ABC Analysis Q4 2017: 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 2017 (ABC Q4 2017); see our magazine ABC analysis here.

2 July 2019: Indy circ figures fall in ABC restatement

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 declined; purple maintained, new entrant or renamed; orange discontinued or resigned; pink no submission or suspended; brown minimal newsstand sales; and grey moved to a new category.

Key insights

Daily newspapers saw a 8.2% decline over Q3, and a 17% decline over the prior year, largely driven by the closure of The Times, according to the latest data released by the ABC. Declines occurred in all categories of circulation. Die Burger Daily increased by 2.2% over quarter Q3 but declined by 5.7% over the prior year. Business Day increased by 1.4% over Q3, but declined by 8% over the prior year, and The Mercury increased by 1.2% over Q3 but declined by 2.8% over the prior year.

Weekly papers saw a 7.6% decline over Q3, and a 7% decline over the prior year. Single Copy Sales still represents 92% of weekly papers’ circulation. The Post increased by 9.1% over Q3 but declined by 7.9% over the prior year, while the Mail & Guardian increased marginally over Q3 but declined by 4.8% over the prior year.

Weekend papers saw 2.9% decline over Q3, and 12.3% decline over the prior year. Declines occurred in all categories of circulation. Weekend Post increased by 2.6% over Q3 but declined by 6.9% over the prior year, while Die Burger Saturday increased by 2.5% over Q3 but declined by 5.4% over the prior year. Independent on Saturday increased marginally over Q, but declined by 4% over the prior year.

Local newspapers saw 2.6% decline over Q3, and 6.4% over the prior year.

ABC member circulation totals:

Daily newspapers: down from 1 213 416 to 1 042 951, compared to the previous corresponding period
Weekly papers: down from 487 216 to 424 749
Weekend papers: down from 1 478 664 to 1 300 415
Local papers: down from 347 667 to 325 319
Free papers: down from 6 213 884 to 6 100 115

Daily papers

In Gauteng, Pretoria News has fallen from 14 515 to12 532 (sales below 50% of retail cost = 2 269). Beeld has fallen from 41 682 to 35 934 in the previous corresponding reporting period [672 copies go to Print Media in Education (PMIE)]. The Star is down from 84 168 to 74 520 (sales below 50% = 9 375). Sowetan is down from 82 624 to 71 797.

In the Cape, Die Burger (Eastern and Western Cape editions) has declined from 50 258 to 47 400. The Cape Argus has decreased from 29 796 to 27 662 (2 863 to PMIE), while the Cape Times has also declined from 30 781 to 29 673 (2 863 copies go to PMIE). Son has fallen from 74 103 to 66 043.

In the Eastern Cape, Daily Dispatch has fallen from 19 649 to 17 958, and The Herald from 18 010 to 17 067.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Daily News is down from 24 610 to 23 508 (766 = sales below 50%) and The Mercury falls from 26 165 to 25 432. The Witness has declined from 13 597 to 11 641.

Business Day has declined from 22 069 to 20 313 and The Citizen from 44 390 to 43 693 (single copy sales: 29 305). The Daily Sun has collapsed from 181 322 to 143 981. Isolezwe has fallen from 90 724 to 79 476.

Volksblad has declined from 15 314 to 13 906. Diamond Fields Advertiser inches down from 7 866 to 7 599.

The MarkLives Big Daily Newspaper List*

Daily Sun: 143 981
Isolezwe: 79 476
The Star: 74 520
Sowetan: 71 797
Son: 66 043
Die Burger: 47 400 +1
The Citizen: 43 693 +1
Beeld: 35 934 +1
The Cape Times: 29 673 +1
Cape Argus: 27 662 new

With The Times falling out of our table, all papers from no, 6 onwards have moved up one spot.

Weekly & weekend papers

Pretoria News Saturday has declined from 8 899 to 7 357 (sales below 50% of cover price: 1 600). The Saturday Star is down from 51 994 to 44 978 (sales below 50% of cover price: 4 484); the Weekend Argus Saturday edition from 34 233 to 33 996 (sales below 50% of cover price: 4 000); and Independent on Saturday from 36 788 to 35 299.

Saturday Beeld has fallen from 39 761 to 36 105; Saturday Burger from 63 940 to 60 502 and Saturday Dispatch from 18 471 to 14 973.

City Press has declined from 81 488 to 56 056 and Rapport from 128 460 to 112 949 (single copy sales: 88 310). The Sunday Times has declined from 274 369 to 261 024 (single copy sales: 154 205). Sunday Tribune has declined from 57 640 to 49 903 (sales below 50% = 5 818). Sunday Sun has collapsed from 96 760 to 68 342 and Sunday World has also dropped from 63 450 to 51 407.

Ilanga Langesonto has declined from 40 188 to 34 997 and Isolezwe ngeSonto has fallen from 74 077 to 62 382. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo has fallen from 69 387 to 63 225.

In terms of the weeklies, The Post has declined from 43 482 to 40 027 (sales below 50%: 2 127) and Ilanga has fallen from 68 327 to 57 887. The Mail & Guardian has declined from 29 364 to 27 969. Soccer Laduma is down from 266 811 to 250 006.

The MarkLives’ Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*

Sunday Times: 261 024
Soccer Laduma: 250 006
Daily Sun: 143 981
Rapport: 112 949
Isolezwe: 79 476 +1
The Star: 74 520 +1
Sowetan: 71 797 +1
Sunday Sun: 68 342 -3
Son: 66 043 +2 re-entry
Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo: 63 225 +1 re-entry

Isolezwe ngeSonto: 62 382 -1
Die Burger: 60 502
Ilanga: 57 887
City Press: 56 056 -2 exits top 10

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

ABC Analysis Q4 2017: The biggest-circulating newspapers in SA

Key insights

ABC member circulation totals:

Daily papers

The MarkLives Big Daily Newspaper List*

Weekly & weekend papers

The MarkLives’ Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*

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Published by Herman Manson