Rules & Resources
Newspaper Support Center

Third-Party Sales Guidelines and Rules

(U.S. and Canadian Newspaper Publications)

DISTRIBUTION

Quantity to be Distributed

The purchaser will either buy subscriptions or single copies of the newspaper.

  • If subscriptions, the total quantity to be distributed for the third-party sale must be identified.

  • If single copies, the quantity of copies needs to be identified in one of the following ways:
    • Total for program (identify daily vs. Sunday)
    • Per day or week (identify daily vs. Sunday)
    • Per billing cycle (identify daily vs. Sunday)
For information on the limitations of third-party sales, please see Limitations.

Location where Copies will be Distributed

After determining the business purpose for why an entity would agree to purchase third-party sales and the audience it is targeting, the location where the distribution would be most advantageous to reach that target audience must be determined. The distribution location should align directly with the target audience the business is trying to reach.

The distribution locations can be divided into three categories:

  • On-site distribution (at the purchaser’s place of business)
  • Events (at local events that may draw the audience they want to reach)
  • Home-delivered (delivered to the homes of area residents)
On-Site Distribution
On-site distribution is when the third-party purchaser simply wants to distribute the newspapers at its own place of business. For example, if a restaurant purchased newspapers for its patrons, then the distribution would be made at the restaurant. If a hotel wanted to buy newspapers to distribute to its guests, then distribution would be made at the hotel.

If this is the case, then simply identify the distribution will be made at the purchaser’s place of business.

Events
When the third-party purchaser of newspapers wants to reach a specifically targeted audience, it may choose to distribute the newspapers at a local event where that audience is most likely to be present. For example, a golf store targeting golfers may wish to distribute newspapers at a local golf show event.

If this is the case, then you need to identify the name and location of that event.

Home-Delivered
Businesses may opt to distribute the newspapers to residences in a specific geographic area (town, ZIP codes, etc.).

The ABC board of directors adopted a guideline that stipulates third-party sales newspapers that are home-delivered must be distributed only to non-subscribing households

  • Newspapers delivering a Sunday “bulldog” edition as third-party sales, cannot distribute these newspapers to subscribers who normally receive a Sunday issue, as the “bulldog” is considered a Sunday edition.
If copies or subscriptions will be home-delivered, it is necessary to list the specific geographic area of distribution (ZIP codes, towns, counties, etc.) on the Notification Form.

When Distribution will Occur

Copies may be distributed on a specific date(s) or regularly over the course of a long period of time.

You will need to identify the timing of distribution in one of three ways:

The specific date(s) distribution will occur and whether this is daily, Sunday or both

OR

A date range, such as Jan. 1, 2006 – Dec. 31, 2006, that also notes the days of the week when distribution will occur (e.g., Mon only, Mon-Fri, 7-day)

OR

The subscription term and frequency in cases where the purchaser is buying a subscription (e.g., eight-week Sunday-only subscription, one-week Mon-Fri subscription)

The ABC board of directors adopted a guideline that stipulates distribution of the third-party sales newspapers must occur on the date of the issue. Delivery of Sunday newspapers on Monday or any other later day of the week is not acceptable. For example, newspapers for July 12 must be distributed to recipients on July 12.





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