Single-Copy Promotions Guidebook—Canadian Newspapers

Coffee and Newspaper Concept

A newspaper may choose to sell a single issue of the newspaper in conjunction with a non-newspaper product, such as a coffee. The circulation generated from these sales may be claimed as single copy on ABC documents provided the program complies with all ABC standards governing this type of program.

This coffee and a newspaper concept applies when:

• A single issue of a newspaper and a non-newspaper product (such as coffee, donut, soda, etc.) are being sold together as a package deal for a single price, and
• Neither the newspaper nor the non-newspaper product is being stated or inferred to as free, no additional cost, no extra charge or other synonymous language.

If your program is positioning the non-newspaper product (such as coffee) as free with the purchase of a newspaper, then the premium rules apply. Therefore, please see the section regarding premiums.

If your program is positioning the newspaper as free with the purchase of a non-newspaper product (such as coffee), then classification of those papers as single copy is not applicable. Rather, please consult the guidelines for third-party sales.

Pricing

When offering a newspaper and a coffee (or other non-newspaper product) for a single price, the selling price must equal at least one cent, plus the full value of the coffee.

The value of the coffee is the highest price at which the coffee is being sold to consumers without the purchase of a newspaper, during the time of the promotion.

The difference between the package price and the price of the coffee (or other non-newspaper product) separately is considered the implied value of the newspaper. It is this implied value that must equal no less than one cent.

The newspaper sold separately from the package does not have to be sold at a discount.

Promotional Material

All promotional material must:

• State the items involved in the purchase (newspaper and non-newspaper product).
• State the selling price for the package.
• Identify the price at which the non-newspaper product will be sold separately to everyone during the entire time of the circulation promotion.
• Reflect a qualifying price.
• Exclude any reference to any of the items in the package as being free, no additional cost, bonus, or other synonymous language.

Examples—Coffee and Newspaper Concept

Reporting

Circulation generated from single issues sold with a non-newspaper product is classified as single copy on the ABC Publisher's Statement.

Canadian Publisher's Statements delineate between circulation sold at 50 percent or more of basic prices and circulation sold at less than 50 percent of basic prices.

The price classification for single issues sold with a non-newspaper product is based on the implied value of the newspaper (the package price less the retail value of the non-newspaper product).

• If the implied value of the newspaper is 50 percent or more of basic prices, the circulation is included in Paragraph 1A.
  
  
• If the implied value of the newspaper is less than 50 percent of basic prices, the circulation is included in Paragraph 1B, with further disclosure in Paragraph 1G.

In Paragraph 2, the circulation is classified in the proper reporting zone based on where the copies were purchased by the consumer.