Metrics - Digital Products - Single Sales

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Metrics and Reporting

Definition

A single Digital Product purchased by a consumer. Note: These standards are not intended for publications, which should be reported to the appropriate publication Reporting Standards.

Principles

1. The single Digital Product is purchased by the consumer
2. The price paid for the Digital Product must be clear and conspicuous
3. The Digital Product must be defined
4. You may additionally report optional metrics
5. Evidence to support the claim must be retained and made available for a minimum period

Requirements

1. The single Digital Product is purchased by the consumer

   1. There must be a contractual arrangement between the publisher and the purchaser.

   2. You must be able to provide evidence of each sale claimed and the price paid.

   3. Digital Product claims must be audited by ABC Staff Auditors.

   4. You must provide ABC with free access to any Digital Product claimed.

2. The price paid for the Digital Product must be clear and conspicuous

   
   No additional requirements

3. The Digital Product must be defined

   1. By product name.

   2. By a product type/description that appropriately describes the product certified. For example: an app or a game.

4. You may additionally report optional metrics

   1. If you wish to report optional analyses or breakouts, please discuss this with us, so we can review the additional evidence and audit work involved. Examples may include information regarding price paid or the purchasers.

   2. You may optionally report by average price:

      1. The standard rate will be the standard undiscounted price for the Digital Product.

      2. In calculating the price paid for the Digital Product sales you will take into account the following:

         • You can ignore the value (or perceived value) of any gifts, or other incentives (including bundled publications or media products that are not claimed for ABC purposes). However cash reimbursements to the consumer must be taken into account (excluding limited low chance lottery style promotions).

         • If a promotion includes a gift or product that is being claimed for ABC purposes (for example a bundled copy of a publication or access to a paid website) then the price paid must be allocated according to the following, moving down the list until one can be applied:

           • According to the specific terms of the offer.

           • Where specific terms are not clear, by pro-rating the price according to the relative prices of the ABC claimed products.

           • Where the specific terms are not clear and in the absence of a means of pro-rating the price paid, it should be divided equally between the number of ABC claimed products included in the sale.

5. Evidence to support the claim must be retained and made available for a minimum period

   1. For all Digital Products reported, you must be able to provide any records relevant to the claim, including those necessary to support any optional metrics or analyses reported.

   2. Records supporting the claim must be retained, and made available to us on request (in accordance with the ABC Byelaws), until we have completed the audit of the subsequent certificate, unless we agree otherwise.

Reporting

You will report Digital Products – Single Sales as follows, which will be reported on the ABC Certificate:

1. By Digital Product, including name and product type/description. For example Cycling News Route Planner - App

2. By the total number of Single Sales claimed in the Reporting Period.

3. You may additionally report optional metrics.

4. You must report Digital Products – Single Copies for the relevant Reporting Period, which will be a whole calendar month or any combination of consecutive calendar months (up to a maximum of 12).

5. You may include two or more separate Digital Products on a single certificate (these can be from different brands):

   1. They will be listed individually, with a figure for each.

   2. They must each fall within the same Reporting Period , being a whole calendar month or any combination of consecutive calendar months (up to a maximum of 12).

6. All products will appear in the relevant data tables and reports. However, where you’re reporting products to these Reporting Standards on an ABC Brand Report or Group Report, you may ask us to not publish the individual certificate(s).