Click on the letters below for a glossary of terms used on ABC print certificates.
For full details of all terms please refer to the ABC Reporting Standards documents. For electronic media terms and definitions please refer to our jargon buster.
For an outline of all information shown on ABC and ABCe certificates, download our certificate explained guides.
- A
- Actively Purchased Circulation
- Definition: Actively Purchased is a term used in the consumer magazine category broadly to describe those copies purchased by an individual. The Actively Purchased figure is the sum of the copies claimed as Newstrade and Single Copy Sales and Single Copy Subscriptions categories. It is reported as a figure and as a percentage of the Total Average Net Circulation.
- B
- Bulk Sales
- Definition:Bulk Sales (sometimes referred to as 'Multiple Copy Sales') are copies sold in bulk to a third party usually for onward free distribution to individuals.
In some sectors Bulk Sales may be split into those sold on a regular basis and those sold on a one-off or irregular basis. In most sectors Regular Bulk Sales must be sold for a minimum of 1p/1 cent per copy but Issue Specific Bulk Sales generally must be sold for a higher minimum amount per copy.
Most sectors provide further analysis of Bulk Sales, for example by type. Examples of Bulk Sales claimed include sales to hotels and airlines that purchase copies and supply them free to their customers.
- C
- Controlled Circulation
- Definition: These are copies sent free to individuals who meet a defined criteria set by the publisher to define its target audience. The publisher must retain third party evidence to prove individuals claimed as Controlled Circulation meet the stated Terms of Control which is reported on the certificate.
Controlled Circulation is broken down into:
Individually requested copies: copies the recipient has personally requested
Company requested copies: copies requested for the recipient by one of their work colleagues
Non-requested copies: copies not requested but which the publisher can prove meets the reported Terms of Control
- Corporate Subscription Sales
- Definition: Reported in the national newspaper sector these are copies purchased for a defined period by an employer for its employees solely for the purpose of them carrying out their work duties. Copies purchased by an organization for their customers cannot be claimed in this category.
- D
- Digital Editions
- Definition: A digital edition is defined as a replica of a print publication distributed electronically (either viewed on screen or sent as a PDF). They can be reported as a stand-alone figure in all print sectors but can only be included in the average circulation with print copies in the business magazine sector.
- E
- Edition
- Definition: A version of a publication with changed advertising and/or editorial content which may need to have its circulation figures broken out or even certified separately, depending on the requirements of the sector and the extent of the changes.
Please see also: digital editions, special editions and sports edition sales.
- Excluded Issues
- Definition: As a general rule all issues of a publication must be included in a publication's average circulation for a period. However a publisher may be permitted to exclude some issues ('excluded issues') from the average circulation due to official public holidays or issues such as press breakdowns for example. The rules differ between sectors, with some excluded issues requiring ABC written approval. Excluded issues are reported on the certificate.
- F
- Free Pickup Copies
- Definition: Free Pick Up Copies is a term used for copies delivered in bulk to specified distribution points where they are either left for free pick up by individuals or handed out to individuals. The general principle is that free pick up copies must be regular in quantity, frequency and types of distribution point.
Depending on the requirements of the sector, copies are claimed either as net (copies picked up by end user), gross (the number of copies delivered in bulk to the distribution point) or capped (where the number of copies that can be claimed is limited to a set level). The certificate will indicate how the copies are claimed.
- Free Requested, Posted Copies
- Definition: Reported in the regional publication sector these are copies that have been personally requested by an individual and have been delivered individually to their address by a third party.
- Free Letterbox Delivery
- Definition: Reported in the regional publication sector these are free copies delivered individually through letterboxes. The general principle is that the distribution must be regular to a defined area. As well as the evidence of where the copies are being distributed to, the publisher must undertake 'back check;' research to test whether addresses are receiving the publication.
- Full Rate Circulation
- Definition: In the national newspaper sector ‘Full Rate Circulation’ is a category showing copies purchased (including Newstrade, Single Copy Sales and Paid Postal Subscriptions) by individuals at the basic cover price.
Please see also: Lesser rate Circulation and Total Average Net Circulation.
- I
- Issue Specific Bulk Sales
- Definition: These are copies sold in bulk on a one-off or irregular basis usually for onward free distribution to individuals
Please see also: Bulk Sales
- L
- Lesser Rate Circulation
- Definition: In the national newspaper sector ’Lesser Rate Circulation’ is a category showing copies purchased (including Newstrade, Single Copy Sales and Paid Postal Subscriptions) by individuals at less than the basic cover price.
Please see also : Full Rate Circulation
- M
- Monitored Free Distribution
- Definition: This is the description of the category for Free Pick up copies in the consumer magazine sector.
Please see Free Pick Up Copies
- Multiple Copy Subscription Sales
- Definition: These are two or more subscriptions that are purchased from the publisher by a third party for a group of final recipients.
Please see also: Corporate Subscription Sales, Special Edition Sales, Sports Edition Sales and Subscription Sales.
- N
- Newstrade and Single Copy Sales
- Definition: Newstrade describes sales to individuals through recognized retail outlets. Single Copy Sales describe sales of single copies direct to individuals by publishers.
- Non-Controlled Circulation
- Definition: These are free copies mailed or given to individuals. In the consumer magazines sector the publisher must have evidence to prove the individual is likely to have an interest in the field covered by the magazine. In the business magazines sector the publisher only needs the address information and distribution evidence.
Please see also: Controlled Circulation
- P
- Paid and Controlled
- Definition: In the business magazine sector the Paid and Controlled category is where a publisher can demonstrate copies that have been paid for have been purchased by an individual who they can also prove meets the reported Terms of Control.
Please see also: Terms of Control
- S
- Special Edition Sales
- Definition: In the regional publications sector publishers can include in their circulation stand alone editions produced to cover a special subject e.g. ‘local football club’s FA cup win’ reported separately on the certificate. Special editions can only be sold as Single Copy Sales at full cover price and must comprise at least 25% editorial. The issue, price and sales for each Special Edition are analysed on the certificate.
- Sports Edition Sales
- Definition: In the regional publications sector publishers can include in their circulation separate sports editions of the parent newspaper. These are usually published on a Saturday giving results and reports of sporting events.
- Society/Association/Organisation Circulation
- Definition: This is a circulation category included in the business and consumer magazine sectors, where magazines that are an official publication of a society/association can report copies sent to the society’s members. Society Circulation is reported as paid, requested or non-requested.
- Single Copy Subscription Sales
- Definition: These are copies individually mailed to persons who have signed up to receive copies for a fixed period. Sales are usually reported by price banding which highlights copies sold at the basic annual subscription rate (BAR) and those sold at a discount.
Please see also: Multiple Copy Subscription Sales
- T
- Terms of Control
- Definition: The Terms of Control are the criteria used by the publisher to define their target audience and thus underlie the publisher’s Controlled Circulation Claim. The publisher must retain third party evidence to prove individuals claimed as Controlled Circulation meet the stated Terms of Control which is reported on the certificate.
- Total Average Net Circulation
- Definition: This is sometimes referred to as the headline or ABC figure. It is the sum of all circulation types. In most sectors the average circulation is broken out by circulation type and UK/Other Countries.