Rules & Resources
Newspaper Support Center
Share |

Electronic Editions—U.S. Newspapers (Effective April 1, 2009 through September 30, 2011)

Home Delivery

For information on how home-delivery electronic editions should be disclosed on ABC documents, please refer to the Reporting section on electronic editions.

Free Electronic Edition to Print Subscribers

A newspaper publication may wish to provide a free electronic subscription to print subscribers.

If the newspaper would normally charge for that electronic edition, the ABC board ruled that it would not be subject to premium rules. This means the publication may promote the electronic edition to print subscribers as “free,” “no additional cost,” “no extra charge,” etc. Providing a free electronic subscription to print subscribers will not impact the qualification of the print subscription, however, the electronic edition may not be claimed as paid circulation.

HD Example #1:

“Buy a one-year seven-day print subscription for only $50, and get access to the electronic edition absolutely free!”

In this scenario, the print edition may be claimed as paid circulation since it is paid for at no less than one cent. The electronic edition is being given as a bonus, so the electronic edition may not be claimed as paid, but also is not considered a premium.

Selling an Electronic Edition Subscription on Its Own

A newspaper publication may wish to sell subscriptions to their electronic editions to consumers who are not already print subscribers.

In cases where a newspaper is offering a consumer a subscription to only an e-edition, an amount of no less than one cent must be collected.

If premiums are offered, then the premium rule (C 5.2 Premiums) applies, which requires collection of a qualifying price for the newspaper plus the full value of the premium.

HD Example #2:

“Buy a one-year, seven-day electronic subscription for only $50 – it’s an easy and convenient way to read the newspaper every day!”

In this scenario, the electronic edition circulation may be claimed as paid since it is paid for at no less than one cent.



HD Example #3:

“Buy a one-year, seven-day electronic subscription for only $100 – it’s an easy and convenient way to read the newspaper every day! Act now and we’ll also throw in a $15 gift card to Best Buy!”

In this scenario, the gift card is a premium. The minimum that has to be collected is $15.01 ($15 gift card + one cent). Since the consumer is paying $100—which exceeds the minimum price requirements then the circulation for the e-edition may be claimed as paid.

Selling a “Hybrid” Subscription

A “hybrid” subscription is one where a newspaper offers a consumer a single subscription, but some days of the week the subscription is delivered via electronic edition, while the remaining days of the week are delivered in print.

In a hybrid subscription, the consumer is only receiving a single subscription, which means the print and electronic delivery do NOT overlap on any days of the week. For example, a newspaper may offer a seven-day subscription to a subscriber where Monday through Saturday is delivered in electronic format and Sunday is delivered in print format.

To qualify as paid circulation, an amount of no less than one cent must be collected.

The newspaper may not position any days of the week as “free,” “no additional cost,” “no extra charge,” or other synonymous language.

If premiums are offered with a hybrid subscription, then the premium rule (C 5.2 Premiums) applies, which requires collection of a qualifying price for the newspaper plus the full value of the premium.

HD Example #4:

“You can get Monday through Saturday online and Sunday in print all for only $70 a year! That’s convenient and easy online access for Monday through Saturday, while still getting the Sunday paper with all its coupons, comics, etc. in print.”

In this scenario, the consumer is getting a seven-day subscription—part will be fulfilled with the electronic edition and part with the print edition. Since the consumer is paying $70—which exceeds the minimum price requirements—then the circulation for all seven days of the week may be claimed as paid.



HD Example #5:

“You can get Monday through Saturday online and Sunday in print all for only $70 a year! That’s convenient and easy online access for Monday through Saturday, while still getting the Sunday paper with all its coupons, comics, etc. in print. But wait, there’s more…we’ll also give you a $30 gift card to Circuit City just for subscribing!”

In this scenario, the gift card is a premium. The minimum that has to be collected is $30.01 ($30 gift card + one cent). Since the consumer is paying $70—which exceeds the minimum price requirements—then the circulation for all seven days of the week may be claimed as paid.


Selling Both a Print and Electronic Subscription to the Same Individual

Newspaper publishers may decide to sell both a print and electronic subscription to the same individual, and desire to claim circulation from both subscriptions as paid on ABC documents. The key to this program is that the subscriber will receive both a print and electronic newspaper on the same day(s) of the week and both are intended to be claimed as paid circulation on ABC documents.

When two or more subscriptions of the same newspaper are being sold together (regardless of the delivery format), then the rule governing multiple subscriptions applies (C 5.3 Combination Sales, section (b)(2)).

This rule requires collection of no less than one cent per subscription. It also requires the promotional material to include an option for the consumer to purchase only a single subscription for less than the multiple sales price.

The newspaper may not position either subscription as being “free,” “no additional cost,” “no extra charge,” or other synonymous language.

HD Example #6:

“Get a one-year, seven-day print subscription and 24/7 online access to our e-edition for a year all for only $75! Or get just a one-year, seven-day print subscription for $70."

The multiple subscription price is $75, which exceeds the pricing requirement of one cent per subscription. In addition, the promotion includes an option for the consumer to purchase only a single subscription for less than the multiple sales price.



HD Example #7:

"Get a one-year, seven-day print subscription for the low price of only $70! And add 24/7 online access to our e-edition for only another $5! What a deal!"

In this scenario, each subscription is being offered independently (not as a bundle). Therefore, the promotion is acceptable provided each subscription is sold for at least one cent.


Utilizing Electronic Editions When Offering a Frequency Upgrade

A newspaper publisher may wish to upgrade a subscriber’s frequency of delivery (FOD). There are two types of upgrades:

  1. Forced Conversion (When an FOD is being eliminated)
  2. Frequency Upgrade (Upgrade at discretion of the newspaper)

Please see the Home Delivery Promotions Guide for the complete qualification guidelines for conversions and upgrades.

A newspaper may not change the delivery format of a subscription. Rather, it must be the decision of the subscriber, regardless if the frequency was eliminated or not. So, if a print subscriber is receiving an upgrade, all additional days of service must also be served in print format until the person is contacted, is asked, and agrees to receive the change in service in a different (electronic) format.

HD Example 8:

"Dear Sunday-only subscribers,
We're sorry to inform you that we have eliminated our Sunday-only service. We'll now be serving you seven-day delivery included with the cost of your current paid subscription. Don't want Mon-Sat in print? No problem. Just call us at 1-800-UPGRADE if you wish to receive Mon-Sat via access to our electronic edition. If we don't hear from you, we'll service all seven days of delivery in print."

The Sunday-only subscribers are being forced to seven-day delivery. However, the default format for all seven days is print. The newspaper may entice the subscriber to receive the e-edition, however, it may only be used to fulfill the upgrade if the subscriber calls to switch delivery format. It is the subscriber, not the publication that must make that decision.



HD Example 9:

"Dear Sunday-only subscribers,
You have been such a loyal subscriber that beginning next Monday, July 27th, you will receive seven-day delivery included with the cost of your current paid subscription. Don't want Mon-Sat in print? No problem. Just call us at 1-800-UPGRADE if you wish to receive Mon-Sat via access to our electronic edition. If we don't hear from you, we'll serve all seven days of delivery in print. Don't want the upgrade at all? Just call us at 1-800-OPTOUT1 to inform us that you wish to opt-out of this great offer."

The Sunday-only subscribers are being provided with seven-day delivery. However, the default delivery format for all seven days is print. The newspaper may entice the subscriber to receive the e-edition, however, it may only be used to fulfill the upgrade if the subscriber calls to switch delivery format. It is the subscriber, not the publication that must make that decision. Since the frequency is not being elminated, the subscriber must also be given the opportunity to opt-out of the upgrade completely.



Intermittent Circulation (Bonus Days)

ABC does not permit the use of electronic editions to fulfill bonus day service for print subscribers.



Return to main Electronic Editions page