The ABC has released circulation statistics for the period January 2013 to March 2013 (ABC Q1 2013). Here are a couple of consumer magazine ABC numbers that popped out for us. We also updated our list of the biggest circulating consumer magazines in SA!
Total ABC member circulation fell to 6,207,891 from 7,004,714 in the previous corresponding period.
Note: We compare the current figures with the same figures for this time last year and not with the previous quarter!
Magazines not entertained
On the previous quarter we reported that the ABC figures for music magazine Tempo (from the Huisgenoot brand extension stable) dropped from 62,928 (Q4 2011) to 39,991 (Q4 2012). Well, in Q1 it managed to claim an ABC of exactly 39,991 once again. We smell BS.
Heat fell to 29,422 from 30,193 (but its up on Q4 2012 when it stood at 27,945). People fell to 82,464 from 87,179. TV Plus (Afrikaans) fell to 37,752 from 40,385 and twin title TV Plus (English) declined to 41,594 from 47,140.
Bona fell to 98,267 from 106,981, Drum fell to 121,768 from 138,007, Huisgenoot declined to 285,520 from 298,262 and YOU fell to 165,330 from 181,071 (up from 155,125 in Q4 2012). Reader’s Digest fell to 28,378 from 31,486 for the previous corresponding period. In Q4 2012 it had hit 40,269 – so it’s a bit of a shocker for a title than many have kicked to the curb already.
The Big Issue did very well for itself jumping to 15,074 from 10,651.
Rolling Stone was critised for not publishing its ABC figuires in the last two quarters. They are back in but shows a steady decline – down to 7,155 from 15,889 (total paid: 5,755). This can’t be a sustainable figure surely?
The Red Bulletin slashed circulation to 38,425 from 69,700 (total paid: 19).
Bad to worse for Finweek
FM dipped slightly to 23,049 from 23,413 for the previous corresponding period (total paid: 20,964). Finweek dropped substantially to 17,571 from 25,561 (and down from 23,456 in Q1). The magazine has been given some time to save itself, but these numbers are not positive at all. Finweek had a total paid circulation of 14,808 in Q1 2013.
Entrepreneur stayed steady at 20,272. Forbes Africa climbed to 21,471 from 13,908 (total paid: 10,029, single copy sales: 5,787). Noseweek climbed to 20,417 from 18,429.
Good news for Home category
Conde Nast House & Garden climed to 47,812 from 44,978 (paid for: 39,759). Easy DIY published an ABC of 23,414. Elle Deco climbed to 23,630 from 22,130. Food and Home Entertaining was up to 34,052 from 32,720. House & Leisure was up 54,551 to 43,605 (paid for: 44,237). Interesting that all editions of The Property Magazine has resigned from the ABC.
SA Garden and Home – up to 60,902 from 52,669 while Die Tuinier climbed to 24,038 from 21,158. Tuis/Home climbed to 85,654 from 80,457. VISI climbed slightly to 12,531 from 11,599.
It was a guy thing
Braintainment – oh dear – it just published the exact same figures for Q1 as it did for Q4 2012 -12,525 (up from 11,666). Destiny Man climbed slightly to 19,251 from 18,869.
FHM fell to 32,270 from 47,168 (but up from the 29,382 it reported for Q4 2012). GQ – down to 28,084 from 30,036. Men’s Health – down to 69,196 from 74,903. Popular Mechanics declined to 48,283 from 50,787 and Stuff declined to 25,317 from 26,018. Playboy SA resigned – remember we questioned their ABC figures in our previous update?
CAR fell to 89,620 from 91,198 and Speed & Sound declined to 41,143 from 44,594. TopCar fell to 17,706 from 19,308 and TopGear fell to 32,896 from 36,10219,308. SA4x4 climbed to 23,299 from 18,520.
Woman’s (dis)Interest
Cosmopolitan fell to 83,049 from 85,724 (and 86,885 in Q4 2012). Destiny is down to 28,337 from 30,321. Essentials declined to 37,147 from 40,944. Finesse fell to 69,562 from 80,979 (Q4 2012 – 72,661). Not that long ago they had a circulation of close to 100 000. Glamour fell to 72,676 from 77,588. Good Housekeeping is down to 66,169 from 71,760 while Move! fell to 119,480 from 144,078. O Magazine is down to 35,197 from 41,267. Real magazine collapsed to 48,216 from 63,907.
Rooi Rose – down to 96,621 from 104,533 while arch rival Sarie fell to 104,862 from 120,402. True Love? Down to 67,388 from 79,309. Women’s Health – down to 74,492 from 78,791. VOILA! was discontinued.
Elle is up to 32,544 from 30,083. Fair Lady climbed to 59,121 from 51,302. Grazia came in at 23,686. Ideas/Idees climbed to 89,321 from 85,679, Kuier hit 95,846 from 64,787 (94,926 in Q4 2012). Woman and Home is up to 90,830 from 86,160.
Travel
Getaway climbed to 55,424 from 54,585 as did Country Life (to 40,708 from 36,246). Weg/GO fell to 79,727 from 83,592.
Others
NAG climed to 21,329 from 16,624 (total paid: 16,941). Kick Off fell to 47,425 from 55,874. SA Hunter climbed to 38,517 from 33,994. Sowetan magazine climed to 20,373 from 17,857. National Geographic Kids fell to 27,848 from 30,487. Teenzone climbed to 16,044 from 14,206.
The MarkLives Big Magazine list*
1. Huisgenoot 285,520 –
2. YOU 165,330 –
3. Drum 121,768 –
4. Move! 119,480 –
5. Sarie 104,862 +4
6. Bona 98,267 +1
7. Kuier 95,846 +1
8. Rooi Rose 96,621 -3
9. Woman and Home 90,830 -3
10. CAR 89,620 Reentry
Ideas/Idees 89,321
Tuis/Home 85,654
People 82,464
Cosmopolitan 83,049
* By total circulation. Must have a cover price. Annuals Excluded.
Movement on the Big Magazine list compared to 2012 Q4 data.
Past ABC reports
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