by Herman Manson (@marklives) The ABC has released circulation statistics for the period July 2013 – September 2013 (ABC Q3 2013). Here are a couple of numbers that stood out in terms of newspaper circulations.
Note: We compare the current figures with the same figures for this time last year and not with the previous quarter.
For magazine circulation figures, click here
ABC member circulation totals:
Daily Newspapers: down to 1,475,429 from 1,566,778 for the previous corresponding period
Weekly papers: down to 652,927 from 706,255
Weekend papers: down to 2,163,784 from 2,338,836
Local papers: down to 423,199 from 449,874
‘Hydrid’ papers: up to 166,325 from 166,181
Free papers: up to 6,499,162 from 6,116,772
Daily papers:
Beeld fell to 64,329 from 70,070 and Pretoria News is down to 17,194 from 19,235. Sowetan declined to 99,061 from 101,155 and The Star to 100,804 from 105,686. The Citizen fell to 60,242 from 66,116.
Western Cape paper the Cape Argus fell to 30,777 from 33,006 while the Cape Times declined to 32,435 from 34,523. Die Burger (Eastern & Western Cape) fell to 58,134 from 61,817.
Daily News fell to 30,538 from 31,698 and The Mercury declined to 28,646 from 30,040 but Isolezwe climbed to 108,484 from 107,628. The Witness fell to 17,260 from 18,374
Daily Dispatch is up slightly to 26,501 from 26,390. The Herald is down to 21,446 from 22,563.
On the tabloid front Daily Sun fell to 291,132 from 336,319. Son fell to 86,598 from 94,610.
Business Day is down to 32,846 from 35,828. The Times** grew to 143,957 from 140,078.
MarkLives Big Daily Newspaper List*
1. Daily Sun 291,132
2. The Times 143,957
3. Isolezwe 108,484
4. The Star 100,804
5. Sowetan 99,061
6. Son 86,598
7. Beeld 64,329
8. The Citizen 60,242
9. Die Burger 58,134
10 Cape Times 32,846
Weekly & Weekend papers
Ilanga saw a significant circulation drop to 99,582 from 124,200 as did Soccer Laduma – to 334,869 from 360,668. The Mail & Guardian declined to 42,242 from 44,400.
Beeld on Saturday fell to 59,690 from 69,109 and Die Burger (combined Eastern & Western Cape editions) declined to 72,381 from 76,727. Independent on Saturday rose to 44,141 from 43,780. Saturday Star fell to 73,408 from 75,682. Weekend Argus fell to 57,022 from 60,201.
City Press fell to 121,137 from 135,148 and Rapport fell to 183,187 from 220,494. The Sunday Times declined significantly to 420,066 from 451,676. The Sunday Independent fell to 34,490 from 35,033. Sunday Tribune fell to 70,167 from 74,856.
Ilanga Langesonto fell to 56,656 from 74,350. Isolezwe ngeSonto climbed to 84,726 from 84,577 and Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo climbed to 78,772 from 73,187.
Sunday Sun fell to 176,692 from 199,183 as did the Sunday World to 116,875 from 141,260.
MarkLives Biggest Circulation per issue Newspaper List*
1. Sundy Times 420,066
2. Soccer Laduma 334,869
3. Daily Sun 291,132
4. Rapport 183,187
5. Sunday Sun 176,692
6. The Times 143,957
7. City Press 121,137 +1
8. Sunday World 116,875 -1
9. Isolezwe 108,484
10 The Star 100,804 Re-entry
Ilanga 99,582 Out of Top 10
Sowetan 99,061
Son 86,598
** ABC considers The Times a hydrid (paid-for and free to subscribers of The Sunday Times) newspaper.
* South African titles only. Must have cover price. Excludes Free papers.