Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BRISBANE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2002

Imagine Media is ecstatic to announce significant rate base increases for its two console games magazines, PSM and Official Xbox Magazine.

PSM's rate base will skyrocket 23 percent from 325,000 to 400,000 for the period of July -- December 2002. Official Xbox Magazine, which launched in November 2001 with a rate base of 250,000, will surge 30 percent to 325,000 with the November 2002 issue.

Along with its already-existing market-leading title, PC Gamer, Imagine Media will own the three largest single-platform books covering the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC games markets. In addition, combined circulation for PSM and Official Xbox Magazine will total 725,000, a PS2 and Xbox audience far in excess of any multi-platform games publications.

Since its launch in 1997, PSM has experienced four rate base increases over its five years of publication. In addition, filed ABC Publisher Statements show that over the course of its history with the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC), PSM has exceeded and/or met its rate bases every year. Meanwhile, the latest FAS-FAX Report shows PSM's strongest competitor has stopped claiming a rate base altogether and is showing significant drops in circulation compared to their early 2001 numbers.

Simon Whitcombe, group publisher of Imagine's Games Group, comments, "Imagine is committed to its single-platform publishing philosophy. It simply offers readers and advertisers better value. This latest rate base increase is continued proof of the long-term success of this strategy." He continues, "Research shows that, post holiday, the games market is dominated by Xbox and PS2. PSM and Official Xbox Magazine will offer the largest audience of PS2 and Xbox owners in North America."

Imagine Media won the Official Xbox Magazine global license from Microsoft in August 2000, and in November 2001, Imagine orchestrated another unprecedented event in the console games market by launching Official Xbox Magazine at the same time as the launch of the Xbox console itself. With its exclusive playable Game Disc, Official Xbox Magazine is currently the only monthly magazine completely devoted to the world of Xbox.

Internationally, Official Xbox Magazine has already launched in the UK, France, Spain, and Italy, and an Australian edition follows shortly. Every issue will be accompanied by the Official Xbox Magazine Game Disc and due to the Xbox's unique capabilities, one disc will be able to present localized menus and content in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German.

Imagine President Jonathan Simpson-Bint states, "This is extremely gratifying for all of us at Imagine. We've bounced back from some considerable challenges, and now, by focusing our energies on our core books, we've put ourselves back in to the driving seat of the games magazine market. Our story is different to any of our competitors: we've beaten rate bases across the board for the second half of 2001 and we'll be delivering solid, market-leading guarantees for 2002. Imagine is very much back."

About PSM: 100% Independent Playstation 2 Magazine

PSM's phenomenal success is a result of the editorial team's unique ability to connect with active PlayStation 2 gamers. PSM is a true advocacy magazine for PlayStation 2 lovers: 100% independence guarantees honesty and ensures credibility. Our readers know they can trust PSM's unbiased game coverage to guide their buying decisions, and PSM's honest editorial environment lends credibility to its advertisers.

About Official Xbox Magazine

Imagine Media is the official licensor of Official Xbox Magazine for Microsoft worldwide except Japan, making it the only magazine 100% dedicated to everything Xbox(R). As a global publication with an exclusive playable Game Disc, it aims to inspire and sustain the passion its readers feel about video games 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.

About Imagine Media, Inc.

Imagine Media (www.imaginemedia.com) has built its success on a strategy of "passion": creating products that excite tech-savvy consumers. In 1999, it merged into The Future Network plc (futurenet.com), the media company founded by Chris Anderson in 1985. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Imagine Media's publications sell in excess of 1.4 million copies per month. Its market-leading titles include MacAddict, Maximum PC, PC Gamer, PSM: 100% Independent PlayStation 2 Magazine, and Official Xbox Magazine.

About The Future Network Plc

Future was founded in the UK in 1985. Today it publishes over 80 magazines worldwide. It is the leading publisher of video games and home-computing magazines in the UK and Italy. The company also licenses 37 of its titles, resulting in over 60 local editions in a further 22 countries. Future employs more than 1,100 people in offices in Bath, London, San Francisco, New York, Paris, and Milan. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FNET).

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