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Magazines Sold in Partnership at an Event

The event sales policy that was contained in the Policy and Practices section of the ABC Bylaws and Rules was revamped at the July 2008 board meeting to relate to periodicals only. Since the new Newspaper Qualification and Reporting initiative has begun this policy is no longer relevant for newspapers. This policy originated for use by newspapers where sales of single copies were directly tied to event admission such as sporting events, concerts, fairs, and other similar activities.

This policy still remains in effect for periodicals where a consumer magazine executes a single-copy partnership sale at an event, as well as those cases when a subscription is included in the purchase price of an admission ticket purchased at the door or ticket counter of the event. Below are the requirements that are necessary for any publication wanting to execute a partnership sale with either a single copy or subscription at an event.

Policy Regarding Partnership Sales of both Magazine Single Copy included in the Admission and Magazine Subscriptions included in the admission of tickets purchased at an activity such as Sporting Events, Concerts, Fairs, Trade Shows, Swap Meets, Parking Lots, etc.

Definition of Partnerships and Events:
A single copy of a magazine offered for sale in combination with admission fees and a subscription to a magazine offered for sale in combination with admission fees paid at the ticket counter of the event to any activities of a social or communal nature. Sales bundled with parking fees may also qualify as "event sales" provided the parking fee is the only admission fee associated with the event. In those situations where there are separate parking fees and admission fees, the parking facility will not qualify as an "event."

Examples of activities that may qualify as events:

  • Sporting events
  • Concerts
  • Fairs
  • Consumer and trade shows (car show, boat show, etc.)
  • Flea markets

Examples of activities that will not qualify as events:

  • Public parking
  • Public transportation (commuter trains, buses, planes, boats, etc.)
  • Toll roads

ABC must be notified in advance of the event. Notification should be submitted through the established pre-evaluation form for partnership sales, available on ABC’s website, to include:
a) Date and hours of the event(s)
b) Event admission price
c) Magazine refund value
d) Examples of notification signs
e) Event management personnel to contact in order to gain access to event records, should the auditor deem it appropriate.

Qualification Standards:

  1. For single-copy sales, at point of purchase the consumer must be offered the option to pay a reduced amount (full ticket price less amount allocated to the magazine) if the magazine is declined.
  2. For single-copy sales delivery of the magazine must occur upon entrance to the event.
  3. For subscription sales, if the magazine subscription is declined, one of the following refund methods may be executed:
    1. At point of purchase, the consumer is offered the option to pay a reduced amount (full ticket price less amount allocated to the magazine) if the magazine subscription is declined.
    2. Delivery of information for consumer to process/request the refund occurs upon entrance to the event.
  4. All admission signs at the event venue must make clear and conspicuous disclosure of the components of the sale, to include reference that the magazine is included in the cost of the admission, the magazine’s allocated value and that the allocated value is refundable
  5. All rules governing paid circulation qualification must be followed.
  6. All established guidelines as contained on ABC’s website for partnership sales are applicable to this type of program for a clear and conspicuous notification and refund process.


Posted 08/05/08