Owned by the media industry, ABC independently verifies and reports on media performance, providing a major trading currency for media owners and buyers across print, events, digital and evolving platforms.
What does ABC measure?
ABC provides detailed circulation, distribution, attendance, traffic and related data across a broad range of media platforms including:
- National, regional and free newspapers
- Consumer and B2B magazines
- Consumer and trade exhibitions
- Digital media such as web, email, video and audio, podcasts, databases, directories, adserving etc.
All ABC data is prepared to independent, industry-agreed standards. This provides comparability, trust and facilitates efficient trading.
ABC has two roles within the media industry:
Firstly it sets and maintains the Reporting Standards via the coordination of the Reporting Standards Groups.
Secondly it audits media owners' claims to check that the data is compliant to these industry-agreed standards.
The Reporting Standards are the industry-agreed rules by which ABC data is prepared and reported by media owners.
Who owns ABC?
Our members do! ABC is run by the media industry. It is governed by a Council of permanent and elected representatives from advertisers, media buyers, media owners and trade bodies. The Council makes decisions on how ABC is run as well as agreeing any changes to the Reporting Standards and fee charges.
Industry bodies represented on the ABC council are:
ABC is a non-profit distributing organisation. All profits are invested back into the business for the benefit of the industry.
ABCe
ABCe certifies digital media such as web traffic and downloads. ABCe audits these and evolving platforms to ensure they conform to industry-agreed standards. These standards and proposed changes are agreed by JICWEBS (Joint Industry Committee for Web Standards, www.jicwebs.org) which comprises the following industry bodies:
IFABC
ABC is a founder member of the International Federation of ABCs (IFABC) which forms a global network of audit bureaux from 34 countries around the world.
For more information please visit www.ifabc.org
Importance for advertisers/media buyers
- ABC independently verifies a media owner’s circulation, attendance or traffic data to ensure advertisers and media buyers can have complete trust in their claims.
- This provides confidence that advertising budgets are being spent effectively.
- In addition an ABC and ABCe certificate is full of valuable information providing accurate and comparable data for use in buying decisions.
Importance for media owners
- The ABC and ABCe logos are recognised throughout the industry as a mark of integrity.
- An ABC and ABCe certificate gives added credibility and demonstrates a media owner’s willingness to be audited and to confirm to industry agreed standards.
- ABC and ABCe certification provides an effective sales and marketing tool.
Value of ABC
In the current economic climate ABC is more relevant than ever before. Advertisers and media buyers need accountability for their spend.