Premium Rule Updated – Archive Access & Expanded Online Content

Premium Rule F 8.1 defines all extraneous items as premiums, except current issues of the publication, “door openers,” sample merchandise provided to all consumers, and back copies delivered as part of a subscription. When a premium is offered in conjunction with a subscription or single issue, the consumer must pay a qualifying price for the publication, plus the full value of the premium, in order for the circulation to be reported as paid on ABC reports.

At its November 2006 meeting, the board gave unanimous consent to modify rules to reflect the following (effective November 13, 2006):

• Offering to purchasers of the publication free or discounted access to archive/back content will not be considered a premium in the purchase of the publication.
• Offering to purchasers of the publication free or discounted online access to expanded content from the publication, provided the online access is from the same editorial home as the publication, will not be considered a premium in the purchase of the publication.

Posted 11/15/06