HMV launches new in-store games magazine

25/09/06 - Future Plus, the customer publishing agency of Future Publishing, today announces a new partnership with leading music, dvd and games specialist HMV to produce its new in-store games magazine HMV Games.

Available exclusively in HMV's 230 UK & Ireland stores from September 29th, HMV Games launches with a print run of 150,000 copies. The retailer is planning to publish the new title every two to three months, with the next issue due in early 2007. The launch of an in-store magazine underlines HMV's strong commitment to the games market, as the company seeks to inform its customers and to further bolster its specialist credentials and product authority.

The 40-page HMV games title will be a content-rich offering, drawing on Future's 21 years of game magazine experience to create a compelling and engaging read. Keeping HMV's customers up to date about the latest and best games for the major platforms, HMV Games will also reward the loyalty of games buyers with exclusive money-off vouchers.

Tim Ellis, HMV's Head of Games comments:

"We've been saying for some time now that we're totally serious about games, and this new publication will underline the strength of our commitment and, I trust, will further bolster our specialist credentials - both to core gamers as well as to more mainstream games purchasers."

Simon Tapscott, Account Director for Future Plus adds:

"We are delighted to be working with HMV and look forward to helping them increase their share of the competitive games retail market ahead of the transition to next-generation consoles. The combination of reviews of the best new games and exclusive money off vouchers mean gamers can decide what to buy at the point of purchase and get a great deal at the same time. This magazine will reward customers for buying games at HMV, and increase frequency and value of repeat purchase as a result.

"HMV are already the UK's best-known music and dvd specialist and the application of Future's unparalleled expertise in publishing games magazines for this new title will be a great way of helping to bolster the perception of HMV as a passionate retailer of games."

The first issue of HMV Games will be available in-store from 29th September 2006.

ENDS

About Future

Future Plus is the award-winning customer publishing agency of Future plc, providing innovative cross-channel branded content and bespoke communications for its partners - including Vodafone, Nvidia, Musicians' Union and PC World. Future Plus has recently launched a new website at www.futureplus.co.uk

Future plc is an international special-interest media group with offices in the UK, US, France and Italy. Founded in 1985 with one UK magazine, today it creates over 150 special-interest publications, websites and events, with strong portfolios in the computing, games, music, automotive, sports, crafts and leisure sectors. Over 100 international editions of Future's magazines are also published under licence in 30 other countries across the world. Future employs over 1,500 people worldwide. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).

For more information please contact:

Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager 01225 822 517 will.guyatt@futurenet.co.uk

Gennaro Castaldo, HMV Head of Press & PR 020 7432 2033 gennaro.castaldo@hmv.co.uk