Consumer Newspaper Circulation Audit

An ABC Audit Service

This audit is for publishers of newspapers with a majority paid circulation base.

Introduction To The Audit
The ABC’s print audit delivers audited data about the sales of newspapers reported four times a year.

This information has a high media focus upon release and is important to media companies, advertising agencies and the finance and investment sector.

The media industry recognised standard reported by the ABC is ‘Average Net Paid Sales’.

Publishers submit their circulation records to independent verification to prove the number of copies purchased by individuals. The audit reports an average number of sales per issue.

Audit Periods
The ABC reports results of audits four times per year:

• January to March – reported in early May
• April to June – reported in early August
• July to September – reported in early November
• October to December – reported in early February

National, Metropolitan, Newspaper Inserted Magazines, Saturday and Sunday Newspapers, Regional Dailies, Country Press and Agricultural Publications with circulation greater than 25,000 are reported quarterly.

All other publications audit or report every six months:

• January to June – reported in early August
• July to December – reported in early February

How Does A Publication Qualify
It’s voluntary! Any newspaper with a majority paid circulation can become a member of the ABC and have their circulation audited.  Australian newspaper publishers have their circulation verified for the benefit of advertisers and media buyers.

Publishers join by paying an annual low-cost membership fee and submit their circulation records to independent audit to prove to advertisers the average number of copies per issue that qualify as Average Net Paid Sales.

What Qualifies?
An ABC audit reports the Average Net Paid Sales per issue of a publication. The audit looks at every issue published in the audit period, and checks sales for each issue. The process begins with the print run and then establishes the volume of copies sold and the volume that remain unsold. Only paid for copies are reported.

Average Net Paid Sales – what counts?

• Copies sold through retailers, wholesale distributors, sellers and other regular channels of distribution or sale that pay a Wholesale Price for the Publication (this includes channels such as newsagents and supermarkets and many more).
• Copies that are sold at the Cover Price to an individual.
• Copies that are sold as Individual Subscriptions.

The following categories are included in the Average Net Paid Sales total but reported as a percentage as well:

• Accommodation and Airline Sales; - are sales of publications made to airlines and hotels for distribution to guests and passengers.
• Education Sales – are sales of publications for distribution at learning institutions, such as schools
• Event Sales – are sales of a publication made as part of the ticketed price of entry to an event, of which a maximum of 1% can qualify in ANPS. This type of sale has specific requirements, please refer to the ABC Rules.
• Multiple Publication Sales – are sales of a package of two or more current Issues of different Publications. This type of sale has specific requirements, please refer to the ABC Rules.

Preparing For An Audit
Publishers prepare for an audit by collecting and preparing details about the sales of every issue of the publication for their audit period.

Each audit is unique and will be tailored to suit the sales environment for each publication, however auditors will require proof of production of the publication, distribution and sales and should request to view financial records to verify this data.

The ABC works with Publishers to develop and improve record keeping processes and offers a comprehensive and competitive audit service.

Please see the Audit Guidelines for more detail on how the audit will be conducted.

Important PDFs for Publishers
Please see below for all the information sheets you need about the ABC’s important dates and exclusion notices for publishers.

• Audit Dates and Deadlines for Quarterly auditing Publishers for 2009
• Audit Dates and Deadlines for Half-Yearly auditing Publishers
• ABC Data Release Dates for 2009
• Optional Exclusion Dates for Newspapers
• Optional Exclusion Dates for Magazines

> Access the above Audit Tools for the ABC

Accessing Data
Members have access to a range of reports, trends and tools that help you better understand paid print media.

To try us out, call or email us today for a demonstration in your office.

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Gordon Towell resigns from the ABC and CAB
6 August 2010 - Gordon Towell, CEO of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) and Circulations Audit Board (CAB) is returning to private enterprise after a productive 2-year period that saw the iconic media industry associations revitalised, rebranded and repositioned to meet the changing media landscape.

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