Future PLC

Future announces T3: iPad Edition

wguyatt — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:01:54 +0000

Flagship consumer tech brand to launch bespoke edition on Apple’s tablet this autumn

02/09/10 – Future, the special-interest media group, today announces the launch of its first fully bespoke digital magazine for the iPad – T3: iPad Edition, scheduled to go on-sale in autumn 2010.

Future has launched a number of successful apps for the iPhone in recent months for brands including Total Film and MacLife. As Future’s flagship consumer technology brand in the UK, with a highly tech-literate audience, T3 is a logical choice for the company’s first fully bespoke paid-for digital magazine for Apple’s tablet. Future is the UK’s leading consumer electronics publisher and T3 is one of its biggest multi-platform brands with 23 international print editions, a fast-growing T3.com website and live events including the annual T3 Gadget Awards.

Launching this autumn, T3: iPad Edition will be available to purchase from the iTunes store, the same day as T3 magazine goes on sale across the UK.

Led by Future’s in-house development team and built on the WoodWing Digital Magazine Tools platform (behind iPad magazines including US-titles; Sports Illustrated, Time and People), T3: iPad Edition is set to bring the UK’s premium technology magazine to life in a unique and interactive way.

iPad users will be able to interact with T3’s award-winning design and photography, viewing the latest and best consumer tech through exclusive video, 360 degree animation, photo galleries and much more.

Nial Ferguson, Publishing Director for Future’s Entertainment & Tech Lifestyle portfolios, said:

“The natural synergies between T3 and the iPad create a dream union for both consumers and our commercial partners. Our research tells us that T3 readers are high-spending early-adopters, who are already voraciously consuming media on the platform.

“We’ve worked very hard and liaised with Apple to ensure that T3: iPad Edition will give our readers the quality and authority of the print magazine, combined with the unique interactivity and functionality the iPad platform provides. Early testing among consumers and commercial partners has been very positive.”

Jeroen Sonnemans, Managing Director of WoodWing Europe, added:

“As more high-quality content is made available through iPad apps, digital magazines are quickly gaining popularity. WoodWing puts a lot of effort into creating software to easily publish on any tablet device, as we really believe in this new medium. By having the vision to launch one of the UK’s first bespoke iPad editions, Future is a pioneer at the forefront of multi-platform publishing.”

T3: iPad Edition will be available monthly from Apple’s iTunes store, price and launch date to be announced.

ENDS

About Future
Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is 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 over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. We hold strong multi-media market positions in games, technology, film, music, cycling, automotive and crafts. Our biggest-selling magazines include Total Film, T3, Classic Rock, Digital Camera, Guitar World, Official Xbox Magazine, Official Playstation Magazine, Nintendo Power, Maximum PC and MacLife. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, techradar.com, musicradar.com and photoradar.com. Future sells more than 3 million magazines each month; we attract more than 27 million unique visitors to our websites; and we host 27 annual live events that attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. In addition, Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of monthly magazines.

For more information
Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager, Future UK 01225 822517 or 07788 576505

Future’s Total Film raises curtain on iPhone app

wguyatt — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:47:54 +0000

Digital push continues reinvigoration of flagship movie brand

31/08/10 – Future, the special-interest media group, has launched its first Total Film iPhone application, as the flagship movie brand seeks to further widen its appeal amongst UK cinema goers.

Available now from iTunes for £1.79 – the Total Film app was developed in-house. The application unites the latest news, reviews and trailer videos from the fast-growing http://www.totalfilm.com website, with features exclusive to the application – including searchable or location-based cinema listings, show times and directions, as well as the ability to easily share all content with movie-loving friends through Facebook, Twitter and e-mail.

The Total Film iPhone application continues Future’s reinvigoration of the movie brand, which launched as a print magazine in 1997. Earlier this year the print edition received a front-to-back redesign this year, adopting a new size format and increased pagination. Bringing the brand closer to enthusiasts, Future continues to expand the Total Film Screening Club, which shows early movie previews to influential opinion formers, and is also exploring a range of live event opportunities.

Nial Ferguson, Publishing Director for Future’s Entertainment and Tech Lifestyle portfolios, said:

“The Total Film app continues our plans to further strengthen the brand and sits alongside the magazine, website and our screening club. Having listened closely to our readers, we have developed the most complete app available to UK movie fans, as we ensure Total Film appeals to committed enthusiasts, across all brand platforms.”

The Total Film app can be purchased now from the iTunes store, for £1.79. For more information, please visit – http://tinyurl.com/totalfilmitunes .

ENDS

For more information
Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager, Future UK, 01225 822517

Tesco recruits FuturePlus for new technology website

wguyatt — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:06:29 +0000

Tesco Tech Support site helps promote growing in-store service

27/08/10 – FuturePlus – the award-winning customer publishing agency, has strengthened its publishing partnership with the retail giant Tesco. The brand-new website for the Tesco Tech Support service (http://www.tescotechsupport.com) – its dedicated team of in-store technology experts, accompanies a quarterly print title successfully launched earlier this year, also created by FuturePlus for Tesco.

With the pace of consumer technology rapidly developing, Tesco now stocks an increased range of electrical products in-store and online. Responding to consumer demand, the retailer introduced Tesco Tech Support in 2008, making friendly faces available to expertly answer consumer technology queries, guiding them to choose the right product. Continuing to grow, the service now has more than 1000 expert advisors across the UK at 200 Tesco Extra stores and a dedicated UK call centre.

The new http:///www.tescotechsupport.com website was created by an in-house team at FuturePlus – headed by Sean Atkins, Digital Director The site supplements dedicated online editorial content with all-new “how-to” tech videos fronted by Tesco Tech Support employees, with feature content from the quarterly magazine, alongside a news feed from the UK’s fastest-growing technology website, TechRadar.com, published by FuturePlus’ parent company, Future.

The free quarterly Tesco Tech Support magazine is available in all Tesco stores with a personalised tech support service and has proved a great success since launching earlier this year. A reader survey created for the first issue highlighted that 63% of readers felt more positive about Tesco as a place to buy technology as a result of reading the magazine.

The 68-page magazine is packed with information on the different technologies available, written by expert journalists drawn from Future’s market-leading print and web tech portfolio, and in-store Tesco Tech Support experts. Issue two of Tesco Tech Support magazine is now available in-store with further issues planned for November and February 2011.

Kelly Chapman, Commercial Manager, Marketing, Tesco, said:

“With over 5000 products in an ever increasing range it is important that customers make the right purchase to meet their budget and needs. This helps to raise awareness of our service and the advice we provide also helps to simplify technology.”

Jayne Caple, Director of FuturePlus UK, added:

“We’re delighted to be strengthening our relationship with Tesco, working closely with them to promote Tesco Tech Support. The service is increasingly popular in-store and is proving invaluable to thousands of customers every day. The world of technology is really complex, and working with FuturePlus, the expert team at Tesco Tech Support are making that hunt for your next gadget that little bit easier.”

Visit the new Tesco Tech Support website now at – http://www.tescotechsupport.com

ENDS

For more information
Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager, Future UK, 01225 822517

Voting opens in Future’s .net Awards 2010

wguyatt — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:13:58 +0000

Best in web design and development celebrated by world’s best-selling magazine for web builders

24/08/2010 – .net, the world’s best-selling magazine for web builders, has opened voting for its annual .net Awards – a celebration of the very best in web design and development – as organisers hope to beat the 60,000 votes cast last year.

The .net Awards website (http://www.thenetawards.com) – in association with Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 – is open now for votes in sixteen categories; Awards include ‘web personality of the year’ and ‘innovation of the year’, which sees the controversial Wikileaks (http://www.wikileaks.com) competing against nominees including Google’s Android 2.2 OS and Adobe’s Flash Player for Mobile.

Held annually since 1998, the long-running .net Awards mix public opinion with those of a leading panel of 100 industry experts, including the likes of Jeffrey Zeldman, Paul Boag and Molly Holzschlag, who deliberate on the final shortlist.

Winners of the prestigious .net Awards 2010 are announced on Wednesday, 18^th November at a special event in London.

.net Awards 2010

Design agency of the year
Interactive site of the year
Blog of the year
Mobile site of the year
Mobile app of the year
Innovation of the year
Web personality of the year
Redesign of the year
Podcast of the year
Video podcast of the year
Web app of the year
Open source app of the year
Standards champion
Best API use
Community site of the year
Viral campaign of the year

The awards are heavily promoted across Future’s portfolio of magazines and websites, with editorial and adverts running across 16 titles including T3, MacFormat and the fast-growing TechRadar.com (http://www.techradar.com), which now attracts over 3m unique users worldwide each month. Influential online magazine, A List Apart – which explores the design, development and meaning of web content, with a special focus on web standards and best practices, becomes the first-ever .net Award’s media partner. The British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) will be promoting to their members as official industry partner, while Sitecore, Fasthosts and Basekit are category sponsors.

Editor of .net, Dan Oliver said:

“.net magazine is read by thousands of professional web designers and developers from around the world, and winning one of our coveted Awards is a great achievement, made even more special by the fact that both the general public and industry peers take part in the decision process. We work in one of the most dynamic and creative industries on the planet, and these Awards showcase the talent, creativity, and passion that help make the web what it is today.”

For more information and the chance to vote, visit http://www.thenetawards.com

Future PLC – Appointment of UK CEO

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:01:37 +0000

Future PLC – Appointment of UK CEO

Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

Future’s MusicRadar launches new bass channel and StoreFinder application

jcampbell — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:26:12 +0000

Future, the special interest media group and UK’s leading music-making publisher is strengthening its fast-growing musician’s website www.musicradar.com with the launch of two new services – a new channel dedicated to the bass sector, and a bespoke StoreFinder application aimed at driving footfall to independent retailers.

MusicRadar.com enjoyed its biggest ever month in July with 542,677 uniques up 75% y-o-y and 3,574,345 page impressions up 96% y-o-y (source: SiteStat). The launch of the bespoke new channel (http://bass.musicradar.com/) focuses entirely on the bass music sector, catering for the growing market of bass products. The new area uses brand new, bass-specific content, with news, reviews, features and tutorials on the latest equipment and gear.

Speaking about the new channel, MusicRadar.com Editor in Chief Mike Goldsmith said:

“We already have substantial heritage in the bass sector as we’ve covered a wide range of bass guitars, amps and stacks since MusicRadar’s launch in 2007. However feedback revealed that not only did we need the same high quality content as featured on our Guitars, Tech and Drums sections, but we needed a dedicated, bass-only area for bassists to bookmark and commercial partners to concentrate their efforts.

This area isn’t just a ‘search results page’ for existing bass content on MusicRadar. We are significantly increasing our investment into brand new, bass-specific content as well as working closely with our commercial partners to feature and showcase their products for our hungry audience of bassists.”

In a further development for the website, MusicRadar has also launched the StoreFinder application, which aims to drive footfall direct to UK retailers from the site. The bespoke branded solution is tailored to each manufacturer, and allows consumers to find their local retailer through the application, whilst browsing their products on MusicRadar.

The first StoreFinder application is in partnership with Peavey (http://www.musicradar.com/storefinder/peavey) with further plans for a combined service in the run-up to the busy Christmas period.

Andy Rust, Marketing Manager for Peavey said:

“Peavey are delighted to be supporting our bricks and mortar retailers by being the first MI company to integrate a branded StoreFinder in to MusicRadar.com.

We believe this solution will offer huge support to UK retail and help direct musicians researching Peavey and Trace Elliot products online to find there local store. With more and more musicians using the internet making the journey easy and simple to direct consumers in to shops is crucial.”

For more information please contact:

Please contact Jen Campbell on 01225 732269 or jen.campbell@futurenet.com for more information.

Future’s SFX celebrates 200th birthday

wguyatt — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:23:12 +0000

World’s bestselling sci-fi and fantasy magazine shoots for the stars with milestone issue

18/08/10 – SFX, the world’s bestselling sci-fi and fantasy magazine, celebrates its milestone 200^th issue in style later this month, as it unites the industry’s A-list for its biggest-ever edition.

At the forefront of sci-fi fan culture since May 1995, SFX has covered everything from Tank Girl and Judge Dredd, through the Buffy and X-Files years, up to today’s reinventions of Doctor Who and Star Trek and beyond – always looking forward to the biggest genre TV, films, comics, books and games.

In 2010, the SFX brand includes the fast-growing http://www.sfx.co.uk website, its regular ‘SFX Collections’ print specials plus the quarterly Comic Heroes magazine. The brand successfully launched the UK’s first sci-fi and fantasy residential festival earlier this year, and the SFX Weekender 2011 has already announced guests including Star Trek’s George Takei and Discworld author, Sir Terry Pratchett.

Delivering its biggest-ever issue, spanning 208 pages, SFX brings together many of its friends in the business who helped shape the last 199 issues, asking them to give their ultimate behind-the-scenes tips and tricks. The full 200 countdown sees some truly galactic names offering their insight to SFX readers, including Avatar mastermind James Cameron, Marvel dynamo Stan Lee and Doctor Who himself, Matt Smith. Buffy creator and Avengers director Joss Whedon exclusively reveals his unmissable five point guide to writing great TV dialogue.

SFX 200 dedicates its milestone cover to the eagerly-awaited Star Trek 2 and brings together everything currently known about the sequel, and attempts to extract exclusive information from the legendary Leonard Nimoy and Director JJ Abrams, in new interviews.

SFX 200 also features Terry Gilliam looking back on his career, a report on the new series of Merlin, an interview with Jonathan Ross, a retrospective on Buffy The Vampire Slayer and over 100 reviews!

Dave Bradley, Editor-in-Chief of SFX, said:

“I’m incredibly proud to be editing SFX at this milestone moment. The fact that we’ve reached 200 issues is a massive achievement. I’m really grateful to everybody who’s supported us – all the people in the industry on both sides of the Atlantic who’ve really got behind the mag, as well as to all our wonderful readers who are the most loyal fans you could hope for. It’s their contributions and passion for sci-fi which has been our rocket fuel for the last 15 years.”

Stuart Galbraith, Associate Publisher of SFX added:

“SFX has continued to deliver world-beating news, reviews, features and interviews, all served up with a unique attitude. It’s a rare magazine that’s seen growth in these stormy economic times, but SFX has done just that, with a circulation rise last year, the highest number of subscribers in its history, new spin-offs like Comic Heroes, a growing website and of course live events like the SFX Weekender.”

Issue 200 of SFX goes on-sale Wednesday 25^th August, with a cover price of £3.99.

ENDS

For more information
Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager, Future UK, 01225 822517

Future’s Rhythm magazine celebrates 25th anniversary with special collector’s edition

jcampbell — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:48:03 +0000

Rhythm, the UK’s best-selling drum magazine celebrates its 25th anniversary in style, with a special collector’s edition commemorating the last quarter of a century at the forefront of the drumming world.

On sale Tuesday 31st August, the special issue comes in a bag containing 4 iconic prints of drum legends John Bonham, Keith Moon, Ringo Starr and Charlie Watts. The issue examines the changing drum scene from the last 25 years – looking back at the drummers, drums, technological developments, music, gear and more that have made the scene what it is today.

As part of the celebration of all-things 25, the magazine will feature brand new interviews with 25 drum icons including Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Gadd, Joey Jordison (Slipknot), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), as well as a retrospective feature looking back on 25 spectacular innovations from YouTube to V-drums, that have changed the lives of drummers for the better.

Rhythm is also running a massive competition with a total prize value of over £10,000 – with 25 prizes, split into five groups which will be won by five readers. Prizes include a full Carrera Drum kit, snare drums from Tama, Drum Workshop and Mapex, Sabian, Istanbul and Meinl cymbals, drumsticks from Zildjian, Pro-Mark, Vic Firth and Regal Tip, drum cases, percussion, DVDs, books and more.

There are also tips, tricks and lessons from the pros, with the stars of the drum world offering their best-kept secrets on gear maintenance, recording, practicing, warming up and playing live.

Chris Barnes, Editor of Rhythm magazine said:

“This is a major milestone for any magazine. We’re going all out on this issue to offer our loyal readers the best of everything – interviews, features, gear, competitions – to mark this special occasion.

We’ve been working since the start of the year to secure exclusive interviews with some of the hottest drummers on the planet and the final list is phenomenal. With so much content, free gifts and the usual expert gear reviews, tuition section and Drum Lessons CD this is an unmissable issue of Rhythm.”

The 25th anniversary issue of Rhythm magazine goes on sale on Tuesday, 31st August priced at £4.75.

For more information
Please contact Jen Campbell – 01225 732269 or jen.campbell@futurenet.com

Sir Terry Pratchett confirmed for Future’s SFX Weekender 2

wguyatt — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:52:41 +0000

Celebrated author talks ‘The Long Earth’ collaboration with Stephen Baxter at sci-fi and fantasy festival

09/08/10 – Best-selling fantasy author, Sir Terry Pratchett will talk exclusively about his new collaboration with Stephen Baxter on their forthcoming ‘Long Earth’ novel series at the SFX Weekender 2 – the UK’s ultimate celebration of sci-fi and fantasy culture.

Terry and Stephen are the latest guests to be announced for the SFX Weekender 2, taking place in Camber Sands, East Sussex from Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th February, where more than 3000 sci-fi and fantasy fans will immerse themselves in a galaxy of culture curated by SFX – the world’s bestselling sci-fi and fantasy magazine. Big name guests at the event include Star Trek’s George Takei and Red Dwarf’s Craig Charles, with many more to be announced.

‘The Long Earth’ is a story of parallel worlds and infinite possibilities, which has been bubbling over in the Discworld creator’s mind for almost 30 years. With fans now eagerly awaiting the first book in 2012 by Doubleday, Terry and Stephen will take to the stage to reveal more about the project.

One of Britain’s best-loved novelists, Terry has sold over 60m books worldwide. In 2008 he was appointed OBE and was then knighted in 2009 for his services to literature. The Long Earth series with renowned Ark author Stephen Baxter will be his first co-written fiction since Good Omens with Neil Gaiman in 1990.

Alongside big-name appearances, the SFX Weekender 2 includes DJs, bands, authors, quizzes, film and TV previews, and a packed programme of entertainment. More big name guests, authors, make-up artists and stars from the world of sci-fi, horror and fantasy will be announced over the next few months.

Dave Bradley, Editor-in-Chief of SFX, said:

“I’m delighted that Terry and Stephen will be joining us to reveal more about The Long Earth – SFX readers are already clambering to get their hands on the first book and we can be sure of some surprises from the pair.

“The SFX Weekender 2 is set to be an even bigger and better event for our readers in 2011. We want to make this an unforgettable 48 hours for sci-fi and fantasy enthusiasts.”

Head over to http://www.sfxweekender.com/tickets for further details and to book tickets now.

ENDS