Circulation Data – ABC Analysis

Daily newspaper circulation fell by 10% yoy — ABC Q1 2019

by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper-circulation statistics for the period January–March 2019 (ABC Q1 2019); see our consumer magazine ABC analysis here.

Newspaper overview

Total newspaper circulation declined declined by 1.4% the previous quarter, and by 5.0% on the previous year
Daily newspapers declined by 2.6% on the previous quarter, and by 10.5% on the previous year
Weekly newspapers declined by 0.5% on the previous quarter, and by 7.9% on the previous year
Weekend newspapers declined by 1.6% on the previous quarter, and by 10.4% on the previous year
Local newspapers increased by 0.2% on the previous quarter, but declined by 8.1% on the previous year
Free newspapers declined by 1.4% on the previous quarter, and by 3.0% on the previous year.

Daily papers

In Gauteng, Pretoria News has declined from 12 600 to 12 478 (copy sales: 6 839) in the corresponding previous period (Q1 2018). Beeld has fallen from 36 182 to 32 797. The Star is down from 75 836 to 72 010 (sales below 50%: 9 974; contracted travel sales: 19 978). Sowetan has inched up from 70 120 to 70 737.

In the Cape, Die Burger (Eastern and Western Cape editions) has declined from 47 420 to 39 625 (after moving the Eastern Cape edition to digital only, except for a printed Friday paper).

The Cape Argus has decreased from 27 946 to 27 245 (sales below 50%: 3 551), while the Cape Times has declined from 29 994 to 29 523 (sales below 50%: 3 057). Son has fallen from 62 842 to 55 126.

In the Eastern Cape, Daily Dispatch has fallen from 17 958 to 15 468, and The Herald from 16 584 to 14 793.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Daily News is down from 23 105 to 22 393 (sales below 50%: 3 782; contracted travel sales: 4 364) and The Mercury has fallen from 25 659 to 24 402 (sales below 50%: 3 427; contracted travel sales: 4 132). The Witness has declined from 11 681 to 10 779.

The Citizen has fallen from 45 358 to 40 481 (multi copy sales = 4 176, contracted travel sales = 8 253) and Business Day has declined from 20 350 to 18 053 (sales below 50% = 2 341). The Daily Sun has fallen from 141 187 to 117 220. Isolezwe has decreased from 86 342 to 72 495.

Volksblad has declined from 13 991 to 13 341. Diamond Fields Advertiser has decreased from 7 794 to 7 113.

Leading declines (YOY)*

Daily Dispatch -18%
Son -18%
Daily Sun -17%
Die Burger (combined editions) -16%
Isolezwe -16%
Business Day -11%
The Citizen -11%
The Herald -11%

Leading gains (YOY)*

Sowetan +1%

*Circulation compared to corresponding previous period (Q1 2018); excludes regional editions.

Weekly & weekend papers

Pretoria News Saturday has declined from 7 510 to 7 057 (sales below 50% of cover price: 1 500); the Saturday Star from 45 172 to 39 386 (sales below 50% of cover price: 4 811; contracted travel sales: 6 675); the Weekend Argus (Saturday and Sunday editions) from 52 004 to 49 681 (sales below 50% of cover price: 6 416) and the Independent on Saturday from 36 144 to 35 227 (sales below 50% of cover price has surged to 9 718).

Saturday Beeld has climbed from 37 250 to 38 808 but Saturday Burger has fallen from 61 749 to 52 712 (after discontinuing its Eastern Cape edition) and Daily Dispatch Weekend Edition (formerly Saturday Dispatch) from 14 639 to 13 132.

City Press has dropped 21% from 58 566 to 46 198 and Rapport from 113 636 to 105 784. The Sunday Times has declined from 260 132 to 240 180 (contracted travel sales: 23 859; multi copy sales: 8 413).

Sunday Tribune has declined from 50 064 to 48 181 (sales below 50% has climbed to 11 330). Sunday Sun has continued its collapse with a 28% decrease from 62 674 to 44 893, as has does the Sunday World, by 16%, falling from 47 835 to 40 383.

Ilanga Langesonto has declined from 34 146 to 33 066 and Isolezwe ngeSonto has fallen from 65 489 to 55 230 (-16%). Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo has gone from 64 676 to 57 143 (-12%).

In terms of the weeklies, The Post has inched up from 37 310 to 37 553 (sales below 50% are up dramatically to 2 857) while Ilanga has climbed 3% from 56 481 to 57 965. The Mail & Guardian has declined by 12% from 26 945 to 23 605. Soccer Laduma is down 11% from 252 041 to 224 186.

Leading declines — weekend & weekly papers (YOY)*

Sunday Sun -28%
City Press -21%
The Citizen -19%
Isolezwe ngeSonto -16%
Sunday World -16%
Die Burger -15%
Weekend Post -14%
The Saturday Star -13%
Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo -12%
Mail & Guardian -12%
Soccer Laduma -11%