11/10/11
Future Publishing, one of the UK’s leading special interest publishers, today announces the sale of three audio visual titles to specialist hobby publisher MyHobbyStore.
Future announced its intention to divest Hi-Fi Choice, What Satellite & Digital TV and Home Cinema Choice in July.
Hi-Fi Choice is the essential guide to audio excellence in the home, while What Satellite & Digital TV is the cutting-edge magazine for the TV technology enthusiast. Home Cinema Choice is the UK’s best-selling home cinema enthusiasts’ magazine.
The deal sees MyHobbyStore acquire the three brands with immediate effect with a short transitional period before relocation in order to avoid interruption to publishing schedules.
In addition to publishing Hi-Fi News, MyHobbyStore publishes some of the best known specialist hobby and craft magazines in the UK, including popular titles such as RCM&E, Model Engineer, Model Boats and Popular Patchwork.
Future Publishing CEO Mark Wood says: “MyHobbyStore is the ideal home for these three specialist audio visual titles. I would like to thank the teams on the brands for all their hard work and commitment, particularly over the last few months. I wish them all the best in the future.”
MyHobbyStore CEO Owen Davies adds: “The acquisition of these three magzines, joining Hi-Fi News, creates a strong group of titles with shared values in the specialist consumer electronics sector. We have exciting plans to develop this new group both in print and in the digital space and we are delighted to welcome the new staff to our business.”
Staff transfer to MyHobbyStore with immediate effect.
ENDS
About Future
Future plc is an international special-interest media group, 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 magazines include T3, Total Film, Classic Rock, Guitar World and Official Xbox Magazine. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, musicradar.com and techradar.com (the UK’s no. 1 consumer technology website). Future sells three million magazines each month; we attract more than 25 million unique visitors to our websites; and we deliver over 100 digital editions and bespoke apps on tablet. Future exports or syndicates publications to 90 countries, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of magazine content; and was named consumer digital publisher of the year at the Association of Online Publishers Awards 2011.
About MyHobbyStore
MyHobbyStore is a leading specialist consumer media and ecommerce business. It publishes some of the best known hobby and craft magazines in the UK, including popular titles such as RCM&E, Model Engineer, Model Boats and Popular Patchwork. It also operates a range of community websites and e-commerce websites such as myhobbystore and mycraftstore and operates some of the most loved model hobby events in the country.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Chris Taylor, head of communications, Future Publishing Limited on 020 7042 4033, 07980 221942 or email chris.taylor@futurenet.com
Owen Davies, CEO, MyHobbyStore on 01689 869860, or email owen.davies@myhobbystore.com
