Voucher Subscription Sales - National Newspapers

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Voucher Subscription Sales [Print only]

A single copy sold to an individual who pays the publisher in advance to obtain the publication via a retailer, by means of a voucher, for a contracted period.

Principles

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

2. Copies are purchased by an individual in advance

3. Copies are supplied to the individual through retailer distribution via the redemption of a voucher

4. For a contracted period and for a minimum number of issues (at least two)

5. There must be an auditable incentive for vouchers redeemed to be reported to the publisher

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

Requirements

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

1. You must be able to provide evidence of the contractual arrangements between the individual purchaser and the publisher, including the issues/period, the quantities purchased and the price.

2. Copies are purchased by an individual in advance

1. An individual can purchase gift subscriptions (maximum 12 subscriptions per subscriber). The recipient(s) details must be known.

2. Payment in arrears is acceptable only where this is due to payment being collected by direct debit or continuous credit card billing arrangements.

3. Copies are supplied to the individual through retailer distribution via the redemption of a voucher

1. The number of copies claimed should relate to the number of vouchers redeemed in the reporting period.

Guidance Available

4. For a contracted period and for a minimum number of issues (at least two)

1. You cannot claim sales of back issues.

5. There must be an auditable incentive for vouchers redeemed to be reported to the publisher

No additional requirements.

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

1. You can ignore the value (or perceived value) of any gifts, or other incentives. However:
   
   
   1. Cash reimbursements to the consumer must be taken into account.  
      
      
2.  If the publication is promoted to the consumer as free, then it cannot be claimed as a paid sale. 

No additional requirements.

Reporting

You will report Voucher Subscription Sales combined with Single Copy Subscription Sales, which will be broken out on the ABC Certificate as follows:

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 print copies by total average circulation over the period.

Guidance

G3. Copies are supplied to the individual through retailer distribution via the redemption of a voucher

1. Given the possible delay between the redemption of vouchers by individuals and the notification to the publisher it may be appropriate in some circumstances to make an estimate of possible voucher redemptions to reflect a fair and reasonable figure for the number of sales in the reporting period.

2. Information that may be required for audit might include a record of current subscribers, details of schemes and the total number of vouchers received by or on behalf of publisher.