by Herman Manson (@marklives) The covid-19-related hard lockdown in March 2020 and the resultant, ongoing economic crisis have severely impacted the Media industry broadly but print media faces a particularly tough environment — borne out in a large number of non-submissions to the Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa, which certifies circulation data for print media. As a result, MarkLives won’t be publishing our usual comprehensive analysis of ABC Q2 2020 circ data.
Only approximately one-third of ABC member publications submitted circ data for the period April–June 2020. This is due to the ABC board allowing publishers the option not to submit circulation data if their circulation has been materially impacted by the crisis. The board will be making a decision regarding the “normal”/compulsory submission of data from the next period (July–September 2020).
Newspapers
Not a single daily, weekly or weekend newspaper reported any numbers at all (not one!).
Magazines
Titles that have been discontinued, according to the ABC submission, include Habitat, REAL|life Magazine, Kuier Combo, Landbouweekblad Boerekos, Sarie Woon, Leisure Wheels, Your Baby and Sarie Bruid.
When Associated Media closed in May 2020, it took Cosmopolitan South Africa, House & Leisure, Good Housekeeping South Africa and Women on Wheels with it. A few days later, Caxton announced the closure of titles such as Bona, Country Life, Essentials, Food & Home, Garden & Home, People, Rooi Rose, Vrouekeur, Woman & Home and Your Family. At the time, it noted that the titles might be on the market if outside parties put offers on the table. A couple of months later, in July, Media24 also announced the closure of Move!, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Bicycling and Runner’s World. DRUM went digital-only.
Total submitted circulation numbers for magazine fell from 3 028 784 in Q2 2019 to only 1 938 267. In the woman’s general category, figures declined from 568 794 copies to a reported 231 410. Travel, tourism and hospitality fell from 268 579 to 140 967 reported copies. Motoring fell from 169 255 to zero reported copies.
See also
- Circulation Data – ABC Analysis
- BREAKING: Media24 planning to close multiple magazines, newspapers
- Caxton to close its magazine division
- Associated Media, publisher of Cosmo SA, to close
Herman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.
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