by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper-circulation statistics for the period October–December 2018 (ABC Q4 2018); see our consumer magazine ABC analysis here.

Newspaper overview

• Total newspaper circulation declined declined by 1.6% on the previous quarter, and by 3.3% on the prior year.
• Daily newspapers declined by 1.9% on the previous quarter, and by 7.6% on the prior year.
• Weekly newspapers declined by 6.7% on the previous quarter, and by 8.7% on the prior year.
• Weekend newspapers declined by 3.5% on the previous quarter, and by 8.9% on the prior year.
• Local newspapers declined by by 0.2%on the previous quarter, and by 6.0% on the prior year.
• Free newspapers declined by 1.1% on the previous quarter, and by 1.3% on the prior year.

Daily papers

In Gauteng, Pretoria News has declined from 12 532 to 12 442 (copy sales = 6 968) in the corresponding previous  period (Q4 2017). Beeld has fallen from 35 934 to 32 500. The Star has climbed from 74 520 to 75 772 (sales below 50% = 10 777). Sowetan is down from 71 797 to 70 392.

In the Cape, Die Burger (Eastern and Western Cape editions) has declined from 47 400 to 41 533 (after moving the Eastern Cape edition to digital only, except for a printed Friday paper; the regional edition subsequently has seen its circulation fall -61.49%).

The Cape Argus has decreased from 27 662 to 27 001 (sales below 50% = 3 472), while the Cape Times has declined from 29 673 to 29 353 (sales below 50% = 3 181). Son has fallen from 66 043 to 55 126.

In the Eastern Cape, Daily Dispatch has fallen from 17 958 to 15 468, and The Herald from 17 067 to 16 318.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Daily News is down from 23 508 to 23 241 (sales below 50% = 3 679, contracted travel sales = 4000) and The Mercury has fallen from 25 432 to 25 175 (sales below 50% = 3 859, contracted travel sales = 3 647). The Witness has declined from 11 641 to 10 926.

The Citizen has fallen from 42 951 to 42 045 (multi copy sales = 4 318, contracted travel sales = 8 290) and Business Day has declined from 20 313 to 20 014 (sales below 50% = 3 656). The Daily Sun has continued its decline, falling from 143 981 to 119 772. Isolezwe has fallen from 79 476 to 73 141.

Volksblad has declined from 13 906 to 13 784. Diamond Fields Advertiser has decreased from 7 599 to 6 966.

Leading declines (YOY)*

Daily Sun:  -16.81%
Son:  -16.53%
Daily Dispatch:  -13.87%
Die Burger:  -12.38%
Beeld:  -9.56%
Diamond Fields Advertiser:  -8.33%
Isolezwe:  -7.97%

*Circulation compared to corresponding previous period (Q4 2017); excludes regional editions.

Weekly & weekend papers

Pretoria News Saturday has declined from 7 357 to 6 645 (sales below 50% of cover price: 1 400); the Saturday Star from 44 978 to 44 200 (sales below 50% of cover price: 5 260, contracted travel sales – 6 675); and the Weekend Argus (Saturday and Sunday editions) from 51 675 to 49 612 — but Independent on Saturday has inched up from 35 299 to 35 598 (sales below 50% of cover price increases substantially to 8 793).

Saturday Beeld has climbed from 36 105 to 38 072; but Saturday Burger has fallen from 60 502 to 49 717 (after discontinuing its Eastern Cape edition) and Daily Dispatch Weekend Edition (formerly Saturday Dispatch) from 14 973 to 14 713.

City Press has fallen from 56 056 to 46 498 and Rapport from 112 949 to 105 900. The Sunday Times has declined from 261 024 to 250 176 (contracted travel sales = 33 059, multi copy sales = 11 956).

Sunday Tribune has inched up from 49 903 to 50 615 (sales below 50% climbs to 10 805). Sunday Sun has continued its collapse from 68 342 to 46 352, as has does the Sunday World, falling from 51 407 to 38 901.

Ilanga Langesonto has declined from 34 997 to 33 093 and Isolezwe ngeSonto has fallen from 62 382 to 55 156. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo has gone from 63 225 to 57 016.

In terms of the weeklies, The Post has fallen from 40 027 to 38 065(sales below 50%: 2 008) and Ilanga from 57 887 to 56 456. The Mail & Guardian has declined from 27 969 to 25 834. Soccer Laduma is down from 250 006 to 223 515.

Leading declines — weekend papers (YOY)*

Sunday Sun:  -32.18%
Sunday World:  -24.33%
Die Burger (Weekend):  -17.83%
City Press:  -17.05%
Son op Sondag:  -15.41%
Isolezwe ngeSonto:  -11.58%

Leading gains — weekly papers (YOY)*

Beeld (Saturday):  +5.45%

*Circulation compared to corresponding previous period (Q4 2017); excludes regional editions.

The MarkLives’ Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*

Q4 2018

1. Sunday Times: 250 176
2. Soccer Laduma: 223 515
3. Daily Sun: 119 772
4. Rapport: 105 900
5. The Star: 75 772
6. Isolezwe: 73 141
7. Sowetan: 70 392
8. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo: 57 016
9. Ilanga: 56 456
10. Isolezwe ngeSonto: 55 156

Son: 55 126
Sunday Tribune 50 615
Die Burger (Saturday): 49 717
Weekend Argus: 49 612
Sunday Sun: 46 352
City Press: 46 498

*South African titles only. Must have a cover price. Excludes free papers.

See also

• Magazines fall by 19.7% year on year — ABC Q4 2018
• Circulation Data – ABC Analysis

Herman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.

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