NEW YORK, March 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Future Plc, the global platform for specialist media, has continued its rapid expansion with the acquisition of two businesses – WhatCulture, a social-first brand focused on the gaming and entertainment market, and data insight start-up, Waive, which uses machine learning to identify social trends. Together, these acquisitions will bolster Future’s diversification of revenue streams, alongside its social media offering, and editorial strategy.
Founded in 2006, WhatCulture produces engaging YouTube content for gaming and entertainment audiences. The business brings a wealth of YouTube advertising experience which will further strengthen Future’s position in video; with 11 YouTube channels that represent WhatCulture’s core method of monetization, attracting more than 8 million subscribers and over 4 billion views. The brand, which sees approximately 70% of its revenue coming from the US, complements Future’s existing portfolio of specialist entertainment content. This includes CinemaBlend, which has become the third highest ranked title in Comscore’s Entertainment - Movies* category, since its acquisition in 2021. WhatCulture will also benefit from Future’s proprietary technology, which will empower greater monetization of its websites and bring efficiencies to its operating model.
Future has also acquired data insight company Waive, which uses advanced machine learning to identify and predict trending social topics across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. The intelligent trend spotting platform will empower Future’s expert editorial teams to forecast trends, informing the creation of the most engaging content focused on what audiences will care about tomorrow.
Zillah Byng-Thorne, CEO at Future said, “We are delighted to welcome both WhatCulture and Waive to Future. We look forward to working with WhatCulture to further diversify our content and revenue streams, and are particularly excited about the video monetization expertise and data insight capabilities that Waive will bring to the Group respectively.”
Peter Willis, Co-Founder of WhatCulture said, “We're really excited to join an organization like Future which has seen such amazing success. We have real synergies between our desire to create great original content for our audiences. Our YouTube expertise combined with their monetization and platform know-how will realize great opportunities for further growth in this area and unlock real potential across the business."
* Source: US Comscore Media Metrix, January 2022
About Future plc
Connectors. Creators. Experience Makers.
Future is a global multi-platform media company and leading digital publisher, with scalable brands and diversified revenue streams. Every month, it connects over 400 million people worldwide with their passions, through expert content, world-class events, and cutting-edge proprietary technology. Every year Future attracts millions of consumers to its brands’ websites, magazines, events, and social spaces. Its factual production company Future Studios specializes in producing amazing content, enjoyed and shared by millions of people worldwide.
Its market-leading portfolio of over 240 brands spans technology, games, TV and entertainment, women’s lifestyle, country lifestyle, luxury, wealth, knowledge, music, creative and photography, sports, home interest, and B2B sectors. Brands include: Techradar, Gamesradar+, Tom’s Guide, CinemaBlend, Marie Claire, Decanter, Kiplinger, The Week, Guitar World, Digital Camera World, and Live Science. For more information visit: www.futureplc.com
Media Contact:
Hugh Moore
Broadsheet Communications for Future Publishing (US)
202-471-0661
hugh@broadsheetcomms.com
