Audit ServicesCirculation
CDVS vs. IVS
ABC’s new Insert Verification Service (IVS) and Coupon Distribution Verification Service (CDVS) are recommended for newspapers that incorporate coupons and/or free-standing inserts (FSI) into their advertising business. Together, these services can help newspapers increase their value to business partners and advertisers, and can improve newspapers’ internal process improvement and quality assurance.
Here is a brief overview of these two services:
| Coupon Distribution Verification Service (CDVS) | Insert Verification Service (IVS) |
| Focused on the security of cents-off coupons. | Focused on the distribution of FSIs. |
| CDVS was launched in 1980 and was developed by publishers, advertisers and coupon suppliers. | Launched in 2006, the Insert Verification Service was developed by U.S. publisher and advertiser members in conjunction with the Newspaper Association of America (NAA). |
| Coupon mis-redemption and fraud is a serious problem for many consumer product manufacturers. CDVS was designed to give coupon manufacturers independent verification of a newspaper's coupon handling procedures to industry-established guidelines. | FSIs can be a significant part of an advertiser’s total marketing investment. IVS was designed to provide advertisers with an independent verification that their preprints were delivered to the desired target. |
| CDVS results in a qualitative verification of whether a newspaper is handling cents-off coupons in a secure manner. | IVS results in a quantitative verification of the accuracy of a newspaper’s insert distribution processes. |
| CDVS verifies receipt, storage, and disposition of newspapers containing coupons. | IVS verifies FSI distribution by measuring the correct number of inserts and versions per package, and the accurate delivery to retail and home-delivery locations. |
| CDVS is conducted during a newspaper’s circulation audit. | IVS is conducted on any representative Sunday during the year. The publisher and ABC agree to the date chosen for the IVS in advance. The date does not necessarily correspond with a newspaper's circulation audit. |
| Recommended for any size newspaper. | Recommended for major metro newspapers. For other newspapers, a similar qualitative program is being developed. |
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