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Single-Copy Promotions Guidebook—U.S. Newspapers (Effective April 1, 2009 - September 30, 2010)

Combination Sales

A single-copy combination sale is defined as:

  • The sale of a single issue of two or more different publications as a package.
  • Each publication in the sale is a priced product.
  • The combination package is sold for a single price.

A newspaper may be sold in combination with another newspaper or a periodical.

Three-stack Policy

For all single-copy venues where a newspaper is sold in a combination package, ABC requires each publication be made available for purchase separately. This requirement is often referred to as the “three-stack” policy. There would need to be three stacks from which the consumer may choose – 1) combination package, 2) Publication A separately, 3) Publication B separately.

This three-stack policy applies to all of the various types of single-copy outlets where the combination package is sold including retailers, vending machines and hawkers.

Pricing

The selling price of the combination package must be at least one cent per publication. However, each publication must be available for sale separately, as noted above. The individual selling prices must be at least one cent less than the combination price.

Promotional Material

All promotional material must:

  • State the publications involved in the combination.
  • State the selling price for the combination package.
  • Reflect a qualifying price.
  • Exclude any reference to any of the publications in the package as being free, no additional cost, bonus, or other synonymous language.

Examples—Combination Sales

Reporting

Circulation generated from single-copy combination sales is reflected in Paragraphs 1A and 2 of the ABC Publisher’s Statement.

In Paragraph 1A, the circulation is classified as Single-Copy Sales under Paid for by Individual Recipients.

In Paragraph 2, the circulation is classified as Single Copy (Individual), based on the specific ABC zone where the sale to the consumer occurred.

See also Rule C 5.3 Combination Sales



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