The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) and Circulations Audit Board (CAB) have joined forces to form a new industry body.

The two non-profit organisations, which verify the sales and distribution of newspapers and magazines, will merge under a new brand name: the Audited Media Association of Australia.

The new entity, which has been endorsed by members of the ABC and CAB, will expand its remit in providing the media industry with independently audited data covering print, digital, web and email publications, and events.

The move comes about after a joint working committee was formed more than a year ago to examine the process of bringing together the ABC and CAB into one new corporate entity.

The key focus was on streamlining the financial and administrative functions of the bodies.

ABC chairman, Dr Stephen Hollings, said Audited Media would preserve the history and values of both organisations, while meeting the needs of Australia’s changing media landscape.

"It is important to have an appropriate corporate structure and we have taken the opportunity to create a combined, more robust and efficient organisation to meet the needs of all our members and Australia’s media industry," he said. 

A new board for Audited Media will also be formed with Hollings and Slatter taking on the roles of chairman and deputy chairman respectively.

ABC & CAB chief executive, Paul Dovas (pictured), said: We want our members to benefit from the creation of one new legal entity encompassing the ABC and CAB while still retaining our two distinct brands.”