ABC Analysis Q4 2016: The biggest-circulating newspapers in SA

by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper-circulation statistics for the period October–December 2016 (ABC Q4 2016); see our magazine ABC analysis here.

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 decline, purple maintained, new entrant or renamed, orange discontinued and pink no submission or suspended.

Key insights

Daily newspaper circulation fell to 1 213 424 from 1 360 172 during the previous corresponding reporting period (Q4 2015); pdf replica editions totalled 6 184, up from 5 801 copies in Q3 2016, while single copy sales came in at 907 386. Circulation at the weeklies fell, too — total circulation declined to 489 886 from 528 674; weekend newspapers went to 1 478 664 from 1 673 079; and local papers also saw a decline, falling to 347 769 from 374 343. Free sheets fell to 6 218 571, from 6 301 033.

ABC member circulation totals:

• Daily newspapers: down to 1 213 424, compared to 1 360 172 for the previous corresponding period
• Weekly papers: down to 489 886 from 528 674
• Weekend papers: down to 1 478 664 from 1 673 079
• Local papers: down to 347 769 from 374 343
• Free papers: down to 6 218 571 from 6 301 033

 

Daily papers

In Gauteng, Pretoria News has climbed to 14 515 from 14 201 (sales below 50% of retail cost = 2 664). Beeld has fallen to 41 682 from 46 637 in the previous corresponding reporting period [413 copies go to Print Media in Education (PMIE)]. The Star  is down to 84 168 from 84 772 (sales below 50% = 10 750). Sowetan is down to 82 624 from 90 296.

In the Cape, Die Burger (Eastern and Western Cape editions) has declined to 50 258 from 53 483. The Cape Argus has decreased slightly to 29 796 from 30 484 (2 896 to PMIE), while the Cape Times has also declined to 30 781 — down from 32 029 (2 285 copies go to PMIE). Son has fallen to 74 103 from 79 776.

In the Eastern Cape, Daily Dispatch has fallen to 19 649 from 23 611, and The Herald to 18 010 from 19 882.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Daily News is up slightly 24 610 from 24 556 (796 = sales below 50%) and The Mercury climbs to 26 165 from 25 602. The Witness has declined to 13 597 from 14 549.

Business Day has declined to 22 069 from 25 350, The Citizen to 44 390 from 53 343 (single copy sales: 29 762), and Daily Sun to 181 330 from 217 012. Isolezwe has fallen to 90 724 from 99 499. The Times is down to 56 027 from 100 363.

Volksblad has declined to 15 314 from 16 919. Diamond Fields Advertiser is down to 7 866 from 8 615.

The MarkLives Big Daily Newspaper List*

1. Daily Sun: 181 330
2. Isolezwe: 90 724
3. The Star: 84 168  +1
4. Sowetan: 82 624  -1
5. Son: 74 103
6. The Times: 56 027
7. Die Burger: 50 258
8. The Citizen: 44 390
9. Beeld: 41 682
10. The Cape Times: 30 781

Weekly & weekend papers

Pretoria News Saturday has grown to 8 899 from 7 414 (sales below 50% of cover price: 1 636); the Saturday Star is up to 51 994 from 50 781 (sales below 50% of cover price: 4 585); the Weekend Argus Sunday edition to 17 772 from 17 060; and Independent on Saturday up slightly to 36 788 from 36 729. Saturday Beeld has fallen to 39 761 from 42 629; Saturday Burger to 63 940 from 66 624; the Weekend Argus Saturday edition to 34 233 from 36 954; and Saturday Dispatch to 18 471 from 19 598.

City Press has declined to 81 488 from 88 938 and Rapport to 128 460 from 138 030 (single copy sales: 103 967). The Sunday Times has declined strongly to 274 369 from 332 272 (single copy sales: 156 975). Sunday Tribune has declined to 57 640 from 61 765 (sales below 50% = 4 700). Sunday Sun is down to 96 760 from 129 151 and Sunday World has also dropped to 63 450 from 84 974.

Ilanga Langesonto has declined to 40 188 from 43 347 and Isolezwe ngeSonto has fallen to 74 077 from 80 538. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo has fallen to 69 387 from 77 271.

In terms of the weeklies, The Post has inched up to 43 482 from 43 439 (sales below 50%: 2 636)s and Ilanga has fallen to 68 327 from 72 453, . The Mail & Guardian has fallen to 32 034 from 33 213. Soccer Laduma is down to 266 811 from 289 739.

The MarkLives’ Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*

1. Sunday Times: 274 369  +1
2. Soccer Laduma: 266 811  -1
3. Daily Sun: 181 330
4. Rapport: 128 460
5. Sunday Sun: 96 760
6. Isolezwe: 90 724
7. The Star:  84 168  +1
8. Sowetan: 82 624  -1
9. City Press:  81 488
10. Isolezwe ngeSonto: 74 077  re-entry

Son: 74 103
Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo: 69 387  falls out of Top 10
Ilanga: 68 327
Sunday World:  63 450

*South African titles only. Must have a cover price. Excludes free papers.

ABC Q4 2016 stories:

• ABC Analysis Q4 2016: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa
• ABC Analysis Q4 2016: The biggest-circulating consumer magazines in South Africa

ABC Q3 2016 stories:

• ABC Analysis Q3 2016: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa
• ABC Analysis Q3 2016: The biggest-circulating consumer magazines in South Africa

ABC Q2 2016 stories:

• ABC Analysis Q2 2016: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa
• ABC Analysis Q2 2016: The biggest-circulating consumer magazines in South Africa

ABC Q1 2016 stories:

• ABC Analysis Q1 2016: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa
• ABC Analysis Q1 2016: The biggest-circulating consumer magazines in South Africa

For more ABC stories:

• ABC Analysis – Circulation Data

 

Herman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.

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