Digital Versions and Digital Editions for Business Publications (Updated July 2007)

See Rule D 10.3 Digital Version and Digital Editions for a complete explanation of the information provided below.

(PLEASE NOTE: A publication that is distributed in a 100 percent digital format may qualify for membership in the Audit Bureau of Circulations provided all other qualification criteria is met. Non-paid bulk digital editions are not eligible for inclusion as qualified circulation on ABC reports.)

Qualification:

1. A digital version is defined as a publication delivered digitally that maintains the same name/logo and its editorial and advertising content is an exact replica of the core print product.
2. A digital edition is defined as a publication delivered digitally that maintains the basic identity of the core print product by either having the same name/logo or by referencing it as “an edition of ______.” A digital edition will contain different advertising/editorial content.
3. All rules regarding a qualifying price paid (Rule D 1.1 Paid Circulation Defined) apply to digital version/edition circulation as deemed applicable to print circulation.
4. Under Article 12 of ABC’s Bylaws and Rules for business publications, all rules regarding qualification of qualified non-paid and other applicable rules apply to digital qualified non-paid as they do to print circulation.
5. Within the digital version/edition, a publisher may substitute “hotlinks” to the publisher’s Web site provided the Web site contains updated or expanded editorial content when compared to the print edition.
6. Both “push” and “pull” methods of distribution are acceptable. Therefore, notification to the subscriber of the product's availability on the Web site qualifies as a delivery.
7. Copies identified as delivery issue “bounce backs” may be included in qualified circulation for a limited time frame provided the delivery issue associated with the bounce back is rectified, or the subscriber is purged from the subscriber file in accord with the following scale:

   a. Daily	10 issues
   b. Weekly	4 issues
   c. Biweekly	2 issues
   d. Monthly	1 issue

   
   

   Example 1

   An e-mail notice to a new subscriber that Business News Today digital version is now available was sent for the January issue (the subscribers first issue of service). This e-mail bounced back as undeliverable to the publisher. The publisher corrected the e-mail prior to the delivery of the February issue and the issue was successfully received.

   In the scenario above, the bounced-back issue (January) may be reported as qualified circulation since the bounced-back e-mail was rectified in the appropriate time frame. This time frame being prior to the delivery of the February issue.

   Example 2

   An e-mail notice to a new subscriber that Business News today digital version is now available was sent for the January issue (the subscribers first issue of service). This e-mail bounced back as undeliverable to the publisher. The publisher did not correct the e-mail prior to the February issue and this issue was also bounced back. The publisher stopped the subscriber account with the February issue.

   In the scenario above, the bounced-back issues (January and February) are not considered qualified for ABC reporting purposes and are not eligible for inclusion in circulation claims.

8. In some situations, the initial delivery of a subscriber’s digital version/edition may take place outside of the publisher’s normal means of distribution or subsequent to the delivery of the publication’s main file. In those situations the above schedule is effective with the next scheduled delivery of the main file (both print and digital versions/editions). As a result, any initial digital version/edition distribution that is served outside of the publisher’s normal distribution channel or subsequent to the distribution to the main file, would not be subject to the “bounce back” schedule. The initial digital version/edition distribution would not be eligible for inclusion with qualified circulation.
9. Mid-term conversions from print-only to digital version/edition may be completed at the publisher’s discretion provided the subscriber has the opportunity to “opt-out” of the conversion and retain the print subscription or terminate the subscription altogether.
10. Digital versions and editions may not be comprised of a newsletter/e-newsletter or unrestricted Web site access.

Pricing:

1. Business-to-business publishers may establish a separate basic price for digital versions/editions, because digital distribution is subject to separate cost considerations that may facilitate different pricing from the original print product. The following parameters apply (Per Rule D 1.2 Prices):
   • Digital Versions/Editions
     • Only one basic price for field served for each regularly established duration.
     • Only one basic price for subscriptions sold outside the field served for each regularly established duration.
Additional parameters specify the following:
• Single-Copy Sales
  • Only one basic price for each country or geographical area may be stipulated by the publisher.
• Term Subscription
  • Only one basic price for field served for each regularly established duration.
  • Only one basic price for subscriptions sold outside the field served for each regularly established duration.
2. Only one scale of such basic prices for each country or geographical area may be stipulated by the publisher.

Reporting:

1. All digital delivery is to be reported separately in all aspects of ABC reports utilizing the following format:
   1. Print only
   2. Digital only
   3. Print and digital (unduplicated)
   4. Total
   The label “digital” on ABC Reports will be used to describe all copies distributed via electronic or paperless means, inclusive of both digital versions and digital editions.
2. Digital editions will also be reported separately in Publisher’s Statements and Audit Reports in Paragraph 1D and broken out in Paragraphs 3A and 4 in accord with Rule D 10.2 Separate Editions.
3. Digital version/edition subscribers are required to provide a land address for reporting purposes in Paragraph 4, Geographic Analysis. However, should a digital version/edition subscriber fail to provide a usable land address, the subscriber will be reported as “E-Mail Address Only,” but would not be subject to the five percent limit as articulated in Rule D 5.1 (c), Geographic Analysis.
4. Publishers are required to report Internet/e-Mail generated production as a separate line item in Paragraph 3B, Age of Source Data Analysis of ABC reports.
5. Paid bulk sales and license agreements will be reported as qualified circulation in ABC reports provided the purchaser pays at least one cent for each subscription.
6. Publications are required to provide a statement of digital delivery methodology in the explanatory paragraph of ABC reports.
7. Please see the Business Publication Digital Version/Edition Prototype for further reporting.

It is anticipated that ongoing review will occur at future board meetings on this subject.

Posted 10/09/07