How SPH Inflated Circulation Numbers.
By now, everyone wouldโve known about the SPH inflated circulation numbers.
Today, SPH did a โownself report ownselfโ as The Straits Times reported that SPH Media, which owns the national paper, has just released a report by its Audit and Risk Committee, which was set up shortly after the saga to โinvestigate the issues more fully, and consider what further steps, if any, need to be takenโ.
Hereโs a summary of the 13-page review that revealed how circulation was inflated, and if youโre looking for names, forget it: names of individuals and companies have been redacted.
NIE Fund and Bulk Copies
Established as early as 2000, the NIE fund was used to purchase bulk newspaper copies for distribution to various sectors. Revenue was sourced from a variety of channels. Some clients were not aware their payments were used for bulk copy purchases.
These copies artificially increased reported circulation numbers. The fund was closed in May 2022 after an overstatement was discovered.
โX Barterโ Deal
From 2013 to 2022, SPH had an exchange agreement with company X to swap digital subscriptions (i.e. barter exchange), and it was revealed that such practice is common. No real cash exchanged hands.
However, this deal potentially inflated circulation numbers and revenue without a genuine intention to execute the arrangement.
School Copies
SPH supplied publications to schools under two arrangements. Some print copies were not delivered but were still reported in circulation numbers. There were discrepancies in reported and actual delivered copies.
Not sure about you, but I guess many of us wouldโve expected this.
Y Deal
From 2013 to 2022, entity Y paid SPH to print and distribute daily copies of ST. These were reported in circulation numbers even after the deal ended in February 2021.
Yes, weโre all very, very interested to know what company Y is.
Airline Copies
An airline deal that provided unlimited digital downloads of various SPH media titles also inflated circulation numbers. The number of reported copies far exceeded actual downloads.
The name of the airline isnโt revealed, but come on lah.
Agency Subscriptions
SPH had an agreement with two agencies to supply digital coupon passes. A system constraint led to double-counting of digital copies in reported circulation numbers.
All-in-one Subscription Packages
Introduced in 2011, some subscribers requested no print copies but were still charged full price. SPH continued to print and report these undelivered copies in circulation numbers.
If you watch at least 10 minutes of brain rot content daily, you must know this:
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