The ABC has released circulation statistics for the period April 2013 to June 2013 (ABC Q2 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! For the first time in years we have movement in the top 3 positions!
Total ABC member circulation fell to 6,135,842 from 7,047,759 in the previous corresponding period (and from 6,207,891 in the previous quarter).
Note: We compare the current figures with the same figures for this time last year and not with the previous quarter!
Bad quarter for entertainment, celeb titles
Tempo fell to 39,991 from 62,928. Uhm – the 39,991 is the exact same one as for Q4 2012 and in Q1 2013. What’s not to trust? heat fell to 27,929 from 30,925, People fell to 82,644 from 87,058.
Bona continued its decline to 87,683 from 105,816 (and 98,267 in Q1 2013). Drum fell to 121,025 from 130,513, Huisgenoot to 280,593 from 281,045 and YOU to 165,130 from 167,485. Readers Digest made no ABC submission. Often this is a precursor to worse news. Rolling Stone fell to 7,405 from 12,377. This just doesn’t seem like a sustainable figure. The Red Bulletin made no ABC submission after it slashed its circulation to 38,425 from 69,700 (total paid: 19) in the previous quarter. Seventeen fell to 24,327 from 29,125.
The Big Issue bucked the trend to climb to 12,037 from 10,323. Youth title Live SA grew to 50,731 from 48,167 (free distribution)
Bad news for business news
The Financial Mail fell to 22,249 from 23,046 and Finweek fell to 15,191 from 23,716 (and 17,571 in the previous quarter). Finweek has been struggling to reinvent itself. It sits with a total paid circulation of 12,405 compared to that of FM at 20,164. Media24 has overseen the steady decline of the title which was the result of an experiment to combine Finance Week and Finansies & Tegniek. Entrepreneur declined to 17,984 from 18,518. Succeed magazine saw a slight decline to 19,559 from 19,947.
Forbes Africa climbed to 18,531 from 16,127 (total paid: 8,391) and Noseweek climbed to 18,836 from 16,064 (total paid: 18,836).
Good news in Home
Conde Nast House & Garden fell slightly to 44,483 from 44,744.
Elle Decoration climbed slightly to 24,044 from 23,593. Food & Home Entertaining climbed to 36,014 from 34,530. House & Leisure climbed to 45,356 from 40,767, SA Garden & Home from 59,898 to 55,984, Tuis/Home to 85,561 from 79,723 and Visi to 11,026 from 10,604.
Kuier Combo (an annual title) reported a circulation figure of 105,511 (all paid for). Another annual, Landbouweekblad Boerekos, reported an ABC of 38,387.
FHM collapse
FHM collapsed to 25,614 from 37,277 (and 32,270 in the previous quarter). Popular Mechanics, usually a a fairly steady horse, fell to 44,280 from 49,916. Stuff (now monthly) fell significantly to 19,379 from 25,811. Destiny Man declined slightly to 18,730 from 19,250, Men’s Health to 61,722 from 61,963 and GQ to 29,672 from 30,054. Playboy resigned. Kick Off fell to 48,129 from 56,539. Braintainment saw a slight gain to 13,133 from 13,080. SA Hunter climbed to 42,449 form 38,838.
It’s a flat
Auto Trader fell to 11,104 from 16,138, Bike SA to 22,286 from 26,684, CAR to 79,848 from 87,782 (and out of our Top 10), Drive Out/Wegry to 31,557 from 33,433, Leisure Wheels to 22,945 from 24,114 and Speed & Sound to 38,763 from 42,670. TopCar fell to 19,124 from 20,177 and TopGear to 33,111 from 39,136.
Getaway fell to 44,470 from 56,624. Ouch! SA Country Life climbed to 38,921 from 36,417. Weg/Go saw a slight rise to 80,270 from 79,364.
Not so sexy
Cosmopolitan fell to 78,619 90,444 (and 83,049 in Q1) and Elle to 30,816 from 39,467. Fair Lady fell to 50,738 from 54,375 and Finesse to 70,145 from 79,581. Glamour fell to 70,805 from 76,078. Ideas/Idees fell to 88,930 from 90,622, Leef to 36,476 from 41,455 and Marie Claire to 36,599 41,544. Move fell to 124,187 from 138,444. O fell to 33,870 from 38,898 and Real to 42,764 from 59,299. True Love – down to 69,809 from and Woman and Home collapsed to 83,863 from 101,690 (also out of our Top 10). 73,144. Vroue Keur fell to 69,809 from 73,144. Grazia came in at 22,790, slightly down from the previous quarter.
Kuier climbed to 97,135 from 72,493 (Q1 2013: 95,846). Destiny climbed to 31,091 from 27,545 and Fitness Magazine to 22,162 from 19,056. Good Housekeeping rose to 67,311 from 66,486. Rooi Rose climbed back up to 95,891 from 81,555 but still lags Sarie at 102,223 (down from 108,449). Intiem grew to 33,070 from 27,975.
The MarkLives Big Magazine list*
1. Huisgenoot 280,593 –
2. YOU 165,130 –
3. Move 124,187 +1
4. Drum 121,025 -1
5. Sarie 102,223 –
6. Kuier 97,135 +1
7. Rooi Rose 95,891 +1
8. Ideas/Idees 88,930 New
9. Bona 87,683 -3
10. Tuis/Home 85,561 New
Woman and Home 83,863 Out (from No 9)
People 82,644
Weg/Go 80,270
CAR 79,848 Out (from no 10)
Cosmopolitan 78,619
* By total circulation. Must have a cover price. Annuals Excluded.
Movement on the Big Magazine list compared to 2013 Q1 data.
Past ABC reports
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