January
- Future UK acquires technology and music magazines and websites from Dennis Publishing. The magazine titles acquired are: Hi-Fi Choice, Home Entertainment and Metal Hammer.
May
- New economy magazine Business 2.0 UK becomes Future’s most-successful ever launch following outstanding success in the US
February
- Future announces measures which are designed to streamline the company’s portfolio, reduce operating costs, pay down debt and enhance profitability
March
- At its full-year results Michael Penington is appointed Interim Finance Director, Roger Parry is appointed Deputy Chairman while Chris Anderson becomes non-executive Chairman. April Patrick Taylor joins Future as Non-executive Director. The Future Network announces closure of its German operations and of the European editions of Business 2.0.
May
- Future Publishing, the UK subsidiary of The Future Network plc announces the restructuring of its operations into three distinct divisions. Future also proposes the sale of Business 2.0 to The Fortune Group, a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner.
July
- Future announces that it has obtained shareholder approval for the sale of its magazine title Business 2.0 to eCompany Now Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner Inc. The sale completed on 13 July. The final stages of the UK restructure are announced. Changes to the business include a reduction in centralised support services and a rationalisation of Future’s property portfolio, all part of the change the UK business as it devolves operational responsibility to the individual divisions (see May 2001) as profit centres.
August
- John Bowman is appointed Group Finance Director with effect from November 16. Bowman joins from Scottish Radio Holdings plc, where he has been Group Finance Director since 1994.
September
- Future announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2001. Roger Parry is appointed Non-executive Chairman. The same month sees Future announce a proposed refinancing of the company through a 6 for 5 Rights Issue. Imagine Media, the Future Network’s US subsidiary, launches the American version of the Official Xbox Magazine – the officially licensed publication for Microsoft’s next-generation games console.
October
- Future holds an extraordinary general meeting, at which the resolution in relation to the 6 for 5 Rights Issue is passed. November Imagine Media, the Future Network’s US subsidiary sells TED Conferences LLC (”TED”) to The Sapling Foundation. The net proceeds from the transaction are used to pay down Group debt.
August
- The Future Network launches Future Games, an international network of 15 leading games magazine publishers. Future Games produces over 60 games magazines across 14 countries and boasts a total monthly circulation of 2.4 million magazines covering all the major video games formats. MSN.co.uk chooses Future as its official games partner. Future’s gamesradar.com becomes a part of MSN.co.uk providing gaming expertise and content for the UK’s number one web destination. (MMXI April 2002).
September
- Imagine Media becomes Future US
July
- Future holds its second international Future Games Network Conference in the UK, aiming to build on strong overseas partnerships and help shape the future of video games magazines
October
- Future announces that it has conditionally acquired Computec Media UK Limited, which publishes an unofficial PlayStation magazine, PSW, an unofficial Xbox magazine, Xbox World. Future acquires the US’s second best-selling guitar magazine Guitar One from Cherry Lane Magazines LLC.
July
- Future announcesthat it has agreed with Microsoft a significant extension, to 31 December 2011, of the licence to publish the Official Xbox Magazine. The new arrangement means that Future has the exclusive, worldwide rights (excluding Japan) to publish official magazines for Microsoft Xbox products until the end of 2011.
August
- Future UK announces that it has acquired Spanish Homes Magazine, from its previous owners, Spanish Homes Magazine Limited. August also sees Future UK announcing the acquisition of PC Zone, the UK’s longest established PC games magazine and www.computerandvideogames.com from Dennis Publishing for a consideration of £2.5m in cash
October
- The Group announces that Future US is entering into a new sector, action sports, with the launch of Future Snowboard later in 2005
December
- Future announces that it has acquired the UK’s leading portable computing monthly magazine What Laptop magazine from Crimson Publishing. A week later it announces the acquisition of Beach Magazines and Publishing. Beach publishes three titles: Junior, Junior Pregnancy & Baby and Wedding Day.
January
- Future announces that it has acquired A&S Publishing Company Limited which publishes 11 motoring magazines. Its top three selling titles are: Classic Ford, Fast Ford and Trucking. In addition to magazines, A&S also owns and operates eight national motoring events, the largest of which is TRAX.
- Future confirms that the Company’s name has changed to Future plc (formerly The Future Network plc). Following the name change, the stock exchange ticker symbol has changed from FNET to FUTR.
February
- Future announces that it has made an offer for Highbury House Communications plc
April
- Following a referral to the Competition Commission by the Office of Fair Trading, Future announces a new agreement with Highbury House Communications plc. Future is now to buy 38 titles from Highbury for £30.5 million
June
- Following the completion of its deal to purchase 38 magazines from Highbury, Future unveils a revised publishing structure for its UK operations. The enlarged UK portfolio is split into four demographically focused publishing groups: Future Entertainment including Future Entertainment Business, Future Technology, Future Excite and Future Living. Future Plus remains the company’s customer publishing agency and continues to work for a growing range of clients.
March
- Future announces that it has acquired the title and goodwill of US heavy metal music magazine Revolver and its related website (www.revolvermag.com) from Harris Publications.
June
- Future announces the appointment of Stevie Spring as Chief Executive.
October
- BSkyB is to reward premium movies customers with a dedicated monthly magazine published by Future under the Total Film brand.
- Future signs an exclusive agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) to publish the new Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK.
November
- Future disposes of Future Media Italy S.p.A (‘Future Media Italy’) to Sprea Editori S.p.A (‘Sprea’) and Mr Bernardo Notarangelo
June
- Seb Bishop appointed as a non-executive director of Future plc.
July
- Future acquires Cycling News (www.cyclingnews.com) from Knapp Communications Pty Limited
- Future launches BikerRadar.com. Together they make Future the world’s No.1 in cycling
October
- Future announces that on 28 September 2007 it sold the entire issued share capital of Future France S.A.S. (‘Future France’) to WM7 for a consideration of up to €18.0m, of which €13.2m is payable in cash and up to €4.8m is payable in 2010 dependent on the achievement of certain revenue targets by Future France
- Future US wins licenses to publish official magazines for both Sony and Nintendo
November
- Future launches MusicRadar.com, its web portal for music-makers
April
- Future’s Australia office opens
June
- New on-console digital edition – entitled Qore – launched in partnership with SCEA by Future US
July
- Total Film launches new compact edition
November
- Official Nintendo magazine Australia and New Zealand launched
January
- The Knitter magazine launched
April
- Mark Wood appointed as a non-executive director of Future plc
- Triathlon Plus magazine launched
July
- Jonathan Simpson-Bints steps down as President of Future US after 18 years with the company
- Jon Mellon steps down as a non-executive director of Future plc
September
- PhotoRadar.com launched
- John Marcom announced as President of Future US
December
- World of Warcraft: The Magazine launched
