Rules & ResourcesConsumer Magazine Support Center
Consumer Magazine Reporting of Explanatory Information for Combination Sales
Combination sales are defined as two or more publications sold in combination, when the amount paid by the purchaser is less than the amount of the publications purchased separately.
Rule F 8.4 Subscriptions/Single-Copy Sales in Combination requires full explanation in ABC reports when a publisher engages in combination sales of either subscriptions and single-copy sales.
The following provides specifics on the required explanation in Paragraph 9 Explanatory of ABC reports for consumer magazines.
Subscriptions Sold In Combination
Publishers may choose to explain combination details on either “subscriptions sold during the period” or “copies served during the period.”
The explanatory should clearly note if the reported data is based on sales during the six-month statement period or copies served during this period.
Explanatory for Subscriptions Sold
Publishers electing to report subscriptions sold must meet the following requirements:
- Sales reported and detailed in this explanatory are included in Paragraph 8 Analysis of Total New and Renewal Subscriptions for the period reported, that were sold in a subscription combination.
- Details of the combination sale reported include:
- Identification of the publications sold in combination
- Number of subscriptions sold with the specific combination
- Subscription term of publications sold in combination
- Total price charged for the combination
- Total publisher’s suggested price for the combination
An example of the explanatory format for reporting subscription combinations based on sales during the period follows:
Paragraph 9 Explanatory for PROTOTYPE MAGAZINE
20,000 subscriptions were sold in combination during this statement period.
| Combination Publication(s) | Subscriptions Sold | Subscription Term | Price of Combination | Publisher's Suggested Price |
| Inside Magazine | 14,000 | 1 year each | $42.00 | $65.00 |
| Y Magazine | 6,000 | 6 months of Y Magazine, 1 year of Prototype Magazine | $35.00 | $54.00 |
Explanation of reporting details:
Combination Publisher(s)—If more than two publications are sold in combination, all publications must be identified under this reporting column.
Subscriptions Sold—Total number of gross subscriptions sold in the six-month period from the combination with that title.
Subscription Term—Identification of the terms for each publication sold in the combination. If terms of the publications are different, the term with each publication must be noted.
Price of Combination—Total amount charged for the combination of the publications must be identified for the term sold. If the combination was sold at various prices, a range of low to high may be noted. The term must also be identified.
Publisher’s Suggested Price—Total of the publisher’s suggested price (based on term) must be noted for all publications sold in the combination.
Explanatory for Copies Served
Publishers electing to report copies served must meet the following requirements:
- This explanatory should contain details supporting those copies claimed in Paragraph 6 as combination subscriptions.
- Details of the copies served during the period include:
- Identification of the publications involved in the combination sale.
- Average number of copies served in the period for the specific combination. The total of the average copies served, by program, should tie to the average total combination sold subscriptions as noted in Paragraph 6 of report.
- Subscription term of copies served in combination during the six-month period.
- Total price being charged for the combination. If various prices are charged for the same combination, a range from low to high can be provided.
- Total publisher’s suggested price for the publications in the combination
An example of the explanatory format for reporting subscription combination based on copies generated through combination sales and served during the period is as follows:
Paragraph 9 Explanatory PROTOTYPE MAGAZINE
An average of 30,000 copies were served from combination subscription programs during this statement period.
| Combination Publication(s) | Copies Served | Subscription Term | Price of Combination | Publisher's Suggested Price |
| Inside Magazine | 22,000 | 1 year each | $42.00 | $65.00 |
| Y Magazine | 8,000 | 6 months of Y Magazine, 1 year of Prototype Magazine | $35.00 | $54.00 |
Explanation of reporting details:
Combination Publication(s)—If more than two publications are sold in combination, all publications must be identified under this reporting column.
Copies Served—Average number of copies served in combination during the reporting period with that title.
Subscription Term—Identification of the terms for each publication sold in the combination. If terms of the publications are different, the term for each publication must be noted.
Price of Combination—Total amount charged for the combination of the publications must be identified for the term sold. If combination was sold at various prices a range from low to high may be noted.
Publisher’s Suggested Price—Total of the publisher’s suggested price (based on term) for all publications sold in the combination.
Single Copies Sold in Combination
Explanatory reporting of single copies sold in combination must include the following:
- Detailed in this explanatory are the combination sale details supporting those copies claimed in Paragraph 6 as single copies sold in combination. The average of all copies detailed should equal the average circulation claimed in Paragraph 6 as single-copy combination sales.
- Details for the single copies sold in combination include:
- Identification of the publications involved in the combination sale
- Issue sold in combination
- Total copies sold for that issue and the specific combination
- Total price charged for that combination
Example to appear in Prototype Magazine Explanatory
Single-copy combinations sold during this statement period.
| Combination Publication(s) | Number of Single-Copy Combinations Sold | Issue Date | Price of Combination |
| Inside Magazine | 2,000 | May 2008 | $5.50 |
| Y Magazine | 4,000 | June 2008 | $5.00 |
| Inside Magazine | 1,000 | June 2008 | $5.50 |
Explanation of reporting details:
Combination Publication(s)—If more than two publications are sold in combination, all publications must be identified under this reporting column.
Number of Single-Copy Combinations Sold—Total number of single copies sold for the specific issue in the specified combination.
Issue Date—Cover date of the issue sold in that combination.
Price of Combination—Total amount charged for the combination of the publication.
Posted 10/05/07