Issues to be included / excluded - ABC Bulk Distribution

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Issues to be included / excluded

All published issues for which the majority of the distribution took place within the Reporting Period must be included except for any issues allowed to be excluded according to this section.  

Principles

1. All issues published in the Reporting Period must be included

2. Published issues that are allowed to be excluded according to this section may be removed from the average circulation figure

3. Issues allowed to be excluded from the average circulation figure will be reported

Requirements 

1. All issues published in the Reporting Period must be included

1. Whether an issue is included in the Reporting Period is determined by the date by which 50% of the claimed distribution is distributed/made available. For each component of distribution the date distributed/made available is determined as follows:

   1. Mailed copies: The date the copies enter the distribution chain, i.e. when they are posted or delivered to a courier.

   2. Paid copies: The first date the copies are made available to the consumer, i.e. for retail sales the first official on sale date.

   3. Copies made available for pick up by consumer: The date the copies are made available/handed out to the consumer.

   4. Free Digital Edition copies: The date email notifications are sent. 

2. Published issues that are allowed to be excluded according to this section may be removed from the average circulation figure  

1. There are certain circumstances under which you may exclude an issue from the reported circulation. The circumstances and information surrounding any exclusion are subject to audit.

2. Daily Publications - ABC granted exclusion:  You may exclude an issue for which we have issued an exclusion note. You can apply for an ABC granted exclusion if:

   1. Due to circumstances outside your control:

      • The distribution of an issue fails to achieve the planned level of distribution and that shortfall is greater than 10% of the planned distribution*;

      • The planned level of distribution is achieved but delivery is severely delayed, resulting in a shortfall in net distribution and that shortfall is greater than 10% of the average net distribution of the previous four equivalent issues (e.g. for  a Monday compare to Mondays etc). Note:

        • If one or more of the last four issues are excluded because of an official National Public Holiday or Christmas/New year trading period exclusions then do not use this as one of the four comparable issue but go back one further issue.

        • If one or more of the last four issues are excluded because of an ABC Granted Exclusion then it will be counted as one of the four comparable issues.
          
          *If there is a potential event, about which you have advance notice and that you reasonably consider has a strong possibility of curtailing the planned distribution of an issue by greater than 10%, then you may apply to exclude that issue, with an appropriate reduction in print quantity to account for that expected reduction in distribution. This is to avoid the commercial and environmental cost of printing copies that you do not consider will ever be distributed. If possible, please submit the exclusion application in these circumstances ahead of your print order, in order that we can confirm if it’s approved or not before you commit. You should be able to:
          
          1. Demonstrate, with reference to previous issues, that the initial planned level of distribution declared is bona fide; and
          
          2. Provide evidence of the potential event that threatens disruption to your distribution.

   2. The publication is likely to be affected because of the occurrence of a Local Bank Holiday (only recognised regionally or locally) and you have evidence the banks were closed or had restricted opening hours. 

   3. You submit your application to us using an ABC Exclusion Note Request Form:

      • For daily, weekly and fortnightly publications within 7 days of the normal issue date of the affected issue.

      • For monthly and lesser frequency publications within 30 days of the normal issue date of the affected issue.

   4. If we do not issue an exclusion note we will issue a rejection notice detailing the reason for rejection. To obtain an exclusion note request form please email us via . 

3. Daily Publications - Optional exclusion: You may optionally exclude the following issues without applying for an exclusion note:

   1. Any issue published on an Official National Public Holiday (England, Scotland, NI or Wales as appropriate).

   2. Issues published during the Christmas/New Year trading period, which is defined as from Christmas Eve to the first Sunday after New Year’s Day (inclusive).

      If the fall of days renders these dates inappropriate ABC reserves the right to amend the dates for any particular year. 

4. Weekly Publications - ABC granted exclusion:  You may exclude an issue for which we have issued an exclusion note. You can apply for an ABC granted exclusion if:
   

   1. The normal net sale has been disrupted by the occurrence of an Official National Public Holiday (England, Scotland, NI or Wales as appropriate).

   2. The publication is likely to be affected because of the occurrence of a of a Local Bank Holiday (only recognised regionally or locally) and you have evidence the banks were closed or had restricted opening hours.

   3. The normal net sale has been disrupted by the occurrence of a religious holiday (with the exception of Easter Sunday) and you can demonstrate that the supplies to retailers have been curtailed on the day in question.

   4. You submit your application to us using an ABC Exclusion Note Request Form:

      • For daily, weekly and fortnightly publications within 7 days of the normal issue date of the affected issue.

      • For monthly and lesser frequency publications within 30 days of the normal issue date of the affected issue.

   5. If we do not issue an exclusion note we will issue a rejection notice detailing the reason for rejection. To obtain an exclusion note request form please email us via .

5. Weekly Publications - Optional exclusion: You may optionally exclude the following issues without applying for an exclusion note:

   1. Any two of the three issues published in the three weeks preceding the first Sunday after New Year’s Day.

   2. An issue published on Easter Sunday.

   3. In England, Northern Ireland or Wales either the issue published in the week containing Good Friday or the issue published in the week containing Easter Monday.

   4. In Scotland the issue published in the week containing Good Friday.

3. Issues allowed to be excluded from the average circulation figure will be reported

1. Any issues excluded from the reported circulation will be reported on the Certificate. 

Reporting

You will report the following which will be reported on the ABC Certificate:

1. Number of issues included in the circulation claim.

2. Details of any issues excluded from the circulation claim, including for each:

1. The general reason for exclusion.

2. The total net distribution

Guidance

No additional guidance.