by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper-circulation statistics for the period April–June 2019 (ABC Q2 2019); see our consumer magazine ABC analysis here.
Newspaper overview
- Total newspaper circulation declined by 1.4% the previous quarter, and by 6.9% on the prior year
- Daily newspapers declined 2.8% on the previous quarter,and by 9.2% on the prior year
- Weekly newspapers increased by 8.2% on the previous quarter (Die Burger Friday is a thing now), but declined by 2.9% on the prior year
- Weekend newspapers declined by 4.2% on the previous quarter, and by 10.4% on the prior year
- Local newspapers declined by 4.8% on the previous quarter, and by 8.6% on the prior year
- Free newspapers declined by 1.0% on the previous quarter, and by 6.2% on the prior year.
Daily papers
In Gauteng, Pretoria News has declined from 12 686 to 12 579 (copy sales: 6 832) in the corresponding previous period (Q2 2018). Beeld has fallen -16.34% from 36 207 to 31 123. The Star is down from 72 375 to 71 692 (sales below 50%: 10 972; contracted travel sales: 19 978). Sowetan has inched down from 70 061 to 70 038.
In the Cape, Die Burger (combined edition) has declined -28.10% from 46 983 to 36 677.
The Cape Argus has inched up from 27 238 to 27 254 (sales below 50%: 3 716), while the Cape Times has grown from 28 594 to 29 530 (sales below 50%: 3 425). Son has fallen -21.28%, from 59 480 to 49 044.
In the Eastern Cape, Daily Dispatch has fallen -15.32%, from 16 546 to 14 348, and The Herald -11.38%, from 16 210 to 14 554.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Daily News is down from 23 127 to 22 443 (sales below 50%: 3 107; contracted travel sales: 4 673) and The Mercury has fallen from 25 043 to 24 464 (sales below 50%: 3 254; contracted travel sales: 4 441). The Witness has declined from 11 140 to 10 483.
The Citizen has fallen from 42 595 to 39 349 (multi copy sales = 4 242, contracted travel sales = 8 252) and Business Day has declined -9.92% from 20 145 to 18 327. The Daily Sun has fallen -15.76% from 129 831 to 112 155. Isolezwe has decreased -16.29% from 79 795 to 68 618.
Volksblad has -12.73% declined from 14 306 to 12 691. Diamond Fields Advertiser has decreased from 7 424 to 7 118.
Weekly & weekend papers
Pretoria News Saturday has inches up from 6 936 to 6 943 (sales below 50% of cover price: 1 600); the Saturday Star has fallen from 40 409 to 38 470 (sales below 50% of cover price: 5 962; contracted travel sales: 6 675); the Weekend Argus (Saturday and Sunday editions) has declined from 50 916 to49 635 (sales below 50% of cover price: 6 800; contracted travel sales: 4 800) and the Independent on Saturday has fallen from 36 211 to 35 257 (sales below 50% of cover price: 10 087).
Saturday Beeld has climbed from 36 624 to 37 410 but Saturday Burger has fallen -15.90% from 58 700 to 50 648 and Daily Dispatch Weekend Edition from 13 323 to 12 352.
City Press has dropped -7.88% from 50 200 to 46 535 and Rapport by -12.86% from 112 332 to 99 528. The Sunday Times has declined from 250 575 to 240 219 (contracted travel sales: 26 029; multi copy sales: 10 791).
Sunday Tribune has declined from 50 386 to 48 305 (sales below 50%: 11 375). Sunday Sun has fallen by -33.34%, from 54 904 to 41 177. The Sunday World falls -11.43%, from 45 211 to 40 573.
Ilanga Langesonto has declined from 33 743 to 31 846 and Isolezwe ngeSonto has fallen from 65 013 to 51 992 (-25.04%). Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo has gone from 65 645 to 55 416 (-18.46%).
In terms of the weeklies, The Post has inched up from 37 533 to 37 683 (sales below 50%: 2 809) while Ilanga has declined from 57 356 to 54 852. The Mail & Guardian has increased from 23 641 to 24 026 (multi copy sales: 6 000). Soccer Laduma is down from 235 907 to 219 166.
The MarkLives’ Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*
Q2 2019
- Sunday Times: 240 219
- Soccer Laduma: 219 166
- Daily Sun: 112 155
- Rapport: 99 528
- The Star: 71 692 +1
- Sowetan: 70 038 +2
- Isolezwe: 68 618 -3
- Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo: 55 416 +1
- Isolezwe ngeSonto: 51 992 -1
- Die Burger (Saturday): 50 648 new
Son falls out of Top 10.
*South African titles only. Must have a cover price. Excludes free papers.
See also
- Magazine circ continues dramatic decline, falling 18.7% YOY — ABC Q2 2019
- Circulation Data – ABC Analysis
Herman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.
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