Rules & Resources
Newspaper Support Center

Home-Delivery Promotions Guidebook—U.S. Newspapers

Frequency Conversions (Upgrades)

A frequency conversion (upgrade) is defined as an increase in a current subscriber’s frequency of delivery. This means increasing the number of days in a week the subscriber receives the newspaper. There are two types of upgrades:

  • Forced upgrade
  • Voluntary upgrade

Note: The expiration date of the subscription should not be extended as the result of a conversion unless it is done in conjunction with renewal or billing efforts where the consumer is contracting for a new, extended term.

Qualification

Forced Upgrades
A forced upgrade is when the newspaper is eliminating a subscriber’s current frequency of delivery and needs to begin service of a new frequency as a replacement. By eliminating the frequency, the newspaper is forcing the subscriber to receive a new upgraded frequency. For all the copies distributed as a result of the forced upgrade, the following is required:

  • A frequency may be eliminated for one or multiple ABC zones. However, the frequency must be eliminated throughout an entire zone.
  • After the date the frequency is eliminated, no subscriber may remain on the eliminated frequency for any reason.
  • The former frequency must not be reinstated for a period of at least three months.
  • All subscribers having their frequency eliminated must be notified of the change.
  • The notification may not state that any of the additional days of delivery are free, no additional cost, no extra charge, bonus, or other synonymous language. Rather, it should state the additional days are included with the cost of the current paid subscription.
  • See Rule C 5.13 Subscription Offer Based on Acceptance Unless Declined.

Voluntary Upgrades
A voluntary upgrade is when the newspaper is not eliminating a subscriber’s frequency, but is simply making an effort to get the subscriber to voluntarily increase their frequency of delivery. For all copies distributed as a result of the voluntary upgrade, the following is required:

  • The subscriber must take affirmative action (opt-in) to receive the increase in delivery service.
  • The solicitation effort to the subscriber may not state that any of the additional days of delivery are free, no additional cost, no extra charge, bonus, or other synonymous language. Rather, it should state the additional days are included with the cost of the current paid subscription.

Pricing

The amount of money originally paid by the subscriber must equal no less than 25 percent of the basic prices for the new frequency received as the result of an upgrade (forced and voluntary).

For example, if a customer was a Sunday-only subscriber, and will now receive weekend delivery (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), the amount the consumer originally paid for their Sunday-only subscription must equal no less than 25 percent or more of the basic prices for the weekend frequency.

Promotional Material

For a forced conversion, all notifications to the subscriber must:
  • State the current frequency has been eliminated and identify the new frequency that will be delivered.
  • Identify the date the frequency change is effective.
  • Exclude any reference to the additional days of delivery as being free, no additional cost, bonus, or other synonymous language. Rather, it should state that the additional days are included with the cost of the current paid subscription.
For a voluntary conversion, the promotional material must:
  • State the new frequency (or frequency options) being offered.
  • Require the subscriber to take affirmative action to accept the upgrade (opt-in).
  • Exclude any reference to the additional days of delivery as being free, no additional cost, bonus, or other synonymous language. Rather, it should state that the additional days are included with the cost of the current paid subscription.

Examples—Frequency Conversions (Upgrades)

Reporting

Circulation generated from home-delivery frequency conversions, both forced and voluntary, is reflected in Paragraphs 1A, and 2 of the ABC Publisher’s Statement.

In Paragraph 1A, the circulation is classified as Home Delivery under Paid for by Individual Recipients. For individually paid circulation, ABC requires a newspaper to delineate between circulation sold at 50 percent or more of basic prices and circulation sold at less than 50 percent, but at least 25 percent of basic prices. Therefore, as of the effective date of the frequency conversion, the subscription copies should be included in the appropriate price category based on the amount the subscriber originally paid as compared to the basic prices for the new frequency of delivery.

In Paragraph 2, the circulation is classified as Home Delivery, based on the specific ABC zone where the copies are delivered to the subscriber.

For forced conversions only, Paragraph 6B will disclose the conversions that occurred during the period covered by the statement. For each forced conversion that occurred, the disclosure will state the former frequency, the new frequency, the number of subscribers converted, the impact on paid circulation, the effective date of the change, and the ABC zone(s) in which the conversion occurred.


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