When newspaper distribution was deregulated in 1999, newspaper publishers negotiated contracts with newsagents to distribute newspapers. Contracts covered home delivery, retail and distribution through sub retailers (sub agents) and they continue today at the behest of publishers. This means that newsagents are the only conduit through which paid circulation passes. Newsagents provide sales data to publishers at least weekly, giving publishers accurate data for sales reporting across their three key paid copy distribution channels of: home, retail and sub retail. I would have thought that advertisers would be more interested in paid for circulation data rather than the current ‘circulation’ data available.
I make these comments in the light of recent circulation figures claimed by publishers. I am curious as to where the sales increases have been achieved.