News media paid digital editions

Requirements and examples for qualifying paid digital editions.

Applicable rules: C 1.1/C 101.1 Paid Circulation Defined and C 5.1/C 105.1 Subscriptions Involving Digital Editions.

Paid digital edition combinations:

• Paid digital only (paid subscriptions, stand-alone sales, multiple digital platforms)
• Bundle print and digital subscriptions (sold together at an all-inclusive price at the same frequency)
• Hybrid print and digital subscriptions (sold together at an all-inclusive price at different frequencies)

Paid Digital Only

Paid subscriptions, stand-alone sales, multiple digital platforms.

Digital-only editions purchased for at least one cent, net of considerations, per copy or subscription are eligible as paid digital individual access if the following requirements are met:

• The offer is for digital only and does not include print.
• Only one digital unit can be counted as paid per day, per consumer, during the subscription term or digital single copy purchase.
• Qualification is based on payment, not access*.
• Circulation can be counted either as:
  • Digital Replica – Paid Individual Access
    OR
  • Total Average Paid Circulation – Digital Nonreplica

*Only one digital unit can be claimed as paid per day during the subscription term, regardless of the number of times the consumer accessed the digital edition or across multiple digital platforms during the day.

Bundle Print and Digital Subscriptions

Sold together at an all-inclusive price at the same frequency.

Print and digital subscriptions of the same newspaper sold together at the same frequency are eligible as paid digital individual access if the following requirements are met:

• The digital subscription is presented as “included” in the bundle price. (Digital subscriptions implied as “free” are reported as qualified digital subscriptions on the day of access. Please refer to the qualified digital guide for more information.)
• Both print and digital subscriptions are offered for the same frequency (e.g., 7 days print and 7 days digital).
• The print portion is counted as “Print – Paid Individual Subscriptions” every day of the subscription term.
• The digital portion is counted as paid digital on the actual day(s) of access during the subscription terms*.
• These circulation units are counted as either:
  • Digital Replica – Paid Individual Access
    OR
  • Total Average Paid Circulation – Digital Nonreplica
• Proof of payment and digital access log files must be maintained for the audit.

*Only one digital unit can be claimed as paid on the day of access, regardless of the number of times the consumer accessed the digital edition or across multiple platforms during the day.

Hybrid Print and Digital Subscriptions

Sold together at an all-inclusive price at different frequencies.

Print and digital subscriptions of the same newspaper sold together at different frequencies are eligible as paid digital individual access if the following requirements are met:

• The digital subscription is presented as “included” in the bundle price. (Digital subscriptions implied as “free” are reported as qualified digital subscriptions on the day of access. Please refer to the qualified digital guide for more information.)
• Both print and digital subscriptions are offered at different frequencies (e.g., Sunday-only print and 7-day per week digital all access)
• The print portion is counted as “Print – Paid Individual Subscriptions” on the day(s) outlined in the offer during the subscription term.
• One digital unit can be counted as paid digital on nonprint day(s) during the subscription term if the subscriber can demonstrate the ability to access the digital edition* (e.g., provide an email address during the subscription ordering process).
• One digital unit can be counted as paid if the consumer accessed the digital edition on print day(s)*.
• These circulation units are counted as either:
  • Digital Replica – Paid Individual Access
    OR
  • Total Average Paid Circulation – Digital Nonreplica
• Proof of payment and digital access log files must be maintained for the audit.

*Only one digital unit can be claimed as paid, regardless of the number of times the consumer accessed the digital edition or across multiple digital platforms during the day.