Rules & ResourcesNewspaper Support Center
Electronic Editions—U.S. Newspapers
Home Delivery
- Free electronic edition to print subscribers
- Selling an electronic edition subscription on its own
- Selling a “hybrid” subscription
- Selling both a print and electronic subscription to the same individual
- Utilizing electronic editions when offering a frequency upgrade
- Intermittent Circulation (Bonus Days)
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. Therefore, providing a free electronic subscription to print subscribers will not impact the qualification of the print subscription in any way. However, the electronic edition may not be claimed as paid circulation, since it is provided at no cost.
HD Example #1:
Assume the newspaper’s seven-day, one-year subscription basic price is $100.
“Buy a one-year seven-day print subscription for only $25, 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 25 percent of basic prices. 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 25 percent of basic prices 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.
If two or more subscriptions of the same newspaper are being sold together, then the rule governing multiple subscriptions applies (C 5.3 Combination Sales, section (b)(4)). This requires collection of no less than 100 percent of the basic price for the highest priced subscription, plus no less than 25 percent of basic price for each additional subscription.
HD Example #2:
Assume the newspaper’s seven-day, one-year subscription basic price is $100.
“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 50 percent of basic price (which exceeds the 25 percent minimum).
HD Example #3:
Assume the newspaper’s seven-day, one-year subscription basic price is $100.
“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 $40 (25 percent of basic price = $25 + $15 gift card). Since the consumer is paying $100—which exceeds the minimum price requirements then the circulation for the e-edition may be claimed as paid.
HD Example #4:
Assume the newspaper’s seven-day, one-year subscription basic price is $100.
“Buy a one-year, seven-day electronic subscription for only $100—it’s an easy and convenient way to read the newspaper every day! It’s so convenient, you should buy one for a friend too—for only an additional $25!”
The minimum to collect is $125 (100 percent of the basic price for one subscription, plus no less than 25 percent of the basic price for the second subscription). Since the consumer is paying a total of $125 both subscriptions, then minimum price requirements are met and circulation for both electronic subscriptions 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.
In cases where a newspaper is offering a consumer a hybrid subscription, an amount of no less than 25 percent of basic prices must be collected for the frequency being delivered.
A “hybrid frequency” may not be established for the purpose of basic prices. For example, a newspaper may not establish one set of basic prices for a seven-day print subscription and a separate set of basic prices for a seven-day hybrid. Only one set of home-delivery basic prices for a seven-day frequency may be established (by ABC zone) and at least 25 percent of these prices must be collected for all seven-day subscriptions regardless if they are print only, electronic only or a hybrid.
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 #5:
Assume the newspaper’s seven-day, one-year subscription basic price is $100.
“You can get Monday through Saturday online and Sunday in print all for only $50 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. The seven-day basic price for one year is $100, so an offer at $50 would qualify. Therefore, the circulation for all seven days of the week may be claimed as paid (as it exceeds the 25 percent minimum).
HD Example #6:
Assume the newspaper’s seven-day, one-year subscription basic price is $100.
“You can get Monday through Saturday online and Sunday in print all for only $100 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 $55 (25 percent of basic price = $25 plus $30 gift card). Since the consumer is paying $100—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 publication intends to claim both subscriptions as paid circulation.
Subscriptions to both the print and electronic editions by the same individual (and both to be claimed as paid) results in two subscriptions to the same newspaper, even though one may be delivered in print and the other electronically. If two or more subscriptions of the same newspaper are being sold together, then the rule governing multiple subscriptions applies (C 5.3 Combination Sales, section (b)(4)).
This rule requires collection of no less than 100 percent of the basic price for the highest priced subscription, plus no less than 25 percent of basic price for each additional subscription.
The newspaper may not position either subscription as being “free,” “no additional cost,” “no extra charge,” or other synonymous language. Also, due to the price requirements stipulated in the above-mentioned rule, “two-for-one” offers are not acceptable.
HD Example #7:
Assume the newspaper’s seven-day, one-year subscription basic price is $100.
“Buy a one-year, seven-day print subscription for only $100 and get a one year seven-day electronic subscription for only an additional $25!”
In this scenario, the consumer is getting two subscriptions to the same newspaper—one is electronic and one is print. A qualifying price to allow both subscriptions to be claimed as paid circulation is $125 (100 percent of the basic price for one subscription plus 25 percent of the basic price for the additional subscription) Since the consumer is paying $125—which equals or exceeds the minimum price requirements—then the circulation for both subscriptions may be claimed as paid.
HD Example #8:
Assume the newspaper’s seven-day, one-year subscription basic price is $100.
“Buy a one-year, seven-day print subscription for only $75 and get a one year seven-day only electronic subscription for only an additional $50!”
Again, the consumer is getting two subscriptions to the same newspaper. In this scenario, one subscription is promoted as $75 and the other as $50. However, the grand total paid by the consumer is still $125. Since the consumer is paying $125—which equals or exceeds the minimum price requirements—then the circulation for both subscriptions may be claimed as paid.
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:
- “Forced” upgrade
- “Voluntary” upgrade
In either case, a newspaper may wish to fulfill the service of the upgraded days by utilizing electronic editions.
“Forced” Upgrades
A forced upgrade is when the newspaper is eliminating a subscriber’s frequency of delivery (FOD). The newspaper will force the subscriber to receive another (upgraded) frequency of delivery as a replacement for the service being eliminated.
When a frequency is eliminated, the newspaper may begin service of another frequency without the subscriber’s agreement. However:
- Since the consumer does not have to agree to the upgrade in frequency, the choice to receive the upgraded delivery in electronic format must be the decision of the subscriber, not the publication. In the solicitation effort, the publication may highlight the positive assets of the electronic edition, but ultimately, the choice to receive an electronic or print edition must be that of the subscriber.
- If the publication tries to contact the subscriber to give them the choice of a print or electronic and no response is received, or if the publication does not contact the subscriber at all regarding format, then the newspaper must distribute print as the default for the upgraded service.
HD Example #9:
“Dear Sunday only subscribers,
We are sorry to inform you that we no longer offer a Sunday-only service. Therefore, we will now be serving you seven-day delivery included with the cost of your current paid subscription. To make your service even better, we can offer you our convenient and easy to use electronic edition for the Monday through Saturday delivery. This way, you get the paper seven days a week, but still only the print copy on Sunday.
In this scenario, the newspaper is eliminating its Sunday-only frequency. As a replacement, they are going to force all Sunday-only subscribers to a seven-day frequency. Although the subscriber may be forced to receive all seven days of service, they cannot be forced to receive Monday through Saturday electronically. They can be enticed to receive Monday through Saturday via an electronic edition, but the subscriber, not the publication, must make the final decision as to delivery format. The default must be print if the subscriber does not respond.
“Voluntary” Upgrades
A voluntary upgrade is when the newspaper is not eliminating a subscriber’s frequency, but rather wants to make an effort to get the subscriber to voluntarily increase their frequency of delivery.
When a frequency is not eliminated, the newspaper must:
- Ask the subscriber if they wish to receive upgraded service. The subscriber must agree to have their frequency upgraded.
- The publication may offer the upgraded service in either electronic or print format.
HD Example #10:
“Dear Sunday-only subscribers,
We have a great deal for you! You can get all seven days of our newspaper included with the cost of your current paid subscription. Concerned about all that paper? No worries—we are offering you Monday through Saturday delivery via our convenient and easy to access electronic edition!
"You can get all the news, sports, and local information for Monday through Saturday online and continue receiving the print copy of the Sunday paper so you still get all the coupons, comics and classifieds right at your doorstep.
"If you are interested in this great offer, call 1-800-UPGRADE or fill out and return the form below and we’ll get your Monday through Saturday online delivery started immediately!”
Since the newspaper is not eliminating the Sunday-only frequency, then the consumer must voluntarily agree to accept and receive the upgrade. Since the consumer has to take affirmative action to receive the upgrade, then the newspaper may offer the electronic edition for the upgraded days of delivery. If the consumer does not want the e-edition, they would simply not respond to the offer.
Additional Reminders for Upgrades
The newspaper may not position the upgraded days of delivery as “free,” “no additional cost,” “no extra charge,” or other synonymous language. Rather, they must be presented to the subscriber as “included with the cost of your current subscription.”
The publisher may claim all circulation associated with the upgraded service as paid provided the above requirements are met and the amount of money originally paid by the subscriber equates to no less than 25 percent of the basic prices for the FOD they will receive as a result of the upgrade.
Subscriptions where some days of the week are delivered in print and other days of the week are delivered electronically are often referred to as “hybrid” subscriptions. A “hybrid frequency” may not be established for the purpose of basic prices. For example, a newspaper may not establish one set of basic prices for a seven-day print subscription and a separate set of basic prices for a seven-day hybrid. Only one set of home-delivery basic prices for a seven-day frequency may be established (by ABC zone) and at least 25 percent of these prices must be collected for all seven-day subscriptions regardless if they are print only, electronic only or a hybrid.
When eliminating a frequency and therefore a forced upgrade is executed, the frequency being eliminated must remain eliminated for at least three months. See also C 5.13 Subscription Offer Based on Acceptance Unless Declined.
Intermittent Circulation (Bonus Days)
ABC does not permit the use of electronic editions to fulfill intermittent circulation service for subscribers who receive print subscriptions.
If a subscriber receives the electronic edition only, then intermittent circulation may be serviced via the electronic edition.
See also ABC’s guidelines for Intermittent Circulation (Bonus Days).
For information on how home-delivery electronic editions should be disclosed on ABC documents, please refer to the Reporting section on electronic editions.