Rules & ResourcesFarm Publication Support Center
Revisions to the ABC Definition and Reporting of Paid Circulation & Summary of Reporting Format Changes
At the July 2003 meeting ABC’s board granted final passage to revise the definition of paid circulation for farm publications. Under the proposed rules, paid circulation would be defined as copies or subscriptions “sold at any price.”
In way of background, both the consumer magazine and business publication divisions adopted similar rules in July 2001.
In addition to a change in the definition of paid to be sold at any price, other key recommendations included in the final passage involve:
On the Front Page
The front page of the Publisher’s Statement provides general information about the publication including date publication was established, date of ABC membership, address, phone number, fax number, and Web site.
It may, at the publisher’s option, contain a cover page reproduction for one issue in the statement period.
Also, the “field served” is defined, the frequency of publication (weekly, monthly, etc.) is identified and the format (standard, tabloid or digest) of the publication is disclosed.
Paragraph 1 - Average Paid & Qualified Non-Paid Circulation
Paragraph 1 is consistent with ABC’s traditional report format.
This paragraph identifies the average subscription and single-copy circulation sold at any price, followed by the average qualified and non-qualified non-paid circulation.
Section 1A reports the frequency and average paid circulation for regional, metro or demographic editions served during the statement period.
Paragraph 2 - Paid, Qualified Non-Paid and Non-Qualified Circulation by Issues
Paragraph 2 is consistent with ABC’s traditional reporting format.
This paragraph reports paid circulation for each issue during the statement period, in total. Special issues are noted in this paragraph, but excluded from Paragraph 1 averages.
Paragraph 3 - Analyzed Issue
Paragraph 3 is consistent with ABC’s traditional format. For one issue in the Publisher’s Statement period, circulation as reported in Paragraph 2 is analyzed in two different ways.
Paragraph 3A - Optional Reporting - analyzes circulation by demographic information.
Paragraph 3B - Paid and Analyzed Non-Paid Circulation by the age of the most recent subscription order/request (age of source). The reporting of age of source data is optional for paid circulation.
Paragraph 4 - Geographic Analysis
Paragraph 4 (previously Paragraph 11) is consistent with ABC’s traditional reporting format.
This section will analyze circulation for an issue in the period by state and/or province.
ANALYSIS OF TOTAL NEW AND RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTIONS (Pars. 5-8)
(Previously Paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 7)
Paragraph 5 - Authorized Prices
This paragraph reports the basic subscription prices for subscriptions and single-copy, and quantifies the number of subscriptions sold during the six-month statement period. The quantity of sales is presented in a five-tier analysis as a percentage of the established basic price. The five-tier price categories reflect price paid net of premium values. All individual price points that generated five percent or more of the total sales during the statement period will be identified in the explanatory paragraph of the statement.
At the publisher’s option, this paragraph may also report average subscription price (net and/or gross). If the gross average price is reported, then the reporting of net average price is mandatory.
Net average price is defined as the average price the consumer paid for a subscription to the publication. The calculation excludes premium values and the dollars and copies associated with orders cancelled for non-payment.
Paragraph 6 - Duration of Subscriptions Sold
Paragraph 6 is consistent with ABC’s traditional reporting format. This paragraph analyzes subscriptions sold during the six-month statement period by the term of the subscription.
Paragraph 7 - Channels of Subscription Sales
Paragraph 7 is consistent with ABC’s traditional reporting format. This paragraph analyzes subscriptions sold during the six-month statement period by the method used to obtain the order.
Paragraph 8 - Use of Premiums
Paragraph 8 is consistent with ABC’s traditional reporting format. This paragraph identifies how many sales during the six-month period utilized premium inducements.
ADDITIONAL CIRCULATION INFORMATION (Pars. 9-10)
Paragraph 9 - Post-Expiration Copies Included in Paid Circulation
Paragraph 9 (previously Paragraph 8) is consistent with ABC’s traditional reporting format. This paragraph reports the average number of post-expiration copies served for the Publisher’s Statement period.
A change was made regarding the qualification of post-expiration copies relative to short-term subscriptions. For short-term subscriptions (less than one year), the number of post-expiration copies that may be served and included in paid circulation is limited to 25 percent of the term ordered, up to a maximum of three months.
Paragraph 10 - Five Year Annual Trends
This paragraph, compiled by ABC, reflects circulation trends over past five years.
Paragraph 11 - Explanatory
This paragraph (previously Paragraph 10) provides explanations that supplement other paragraphs throughout the statement.
Items disclosed in this paragraph include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Audit cycle
- Descriptions of circulation categories in Paragraph 1
- Authorized prices with five percent or more of total subscription sales (from Paragraph 5 data)
- Premium descriptions
The effective date for the rule changes will be July 1, 2003 with the first Publisher’s Statement being released for the six months ending December 31, 2003 period.
View a sample of the prototype statement. (PDF*)
For additional inquires contact your publisher relations manager at 847-605-0909.