by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper circulation statistics for the period April — June 2014 (ABC Q2 2014).
Daily newspapers have increased circulation to 1 571 532 – up from 1 494 023 in the previous corresponding period. Copy sales stand at 1 
200 894. Digital editions come in at 6 250.
Circulation at the weeklies have fallen to 585 872 from 619 400 (and 621 750 in Q1 2014). Weekend newspapers have fallen to 2 000 983 from 2 205 462 in the previous corresponding period.
Local papers have declined to 410 140 from 437 815. Free newspapers jumped to 6 599 464 from 6 281 506.
The ABC notes in its quarterly presentation today that “while circulation has dropped 4.7% major newspapers titles still claim ‘growth’ by adding copies in under the “distribution below 50%” of the cover price category.”
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 1 571 532 from 1 494 023 for the previous corresponding period
Weekly papers: down to 585 872 from 619 400
Weekend papers: down to 2 000 983 from 2 205 462
Local papers: down to 410 140 from 437 815
Free papers: up to 6 599 464 from 6 281 506
Daily papers
In Gauteng Beeld has fallen to 59 544 from 64 073 (The ABC notes that Afrikaans daily titles have declined by 7.1% annually, 95,000 copies, over the period) , The Star to 96 029 from 102 498 and Pretoria News to 16 914 from 17 750. Sowetan has held steady at 99 529 from 99 517.
On the coast Die Burger (Eastern and Western Cape editions) has declined to 57 423 from 59 704. Cape Argus has fallen to 29 170 from 33 297 and the Cape Times to 31 784 from 35 396. The Daily Dispatch (East London) has bucked the trend by growing to 26 915 from 25 956 as has The Herald (PE), growing to 22 987 from 22 255. In the Northern Cape the Diamond Fields Advertiser (Kimberley) has shown slight growth to 9 519 from 9 378.
KZN’s Daily News has fallen to 29 457 from 31 383, The Mercury to 28 938 from 30 121 and The Witness to 17 308 from 17 908. Isolezwe has declined to 104 860 from 110 764.
On the tabloid front Daily Sun has gone down to 274 165 from 287 222 and Die Son to 84 726 from 91 735.
Business Day has fallen to 30 901 from 32 486. The Citizen has dropped to 57 096 from 61 623. The Times has come in at 144 440 (up from 142 603 in the previous quarter). Volksblad has fallen to 19 576 from 20 059.
The MarkLives Big Daily Newspaper List*
1. Daily Sun: 274 165
2. The Times: 144 440
3. Isolezwe: 104 860
4. Sowetan: 99 529 +1
5. The Star: 96 029 -1
6. Son: 84 726
7. Beeld: 59 544
8. Die Burger: 57 423
9. The Citizen: 57 096
10. Cape Times: 31 784
Business Day: 30 901
Weekly and weekend papers
Among the weeklies, Ilanga has fallen to 93 914 from 107 102. The Mail & Guardian has declined to 39 999 from 42 496. The Post is down to 43 463 from 44 072. Soccer Laduma has grown to 295 964 from 292 328.
In terms of the Saturday press (including Saturday editions of the dailies): Beeld has fallen to 53 408 from 59 944 and Die Burger to 71 141 from 74 256. The Citizen is down to 36 901 from 37 947 and Independent on Saturday to 41 070 from 42 635. The Saturday Star has fallen to 70 963 from 75 128. Saturday Dispatch has grown to 21 412 from 20 186.
On Sundays The Citizen has fallen to 118 956 from 120 666, the Sunday Times to 390 738 from 422 869 and Rapport to 175 552 from 192 328 (The ABC notes that Afrikaans weekend titles have declined by 7.1% annually, or by 95,000 copies, over the period.). Son op Sondag has fallen to 49 762 from 54 367 and Sunday Tribune to 68 920 from 73 521. Sunday World has declined to 106 812 from 127 659. Holy moly – The Sunday Independent has resigned from the ABC. Grubstreet offers an explanation, but I’m not sure I’m buying. Sunday Sun has grown to 177 304 from 170 843.
Ilanga Langesonto has fallen to 52 361 from 59 152 and Isolezwe ngeSonto to 85 700 from 91 368. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo has fallen to 79 476 from 79 874. Weekend Argus has fallen to 55 017 from 60 076.
The MarkLives Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*
1. Sunday Times: 390 738
2. Soccer Laduma: 295 964
3. Daily Sun: 274 165
4. Sunday Sun: 177 304
5. Rapport: 175 552
6. The Times: 144 440
7. City Press: 118 956
8. Sunday World: 106 812
9. Isolezwe: 104 860
10. Sowetan: 99 529 New Entry
The Star: 96 029 Falls out of Top 10
Ilanga: 93 914
*South African titles only. Must have cover price. Excludes free papers.
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As a journalist, the continuing drop in print circulations is depressing. Very interesting would be figures from, say, 10 years ago compared to the present. It would also be cool to have data on how many ‘giveaways’ (such as the thousands given feee at airports) are included in the alleged circulation figures.