Transfer of Subscription List - Final Passage November 2006

On occasion, ABC receives requests from newspaper members looking to acquire a subscriber list from a ceasing newspaper. The active newspaper looking to acquire the list would like to assume the outstanding copy liability remaining on the subscriber accounts from the ceased newspaper.

The current rule governing this type of transaction requires that the subscribers of the ceased publication be given a choice of either receiving the active newspaper as a replacement for their outstanding term or be provided with a full refund – unless both newspapers were published in the same community.

At its July 2006 meeting, the board gave first passage to require a refund only if the ceased newspaper was published outside the DMA or 100-mile radius of the active newspaper.

Final passage to this rule modification was granted at the November 2006 board meeting, to be effective November 13, 2006.

See also: Rule C 5.15 Purchase of Subscription List

Updated 11/29/06