Future PLC (LON:FUTR) has said that “strong” audience numbers online are helping to offset losses in digital advertising as the coronavirus (COVID-29) pandemic hits physical magazine sales.
The owner of TechRadar and PC Gamer said high street closures have hit magazine sales but digital subscriptions are doing “well”.
READ: Future gets conditional go-ahead to acquire TI Media
March was the biggest month ever for tech products review publication Tom's Guide, with 22mln users, the group said in an update.
The FTSE 250-listed media company has implemented cost-saving measures such as furloughing staff, speeding up closures of certain titles and reducing discretionary costs.
Future also announced that the acquisition of TI Media was completed following the sale of World Soccer, Amateur Photographer and technology website Trustedreviews.com for £1.4mln in total.
For the year to December, TI Media's combined revenue and underlying earnings were £12mln and £300,000 respectively.
The Competition and Markets Authority ruled last month that the TI transaction, initially announced in October, could go ahead only after the disposal of those titles.
Analysts at Peel Hunt said the update was "encouraging", although "the impact of COVID-19 is still evolving and today’s good online trading is no guarantee that pressures do not emerge later".
Shares advanced 4% to 1,056p on Monday morning.
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