ABC Analysis Q4 2012: Oops! Newspapers just did it again

Yup print newspaper proprietors generally did a decent impression of Britney Spears’ career path judging by the current (continuing downward) trajectory of newspaper print circulation.

The ABC has released circulation statistics for the period October 2012 – December 2012 (ABC Q4 2012). Here are a couple of numbers that stood out in terms of newspaper circulations.

Note: We compare the current figures with the same figures for this time last year and not with the previous quarter.

For magazine circulation figures click here

Daily newspapers

Beeld falls to 66,132 from 73,486. Cape Argus falls to 32,337 from 44,159 and the Cape Times falls to 34,627 from 42,849. Tabloid Daily Sun is down to 322,324 from 380,683 (336,319 in Q3 2012). Pretoria News – down to 17,576 from 21,721. Son falls to 96,598 from 105,775 and the Sowetan is down to 100,349 from 117,862. The Star – 102,244 down from 128,683.

Isolezwe is up slightly to 106,858 from 103,467.

MarkLives Big Daily Newspaper List*

1. Daily Sun 322,324
2. The Times** 146,956
3. Isolezwe 106,858
4. The Star 102,244
5. Sowetan 100,349
6. Son 96,598
7. Beeld 66,132
8. The Citizen 64,627
9. Die Burger (Wes Kaap) 50,674
10. Business Day 35,149

** ABC considers The Times a hydrid (paid-for and free to subscribers of The Sunday Times) newspaper.
* South African titles only. Must have cover price. Excludes Free papers.

Weekly & Weekend papers

Amongst the weekend papers Beeld (Saturday edition) fell to 63,962 from 70,311 and Die Burger to 76,805 from 79,363. The Saturday Star plunged to 75,089 from 94,439. Weekend Argus – down to 60,383 from 70,134

Sunday papers also faced circulation decline. City Press fell to 126,400 from 149,265. Rapport fell to 213,460 from 218,053 and The Sunday Times fell to 449,799 from 462,895. Tabloid Sunday Sun fell to 184,417 from 213,041 and Sunday World fell to 130,656 from 146,149.

Ilanga Langesonto declined to 64,344 from 79,521 but Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo climbed to 73,448 from 58,851 and Isolezwe ngeSonto climbed to 87,175 from 80,050.

In terms of the weekly newspapers Ilanga fell to 118,584 from 129,452 and the Mail & Guardian declined slightly to 48,999 from 50,474. Soccer Laduma breaks the trend going up to 311,774 from 300,488 (but its down from  360,668 in Q3 2012).

MarkLives Big Weekend Newspaper List*

1. Sunday Times 449,799
2. Rapport 213,460
3. Sunday Sun 184,417
4. Sunday World 130,656
5. City Press 126,400
6. Isolezwe ngeSonto 87,175
7. Saturday Star 75,089
8. Sunday Tribune 71,675
9. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo 73,448 +1
10. Die Burger (Wes Kaap) 64,826 New

MarkLives Biggest Circulation per issue Newspaper List*

1. Sunday Times 449,799
2. Daily Sun 322,324 +1
3. Soccer Laduma 311,774 -1
4. Rapport 213,460
5. Sunday Sun 184,417
6. The Times** 146,956 +1
7. Sunday World 130,656 -1
8. City Press 126,400
9. Isolezwe 106,858
10. The Star 102,244

11. Sowetan 100,349

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

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For more analysis see  ABC figures for Q4 2012 show the massive challenges facing Survé at the Indie by Gill Moodie