Our press team is on hand to help journalists with data access, requests for interview/ comment, and other queries.
We're available 9.00 – 5.30, Monday to Friday and will usually respond to requests within the hour.
Requests for interviews/ comment
We're very happy to provide spokespeople for interviews*.
Please email press@abc.org.uk or call us on 01442 200788 to enquire.
*Please note that, as an impartial industry-owned organisation, we don’t provide comment on trends or on the performance of individual market sectors, titles or groups.
How to access our census data
We provide free data access and assistance to accredited journalists who wish to use our data for news stories, features, comment and other editorial.
How to view a current ABC certificate
You can view the current certificate for any ABC audited title by entering it into the search bar at the top of the page.
Request access ABC data
Press Access
Asking for help with our data
Our press team is happy to support you in finding historical or comparative data using our Interactive Reports. In some instances we can offer training to your editorial teams if this would be beneficial.
Company information
About ABC
ABC releases data for the UK media industry to use when trading print, digital and event advertising. We’re also a leading industry-owned auditor for media products and services, with specialist skills in digital ad trading. Our logo stands for quality and trust in media, empowering our £22bn industry to trade with confidence.
When and why was ABC founded?
ABC was founded in 1931 by the organisation that was to become ISBA, as a response to advertisers' requests for an independent source of circulation data. Our longest standing clients have been with us ever since.
Do all publications audit with ABC?
Publications are not required to audit with ABC but many national, regional, business and consumer magazines choose to do so. Ad agencies prefer to trade with publications that are ABC audited.
Do ABC figures represent the UK market?
No. We cannot add figures together to give a market or sector total because not all publications or web properties audit with us. ABC data cannot therefore be used to represent a total market sector.
Who decides the rules?
ABC is governed by our Board of permanent and nominated representatives from media owners, media buyers, advertisers and industry trade bodies. The rules governing what we measure and report are called Reporting Standards .
Changes to the Reporting Standards are discussed and agreed by our Reporting Standards Groups, in line with the needs of the industry. Our role is to facilitate and implement the results of these discussions with representatives from the industry; ABC staff don’t decide the rules or take decisions about what is or isn’t allowed.
How does ABC data differ to PAMCo data?
These are complementary data sets, usually used at different stages of the planning and buying process. We use a census (counting) based approach. For example, the number of copies of a publication sold or distributed, or the number of unique browsers for a website. Media owners must hold supporting evidence for figures that appear on ABC Certificates or in ABC Data Reports and this is verified by our audit teams.
The main differences are:
Fact vs Forecast: ABC data is a hard count based on what has actually happened; PAMCo provides estimate audience data based on sample research
Trading vs Planning: ABC data is used primarily for trading; PAMCo data is used primarily for planning
All media vs larger titles: ABC certification is available for all published media who choose to deliver ABC figures; PAMCo is available for larger titles only, due to the need for bigger samples within research methodology
How is ABC funded?
ABC is funded by its members via subscription and audit fees. As an industry owned, not-for-profit organisation, our focus is on delivering premium services at the best possible value. Typically, the annual costs to a media owner of being in ABC membership and delivering audited figures, amounts to less than the price of one page of advertising.
What are JICs?
The UK’s Joint Industry Currencies (JICs) are owned and developed jointly – by advertisers, agencies and media owners – to provide transparent and impartial data, standards and/or services for each medium. The eight UK JICs are:
- ABC – Audited census measurement (Published Media) and the UK’s industry owned digital auditor (Digital Ad Trading)
- BARB – Audience research (Television)
- JICMAIL – Audience research (Direct Mail)
- JICPOPS – Census research (Population)
- JICREG – Audience research (Regional press)
- PAMCo – Audience research (Published Media)
- RAJAR – Audience research (Radio)
- ROUTE – Audience research (Out Of Home (OOH)
