAMER. We are confident that his experience will translate perfectly to TechRadar, driving its proven international formula into even greater US success," said Kelley Corten, vice president of consumer media at Future US. "This new venture establishes Future's continued growth in digital publishing, and we are proud to be able to fill this executive position from within our organization."

As U.K.'s #1 technology website (according to UKOM and Hitwise), TechRadar attracts more than ten million unique monthly visitors, with U.S.-specific visits topping 1.6 million unique visitors per month, according to comScore. Future plans to launch the widely popular U.K. technology destination in the U.S. in April 2012. The new site will provide localized content, including in depth reviews, news and features.

"With the huge success of TechRadar.com in the UK, we want to deliver the same type of content to tech-savvy, early adopters here in the U.S.," says Nick Merritt, Publisher of TechRadar. "Given O'Neal's extensive background in the digital publishing space, we are excited to bring his level of leadership to steer the TechRadar U.S. editorial team."

In addition to O'Neal, Future is currently recruiting a dedicated editorial team for the site, which will be based in San Francisco.

About TechRadar

TechRadar is the U.K.'s biggest technology website, providing over 3 million U.K. readers with the biggest and best technology reviews. The award-winning site has become the go-to destination for opinions, exclusives and authoritative reviews of everything from mobile phones and tablets to the latest cameras and televisions. Read by more than 10 million people globally, it will soon also boast a U.S. editorial team based out of San Francisco.

About Future PLC

Future PLC is an international media group and leading digital publisher, 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 200 special-interest publications, apps, websites and events.  We hold market-leading positions in Games, Film, Music, Technology, Cycling, Automotive and Crafts. Our biggest-selling products include T3, Total Film, Classic Rock and Official Xbox Magazine. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, musicradar.com and techradar.com (the UK's number one consumer technology website). Future sells 2.9 million magazines each month; we attract more than 34 million monthly unique visitors to our websites; and we deliver over 100 digital editions and bespoke apps on tablet. Future exports or syndicates publications to 89 countries, making us the UK's number one exporter and licensor of magazine content. Future was named Consumer Digital Publisher of the Year at the Association of Online Publishers Awards 2011.

SOURCE Future US