ABC confirms investigation into bulk newspaper sales

The Audit Bureau of Circulations today confirmed that is has been investigating the bulk sales element of national newspaper’s total sales figures.

The circulation body is thought to of started a review following a spot check on multiple sales copies sent to airlines, which found a wide disparity between the claimed distribution figure and the actual figure, according to a report in the Guardian.

Newspapers can add bulk distribution to their total circulation figures – which can include copies that publishers sell for a nominal fee to airlines, rail companies, hotels, gyms and restaurants to give away for free.

Today, ABC published a note on the second page of its monthly national newspaper release for February, saying: “Airline copies are as claimed by the publisher and are subject to further verification.”

Bulk airline sales currently make up a significant part of many national titles’ total circulation figures, including the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday and the Daily Telegraph.

Around 67% of the average daily national newspaper bulk distribution in February were bulk copies sold to airlines, and as much as 73% of Sunday papers, according to ABC.

Newspaper groups can sell bulk copies for as little as 1p.