Future plc
non-executive chairman | |
Revenue | £788.9 million (2023)[1] |
---|---|
£174.5 million (2023)[1] | |
£113.4 million (2023)[1] | |
Number of employees | 2,920 (2023)[1] |
Subsidiaries | |
Website | futureplc |
Future plc is a British
Among its many titles are
History
1985–2012
The company was founded by Chris Anderson as Future Publishing in Somerton, Somerset, England, with the sole magazine Amstrad Action in 1985.[2] An early innovation was the inclusion of free software on magazine covers.[2] It acquired GP Publications so establishing Future US in 1994.[3]
Anderson sold the company to
In 2004 the company was accused of corruption when it published positive reviews for the video game Driv3r in two of its owned magazines, Xbox World and PSM2.[6]
2012–2015
Future published the official magazines for the consoles of all three major games console manufacturers (Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony); however PlayStation: The Official Magazine ceased publishing in November 2012, and Official Nintendo Magazine ceased publishing in October 2014.[7][8]
The chief executive and finance director both resigned at short notice after a profit warning in October 2011. It was noted that a re-structuring would be necessary as the company moved to a digital model.[9]
Future announced it would cut 55 jobs from its UK operation as part of a restructuring to adapt "more effectively to the company's rapid transition to a primarily digital business model."
In April 2014 Zillah Byng-Thorne, then finance director, was appointed chief executive, replacing Mark Wood, who had been in the position since 2011.[11]
2016–present
In 2018, Future made further major acquisitions. It bought the
It bought the
In November 2019 the company bought
In April 2020 it acquired
The company was criticised in February 2022 for the size of the remuneration package being offered to Zillah Byng-Thorne, the chief executive. It was noted that she could receive £40 million if the company performs well.[26]
Byng-Thorne resigned with effect from 3 April 2023 and was replaced as chief executive by Jon Steinberg.[27]
Organisation
In addition to media and magazines, the company has two other businesses:
- Future Studios is its video division, built upon the acquisition of Barcroft Media in 2019.[28]
- Marketforce is its sales, marketing and distribution company, acquired as part of a 2019 deal with TI Media.[29]
Brands
Future's portfolio of brands included
References
- ^ a b c d "Annual Report 2023" (PDF). Future plc. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Nicholas, Ruth (11 July 1999). "Profile: Chris Anderson: Media with passion". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013.
- ISBN 978-0199601639. Archivedfrom the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Can new Future CEO end 15 years of boom & bust?". Flashes and Flames. 6 April 2014. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
- Business Week. Archived from the originalon 21 February 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- ^ Lui, Spandas (30 March 2010). "A history of gaming's biggest scandals". PC World. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ Santos, Alexis (7 November 2012). "PlayStation: The Official Magazine being shuttered, will say farewell with holiday issue". Engadget (Joystiq). Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
- ^ "Another blow to print journalism: Future Publishing profits fall 61%". Gamer Limit. 28 November 2009. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
- ^ "Future CEO and FD resign, names replacements". Reuters. 27 October 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Mark Sweney (3 September 2013). "Future Publishing to cut 55 jobs". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
- ^ a b Future US streamlined to focus on digital Archived 8 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine, RNS Number : 3903D, Future PLC, 28 March 2014
- ^ Sweney, Mark (21 November 2014). "Future Publishing cuts more than 400 jobs as part of restructure". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ Tom Butts (4 April 2018). "Future Publishing Acquires US Content Business NewBay Media". TV Technology. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ Blabbermouth (1 May 2017). "REVOLVER Magazine Sold To Digital Media Company PROJECT M GROUP; Brand Relaunch Planned For This Fall". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- ^ "Purch sells B2C imprints to global specialist media publisher Future in $132m deal". The Drum. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
- ^ "Future buys Purch to boost US revenue". Digiday. 18 July 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
- ^ "Future : Acquisition of Mobile Nations | MarketScreener". m.marketscreener.com. March 2019. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Accelerates Mobile Nations earnout payment". otp.investis.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ "Back to Future: Immediate sells CyclingNews and Procycling to Future plc, their previous owner". Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- ^ "Acquisition of SmartBrief". otp.investis.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ televisual.com. "Televisual Business Magazine For The Broadcast & Production Community". Televisual. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "True Crime Series 'On the Record with Marie Claire' at Future Studios". Variety. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Proposed Acquisition of TI Media for £140 million". otp.investis.com. 30 October 2019. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Country Life owner buys Dennis Publishing in £300m deal". The Guardian. 16 August 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "Country Life publisher reeling after shareholder revolt over executive pay". The Guardian. 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (22 February 2023). "Jon Steinberg, Former BuzzFeed and Cheddar Exec, Tapped as CEO of U.K. Publisher Future". Variety. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ televisual.com; Reporter, Staff (15 November 2019). "Barcroft Studios bought by Future plc for £23.5m". Televisual. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Why Future is buying TI Media". Flashes & Flames. 1 November 2019. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Future Celebrates Market Leading Position As Largest Tech News Publisher". GlobeNewswire (Press release). 23 September 2022. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- GamesIndustry. Archivedfrom the original on 15 September 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ Staff (16 August 2021). "UK's Future Plc to buy 'The Week' publisher for $415 mln". Reuters. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.