Rules & Resources
Newspaper Support Center

Home-Delivery Promotions Guidebook—U.S. Newspapers

Multiple Subscriptions to the Same Newspaper

A multiple subscription sale is defined as the sale of two or more subscriptions of the same newspaper to one individual, for personal use (not intended for resale).

If multiple subscriptions are being purchased by a business to promote their professional interests, then home-delivery rules do not apply, rather the sale is governed by the guidelines for third-party sales.

Pricing

Solicitations where a single individual is purchasing more than one subscription to the same newspaper in the same sale is governed by C 5.3 Combination Sales, section (b)(4).

This rule stipulates that a qualifying price is:

  • 100 percent of the subscription with the highest basic home-delivery price, plus
  • 25 percent of the basic price for each additional subscription.

Promotional Material

All promotional material must:

  • Identify the number of subscriptions involved in the sale.
  • State the term and frequency of each subscription.
  • State the purchase price.
  • Reflect a qualifying price.
  • Exclude any reference to any of the subscriptions as being free, no additional cost, bonus, or other synonymous language.

Examples—Multiple Subscriptions to the Same Newspaper

Reporting

Circulation generated from the sale of multiple subscriptions to the same newspaper 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.

Provided a qualifying price is paid for the sale, all of the subscription copies are included as sold at 50 percent or more of basic prices.

In Paragraph 2, the circulation is classified as Home Delivery, based on the specific ABC zone in which the sale to the consumer occurred.


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