Over 90 years of trust and counting…

The Birth of ABC - the UK's first Joint Industry Currency (JIC)

We’re formed by ISBA and establish the first industry standards for circulation measurement. The Daily Express is the first group to join. A further 159 magazines and newspapers join us over the next decade. JIC data becomes recognised for its exceptional quality and, by the end of the century, a further six JICs will have been created to deliver trusted measurement for the media industry.

Growing Influence

By 1948, we have 720 members including advertisers, agencies and publishers. Audrey Deans becomes our first female Council member, representing the IPA.

Widening Horizons

Over 500 publications are now delivering ABC figures, reflecting our broadening impact on the media landscape

Global Connections

We become one of the founding members of the International Federation of ABCs (IFABC), fostering international collaboration.

Continued Expansion

More than 2000 publications are now delivering ABC figures. These are estimated to encompass 90% of all press advertising spend.

This small ad in the 1971 ABC member report reveals how our marketing support has changed a little in practice, if not in intent!

The Value of Free Papers

We start certifying the distribution of free newspapers. We also deliver our first ever exhibition attendance figures.

A Worldwide Influence

We form the Hong Kong Audit Board of Circulation (HKABC), an affiliate organisation of ABC UK.

Continued Growth

We now have over 3500 members.

This announcement in ABC’s Circulation Review, sent to members each year, reveals how we’ve been pushing technological boundaries, too!

Expanding our Capabilities

We bring auditing ‘in house’ with the launch of our own audit department.

Ready for Digital

ABC Electronic is established, enabling us to deliver independent certification for electronic media data.

Website Audits Begin

Our first website traffic certificates are released. 15 were released in the first year, including nme.com, newscientist.com and autotrader.co.uk.

Celebrating the Magazine Sector

We issue our first Consumer Magazine Report. This includes titles like PC Gamer, PC Pro, .NET – The Internet Magazine, Smash Hits, Empire, Woman’s Weekly, FHM and Sky TV Guide. AA Magazine reported the highest total average net circulation of 3,986,272 for Jan-Jun 1998. The biggest YoY % increase was achieved by Playstation Power – in fact, the top ten % increases were all computer magazines, except for Match of the Day!

Shedding Light on Bulks

We deliver first Bulk Distribution Standards for free newspapers and issue our first certificate.

Pioneering Digital Standards

We establish JICWEBS (Joint Industry Committee for Web Standards), which brings together industry representatives. They start delivering standards for online media measurement.

Trust in Digital

As consumer habits evolve, we spearhead the delivery of Digital Edition standards.

A Key Moment in Brand Safety

In a groundbreaking move, we conduct the world's first Brand Safety audit.

Countering Invalid Traffic

In collaboration with the IAB US, we establish the ABC/IAB International Robots & Spiders List, helping companies to filter out invalid traffic from their measurement results.

Sharing Expertise

We collaborate with COUNTER on their Code of Practice for electronic journals, further establishing ourselves as a valued source of expertise in standard-setting and auditing.

A First for Video Metrics

We certify video (Audio Visual) metrics for the first time, ensuring accurate measurement in this rapidly growing area of advertising.

Branching into Data Privacy

We conduct our first Online Behavioural Advertising (OBA) audit to IAB UK standards.

App and Email Data Released

We release our first App data and issue our first Email certificates.

Two More Firsts for Digital

We release the world's first Content Verification (CV) Report. We also introduce our first Digital Publication certificate.

Multi-Platform ABC Certificates Launched

Publishers can now report figures from multiple platforms on one ABC certificate, helping to demonstrate their reach. This later evolves into today’s ABC Brand Report, which can include figures for print, digital, website, email newsletters, apps and social media.

ABC Underpins TV and OBA Measurement

BARB commissions us to audit census-based IPTV data, further expanding our remit as a bespoke audit services provider for the industry. We’re also appointed by the EDAA to deliver pan-European OBA (Online Behavioural Advertising) audits.

Certified Suppliers Scheme

We launch our Certified Suppliers Scheme, making it quicker and easier for media owners and their suppliers to provide the necessary data for an ABC audit.

Delivering Viewability Insights

We release our first Viewability Report, empowering media buyers to choose the viewability tools best suited for their campaigns.

Combatting Ad Fraud

Under JICWEBs standards, we conduct our first Ad Fraud audit as a step to minimising fraudulent practices within the digital advertising ecosystem.

Worldwide Brand Report Launched

The Economist is the first ABC member to commission our global reporting capabilities. We release our Worldwide Brand Report covering six territories and multiple platforms. The Economist continues to value its ABC Worldwide Brand Report as an essential reporting and sales tool to this day.

Sharing our Expertise

We partner with JICMAIL to underpin their new standards for direct mail.

Introducing Social Media Metrics

Reflecting the changing media landscape, we include social media metrics in our Brand Reports, enhancing insights for advertisers and agencies.

ABC in Demand

The IAB UK commissions us to audit their very first Gold Standard process; we take over the management of the UK’s Viewability and AV Standards following the merger of TAG and JICWEBs; we commence independent audits for TAG (Trustworthy Accountability Group) AND CFlight chooses us to audit its Broadcaster ad server data. A particularly busy year!

Remaining agile in the face of a global pandemic

The media distribution landscape shifts as Covid-19 hits and government restrictions come into force. We work closely with our Board and members to adapt our reporting standards. This enables transparent media reporting to continue as media owners find innovative ways to reach consumers throughout the pandemic.

Delivering Trust for Digital Events

Our new Digital Events Audit enables event organisers to provide accurate measurement for their partners, no matter what type of event they’re running.

Expanding our work in trusted TV measurement

TAM Ireland appoints us to conduct audits of commercials on Broadcast Video On Demand (BVOD). These biannual audits confirm the AV Play Completion Rate and will be undertaken with all broadcasters selling BVOD advertising in the Irish market.

Bringing trust to new markets

The EDAA chooses us to audit their Advanced Advertising Technology Programme (AATP), supporting digital media companies to align with EU legislation.

We expand into a rapidly growing new market when we’re selected by IAB Europe to audit its newly launched Retail Media Certification Programme.

Our role as a Retail Media auditor expands

We’re announced by IAB UK as the official auditor for Retail Media Networks joining the IAB UK Gold Standard. As the only auditor for both IAB UK and IAB EU Retail Media programmes, we’re uniquely placed to help companies become audited for both, further supporting standardisation across the market.