Single Copy Sales - National Newspapers

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Single Copy Sales [Print/Digital]

A single copy sold to a consumer direct by the publisher.

Principles

1. Single copy knowingly paid for by the consumer

2. Copies are purchased direct from the publisher

3. It must be clear the price paid by the consumer includes the publication

Requirements

1. Single copy knowingly paid for by the consumer

1. The purchase by the consumer may be in cash or by other means agreed by ABC in writing.

2. You cannot claim sales of back issues.

Guidance Available

2. Copies are purchased direct from the publisher

1. You must account for UK and ROI sales on an issue by issue basis.

Guidance Available

3. It must be clear the price paid by the consumer includes the publication

1. If a voucher from a publisher controlled promotion is used the amount paid by the consumer is deemed to be the total of the cash paid to the publisher and any cash they paid for the voucher.
   
   
2. You can ignore the value (or perceived value) of gifts or cover mounts to the consumer. However:
   
   
   1. Cash reimbursements to the consumer must be taken into account (excluding limited low chance lottery style promotions).
      
      
   2. If the publication is promoted to the consumer as free, then it cannot be claimed as a paid sale.
      
      
3. You must retain details of promotional or special offers during the reporting period.

Guidance Available

Reporting

You will report single copy sales as follows, which will be broken out on the ABC Certificate:

1. By print copies by geographical type:

1. United Kingdom

2. Scotland - as a subset of UK

3. England, Wales & N. Ireland – as a subset of UK

4. Republic of Ireland (ROI)

2. By digital copies by geographical type:

1. United Kingdom

2. Republic of Ireland (ROI)

3. By print and digital copies, and by combination with other circulation types.

1. Single copy sales will be reported combined with retail sales (sale or return).

4. By print and digital copies, and by total average circulation over the period. 

Guidance

G1. Single copy knowingly paid for by the consumer

1. Cash means legal tender notes and coins, cheque, credit/debit card, wireless payment systems.

G2. Copies are purchased direct from the publisher

1. You will need to ensure all records required to support the single copy sale claim are available for audit. This will include financial records that adequately identify the numbers of each issue of the publication sold, including an audit trail to verify the money received.

2. For copies sold at exhibitions or events evidence you may need might include: 

   1. Till receipts/cash sheets allowing monies to be traced through to evidence of banking.
      
      
   2. Evidence that the publisher or their representatives had a presence at the exhibition or event to corroborate that copies were sold there. For example: evidence the publisher had booked a stand or pitch at the event, or evidence the copies were delivered to the event venue.

G3. It must be clear the price paid by the consumer includes the publication

1. As the price paid may be affected by promotional schemes you should keep details of purchases and promotional spends so you can demonstrate copies are purchased and that sales under incentives/offers are classified correctly, or disallowed as necessary.
   
   You can contact ABC for confidential advice, supplying copies of the promotional material and offer wording.
   
   The information kept may include:
   
   
   • Title/s involved
   • Issues involved
   • Duration of promotion
   • Outlets involved
   • Wording of the promotion displayed
   • How the resultant copies are claimed
   • How the promotion will be paid for