Rules & ResourcesNewspaper Support Center
Intermittent Subscriptions (Bonus Days) - U.S. Newspapers (Effective April 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010)
Definition
Delivery
Subscriber Notification
Pricing
Reporting
Limitation
See also Rule C 2.11 Intermittent Subscriptions
Definition
Intermittent circulation is defined as the occasional delivery of issues (home-delivered) that were not specifically identified as part of a new or renewing contract between the publication and the subscriber. Said another way, it is any issue serviced to a home-delivery subscriber that the order/renewal solicitation presented to the consumer at the point of purchase did not specify as being included with the order.
Provided the qualification requirements are met, the copies delivered as intermittent circulation may be claimed as paid circulation on ABC documents (See Reporting).
Delivery
When a newspaper decides to serve a bonus day, they must determine which frequencies (Sunday only, Sat/Sun, Fri/Sat/Sun, etc.) and which ABC zones (City, RTZ, NDM, etc.) are going to receive the intermittent circulation.
Once the newspaper determines the frequency(s) to receive service and the ABC zone(s) for which these frequency(s) will be served, then ALL (100% of) home-delivery subscribers to that frequency(s) in that ABC zone(s) must receive the intermittent issue.
ABC does not permit the use of electronic editions for the service of intermittent circulation to print subscribers.
Subscriber Notification
ABC rules require the newspaper to notify those individuals who will receive the bonus day service. The notification must meet the following requirements:
- Communicated 14 days in advance of the delivery date.
- Indicate the specific date(s) of the intermittent service.
- Cannot state nor imply the intermittent service is “free,” “no additional cost,” “no extra charge” or other synonymous language. (Should be represented as “included with the cost of your paid subscription.")
- Executed in written form—the price box of the newspaper, via a letter to the subscribers, a flyer topped on their newspaper by the carrier, etc. If the price box is used for notification, then it must appear on a date when the recipient of the bonus day would normally receive the paper.
Example: Not Acceptable
“All Sunday-only subscribers will also receive every Monday issue in the NFL season at no additional cost.”
This notification is unacceptable for two reasons: 1) the delivery is positioned as no additional cost and 2) stating “NFL season” is not sufficient, rather it would need to say something like “every Monday from September 1 through January 31.”
Example: Acceptable
“All Sunday -only subscribers will receive delivery of the July 4 and Labor Day issues included with the cost of your paid subscription.”
This is acceptable as the specific dates are identified and this additional delivery is not represented as free.
Pricing
All subscribers receiving intermittent service must have paid at least one cent for the term and frequency they are receiving.
Reporting
When intermittent service equals seven or fewer days in any Publisher’s Statement period, no specific disclosure of this circulation is required. All intermittent circulation shall be included in “Home Delivery.”
When intermittent service equals or exceeds eight days in any Publisher’s Statement period the intermittent circulation should be disclosed as follows:
- Paragraphs 1A, & 2: Separate line item “Intermittent Subscriptions”
- Paragraph 6B: List of all bonus days (dates) and total number of copies served as intermittent circulation for each date
Limitation
For the 12-month period of April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2010, a maximum of 50 bonus days may be claimed as paid circulation.
For the 12-month period of April 1, 2010, to March 31, 2011, a maximum of 25 bonus days may be claimed as paid circulation.
As of April 1, 2011, copies delivered to residences that were not included in the frequency at the time of order will be classified as verified circulation.
Posted 02/16/09
