Sony/Future Deal Extended into Seventh Year

Future Network PLC
11 February 2000


       SONY/FUTURE DEAL EXTENDED INTO SEVENTH YEAR

Sony Computer Entertainment and The Future Network plc's
(LSE: FNET), UK subsidiary, Future Publishing, today
announce that they are extending their highly successful
publishing relationship into a seventh year.

The new deal formalises an understanding between the two
companies to work closely together to help develop the
PlayStation brand through Future's award-winning Official
PlayStation Magazine. Future will now be publishing the
magazine and various spin-off brands at least until the
end of 2001.

Speaking for Sony, Alan Welsman said, 'Our two companies
have worked extremely well together for many years now,
and so we are delighted to extend our relationship for at
least a further two years. Official PlayStation in the UK
has broken all records for games magazines, in the same
way that we set the sales agenda with PlayStation. That
is testament to Future's creativity and marketing skills,
as well as our excellent working relationship.'

For Future Publishing, Managing Director Jane Ingham
commented, 'Sony have sold over five million PlayStations
in the UK since launch in 1995, and have the biggest-ever
share of the largest-ever market. During that time, we've
partnered with them on a whole variety of marketing
initiatives, and it's been incredibly exciting seeing how
the brand has developed and succeeded.  So we're very
pleased to tie the knot for a further two years.'

This deal comes as Future announces strong Christmas
sales for The Official PlayStation Magazine, selling
close to 400,000 for two issues in the period.  EPOS data
for the February issue also shows a sale in excess of
390,000 despite a competitor launch into the sector.

Since Future Publishing entered the PlayStation market in
1995 with the successful launch of The Official UK
PlayStation Magazine, Future has continued to grow and
develop this sector.  In addition to its UK spin-off
brands - The Official UK PlayStation Magazine is licensed
by Future in 17 countries, including Italy and Australia.



For further information:

Alan Welsman, Director of Marketing
Sony Computer Entertainment UK     Tel: [phone]

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

Robert Price, Group Publisher
Future Publishing                  Tel: [phone]

James Longfield/Harriet Keen
Hogarth Partnership                Tel: [phone]




Background to The Future Network
The Future Network was founded in the UK in 1985. Today
Future publishes 120 magazines worldwide and has
extensive online activities generating over 68 million ad
impressions per month. It is the world's fastest growing
major publisher; is the leading publisher of video games
and home computing magazines in the UK, France, Italy and
the US; and, ranks as the fourth largest magazine
publisher in the UK. Future employs over 1,500 people in
offices in Bath, London, San Francisco, New York, Paris,
Milan, Munich and Rotterdam. Future was floated on the
London Stock Exchange in June 1999 and has a current
market capitalisation of over £1 billion.

Future's internet activities serve the PC, Mac, Games,
Music and Football communities in the US and the UK with
fast-growing sites like maximumpc.com, maximumpc.co.uk,
macdaily.com, dailyradar.com, intermusic.com, and
ufn.co.uk. Future's websites and web networks provide
rich, community- and information-based services to people
in these and related markets worldwide.