by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper circulation statistics for the period July–September 2014 (ABC Q3 2014). (See our magazine ABC analysis here.)
Daily newspapers have increased their combined circulation figures to 1 532 305 compared to 1 475 429 (a number that includes a number of sub-Saharan newspapers outside of SA) in the previous corresponding reporting period (we are also still seeing the impact of The Times changing sectors — from hybrid to daily).
It’s also still down from 1 571 532 in Q2. Copy sales stand at 1 171 799 (or 792 067 for SA papers only). Digital editions have declined, compared to Q2 — to 5 849 from 6 250.
Weekend papers have declined to 1 930 485 from 2 163 784. SA-only circulation stands at 1 789 625. Copy sales stand at 1 513 161 and digital PDF replicas at 4 397. Weeklies have declined to 612 864 from 652 927.
Note: we compare the current figures with the same figures for this time last year, and not with the previous quarter. Green equals growth, dark red equals decline, and orange equals resigned.
ABC member circulation totals:
- Daily newspapers: up to 1 532 305 compared to 1 475 429 for the previous corresponding period
- Weekly papers: down to 612 864 from 652 927
- Weekend papers: down to 1 930 485 from 2 163 784
- Local papers: down to down to 410 676 from 423 199
- Free papers: up to 6 547 750 from 6 458 826
Daily papers
In Gauteng, Beeld has fallen to 59 282 and Pretoria News to 15 124 from 17 194. The Star has suffered a significant decline to 84 785 from 100 804. Sowetan is up to 99 287 from 99 061.
In the Cape, Die Burger (Eastern and Western Cape editions) has declined to 55 894 from 58 134. The Cape Argus has fallen to 29 004 from 30 777 and the Cape Times to 31 548 from 32 435. Son falls to 80 584 from 86 598.
In the Eastern Cape, Daily Dispatch holds steady at 26 684 — up slightly from 26 501 — as does The Herald: up to 21 972 from 21 446.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Daily News has fallen to 27 989 from 30 538 and The Mercury to 27 392 from 28 646. The Witness has grown to 17 573 from 17 260.
Business Day has declined to 30 699 from 32 846, The Citizen to 55 875 from 60 242. Daily Sun falls to 262 431 from 291 132 and Isolezwe to 101 584 from 108 484.
Volksblad has declined to 19 015 from 20 468.
The MarkLives Big Daily Newspaper List*
1. Daily Sun: 262 431
2. The Times: 145 090
3. Isolezwe: 101 584
4. Sowetan: 99 287
5. The Star: 84 785
6. Son: 80 584
7. Beeld: 59 282
8. Die Burger: 55 894
9. The Citizen: 55 875
10. Cape Times: 31 548
Weekly & weekend papers
Saturday Beeld has fallen to 49 234 from 59 690, and Pretoria News Saturday to 8 034 from 10 515. The Saturday Star is down to 62 514 from 73 408. Saturday Burger falls to 68 598 from 72 381 and Weekend Argus to 54 516 from 57 022. Saturday Dispatch climbs to 21 241 from 19 561.
City Press has declined to 113 550 from 121 137 and Rapport to 163 329 from 183 187. The Sunday Times falls to 390 511 from 420 066. Sunday Tribune is down to 65 378 from 70 167. The Sunday Independent resigned from the ABC in Q2. Sunday Sun is down to 166 814 from 176 692 and Sunday World to 106 507 from 116 875.
Ilanga Langesonto has declined to 49 298 from 56 656, Isolezwe ngeSonto to 82 292 from 84 726 and Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo to 74 195 from 78 772.
In terms of the weeklies: Ilanga has fallen to 88 923 from 99 582, The Post to 42 202 from 44 722 and the Mail & Guardian to 37 627 from 42 242. Soccer Laduma has declined to 328 041 from 334 869.
The MarkLives’ Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*
1. Sunday Times: 390 511
2. Soccer Laduma: 328 041
3. Daily Sun: 262 431
4. Sunday Sun: 166 814
5. Rapport: 163 329
6. The Times: 145 090
7. City Press: 113 550
8. Sunday World: 106 507
9. Isolezwe: 101 584
10. Sowetan: 99 287
• Ilanga: 88 923
• The Star: 84 785
• Son: 80 584
*South African titles only. Must have a cover price. Excludes free papers.
ABC Q3 2014 stories:
- ABC Analysis Q3 2104: The biggest-circulating consumer magazines in South Africa
- ABC Analysis Q3 2104: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa
- ABC Magazine Round-up Q3 2014: Consumer mags revisit flawed circ counting
- ABC Newspaper Round-up Q3 2014: The Star is down 15.89%
ABC Q2 2014 stories from earlier this year:
- ABC Analysis Q2 2014: The biggest circulating consumer magazines in South Africa
- ABC Analysis Q2 2014: The biggest circulating newspapers in South Africa
- ABC Magazine Round-up Q2 2014: Even the good news is bad news
- ABC Newspaper Round-up Q2014: Depressing doesn’t even describe it
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