Disposal of Interest

FUTURE NETWORK PLC
28 September 1999


                  FUTURE  SELLS AOL SHARES FOR $18.3 MILLION
                                       

The  Future Network plc ('Future'), the video games, home computing and  other
specialist consumer magazines publisher, today announced that it has  disposed
of  182,492  shares in America Online Inc. ('AOL') (New York  Stock  Exchange:
AOL), yielding $18.3 million after associated expenses.

The equity holding in AOL was acquired by Future as part of its acquisition of
Imagine  Media  in  June 1999, and had an original cost of $661,500.   Imagine
Media  acquired  the  shares as consideration for the sale  of  a  holding  in
Spinner.com,  an  internet radio business in which it had  invested.   Imagine
Media continues to hold a small investment in AOL under an escrow arrangement.

On  the  acquisition of Imagine Media, the total shareholding  was  valued  at
$18.1m.   A  small  pre tax profit will therefore be realised  in  the  Future
Network's 1999 results.

Commenting  on the sale of the shares, Greg Ingham, CEO of The Future  Network
plc said:

'This  was clearly a very successful investment born of Imagine's presence  in
San  Francisco and understanding of internet start-ups.  It is not part of The
Future  Network's  remit to hold publicly quoted stock long  term,  and  these
funds will increase our capacity to develop our core business.'

For further information:

Greg Ingham, Chief executive     Tel: [phone]
Future Network

James Longfield                  Tel: [phone]
Hogarth Partnership

Background on The Future Network:

The Future Network was founded in the UK in 1985.  Since this time it has
become the leading publisher of video games and home computing magazines in
the UK, France, Italy and the US.  Headquartered in Bath, England, Future is
the fourth largest publisher in the UK.  It employs over 1,400 people in
offices in Bath, London, San Francisco, New York, Paris, Milan and Munich.
Future publishes 112 magazines worldwide and has extensive online activities
generating over 50 million page views per month.  Future was floated on the
London Stock Exchange in June 1999 and has a current market capitalisation of
over £850 million.