Issues to be included / excluded - Consumer Magazines

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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. 

   5. Note: If the date by which 50% of an issue’s distribution is distributed/made available is close to the end of a Reporting Period, you may contact us for advice on how to report the issue.

2. Use the following flowchart to determine if an issue must be included in the ABC claim:

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. 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**; or

      • The planned level of distribution is achieved but is severely delayed or withdrawn prematurely from sale, resulting in a shortfall in the Actively Purchased sale* and that shortfall is greater than 10% of the average of the previous four issues’ actively purchased sales figures*.        

      • *(print and Digital Edition combined)

      • **If there is a potential event, about which you have advanced 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. 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. You submit your application to us using an ABC Exclusion Note Request Form. To obtain an exclusion note request form please email us via .

   1. If we do not issue an exclusion note we will issue a rejection notice detailing the reason for rejection.

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 circulation.

Guidance

No additional guidance.