by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper circulation statistics for the period January — March 2014 (ABC Q1 2014).
Daily newspapers have seen a slight uptick in circulation to 1 622 041, compared to 1 541 488 in the previous corresponding period.
The Times, which was moved by the ABC into the daily category in the meantime, has contributed 142 603 copies to that tally. Take it out, and the category has declined by over 62 000 copies over the course of the year.
Copy sales stand at 1 247 511. Digital editions come in at 5 741.
Circulation at the weeklies have also fallen — total circulation has declined to 621 750 from 630 268 (and 632 934 in 2013 Q4). Weekend newspapers have fallen to 2 086 611 from 2 292 053 in the previous corresponding period.
Local papers have not been not spared the decline, either. Circulation has fallen to 432 771, from 446 648.
Free sheets grew dramatically to 6 596 237 from 6 195 065.
Note: we compare the current figures with the same figures for this time last year, and not with the previous quarter. Green equals growth, red equals decline. For magazine circulation figures, click here.
ABC member circulation totals:
Daily Newspapers: up to 1 622 041 from 1 541 488 for the previous corresponding period
Weekly papers: down to 621 750 from 630 268
Weekend papers: down to 2 086 611 from 2 292 053
Local papers: down to 432 771 from 446 648
Free papers: up to 6 596 237 from 6 195 065
Daily papers
In Gauteng, Beeld has fallen to 62 766 from 67 700. The Citizen has declined to 57 385 from 63 854, Pretoria News to 17 445 from 18 775 and The Star to 101 711 from 106 484. Sowetan, however, has grown to 99 403 from 98 258.
In the Cape, Die Burger (Western and Eastern Cape) has declined to 59 895, from 62 237. Cape Argus has fallen to 30 319 from 33 247, while sister title The Cape Times has fallen to 33 986 from 35 616. Well done to the Daily Dispatch (East London) for bucking the negative trend! It has grown to 30 199 from 28 879, on the back of its continued investment in strong journalism. The Herald (Nelson Mandela Bay) has grown slightly to 23 605 from 23 372. Son has fallen to 84 870 from 92 213.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Daily News has fallen to 30 016 from 32 002 and The Mercury to 29 616 from 31 025. Isolezwe is up to 119 846 from 116 186. The Witness has fallen to 17 693 from 19 001.
In the Free State, Volksblad has fallen to 20 590 from 21 811 and, in the Northern Cape, DFA has grown to 9 745 from 9 691.
Daily Sun is down to 283 216 from 296 489. Business Day is down slightly to 32 854 from 33 690. The Times comes in at 142 603, slightly up from 142 117.
The MarkLives Big Daily Newspaper List*
- Daily Sun: 283 216
- The Times: 142 603
- Isolezwe: 119 846
- The Star: 101 711
- Sowetan: 99 403
- Son: 84 870
- Beeld: 62 766
- Die Burger: 59 895
- The Citizen: 57 385
- Cape Times: 33 986 + [new entry]
Business Day has fallen out of our Top 10, to be replaced by the Cape Times.
Weekly and weekend papers
Among the weeklies, Ilanga has fallen to 100 853 from 117 115. The Mail & Guardian has to 44 266 from 45279 (also down markedly on Q4 2013, when it came in at 51 551).
The Post has managed to grow to 45 503 from 44 984. Soccer Laduma has enjoyed significant growth — circulation is up to 317 013, from 289 654.
Lots of bad news for the Saturday papers: Beeld has fallen to 55 260 from 65 645 and The Citizen to 35 865 from 37730. Independent on Saturday has declined to 40 849 from 44 169 and Pretoria News Saturday to 10 177 from 11 382. The Saturday Star has fallen to 72 556, from 76 897
Die Burger has fallen to 73 588 from 78 301. Weekend Argus (Saturday and Sunday editions) has fallen to 56 508 from 61 715. On the upside, Saturday Dispatch has grown to 22 109, from 20 450.
On Sundays, City Press has held steady at 118 676 (compared to 118 547). Rapport has continued its decline to 177 016 from 210 675 (and 187 288 in Q4 2013), as has the Sunday Times — to 405 458 from 442 018 (and 411 186 in Q4 2013). The Sunday Independent has fallen to 34 543 from 35 200, and Sunday Tribune to 68 668 from 75 304.
Sunday Sun has grown to 172 741 from 169 412. Son op Sondag is down to 50 186 from 55 885 and Sunday World has fallen to 113 757, from 126 120.
Ilanga Langesonto has fallen to 55 224 from 61 918 and Isolezwe ngeSonto to 93 268 from 95 672. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo has grown slightly to 80 976, from 80 792.
The MarkLives Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*
- Sunday Times: 405 458
- Soccer Laduma: 317 013
- Daily Sun: 283 216
- Rapport: 177 016
- Sunday Sun: 172 741
- The Times: 142 603
- Isolezwe: 119 846 +2
- City Press: 118 676 -1
- Sunday World: 113 757 -1
- The Star: 101 711
Ilanga: 100 853
Sowetan: 99 403
Isolezwe ngeSonto: 93 268
*South African titles only. Must have cover price. Excludes free papers.
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ABC: The biggest circulating newspapers in South Africa
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