Extracts from the ABC Q4 2013 presentation released today, Wednesday, 26 February 2014, show an upswing in total newspaper circulation trends:
- The passing of former President Nelson Mandela had a pronounced impact on newspaper sales, according to the ABC. The Mail & Guardian, in particular, was up 22% on Q3.
- On the Weekend Newspaper front, the decline is slowing. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo, however, jumped 12% year-on-year and 4.5% on Q3.
[There does indeed seem to be an upswing in newspaper circulation but, upon closer inspection, it would seem to have less to do with the paid-for newspaper market, which continues to show a broad decline, and everything to do with a number of new entrants (23 in fact) in the freesheet space. While newspaper circulation decline might have been less severe because of the newsworthiness of the passing away of former President Mandela, newspaper circulation does not seem to have increased as a result. You can find our own analysis of the latest ABC newspaper results here.]
Graphs, analysis and data courtesy of the ABC.
Four Year Total Newspaper Circulation Trend by Quarter:
Total Newspapers increased by 246,000 copies, compared to the previous quarter.
Four Year Category Trend by Quarter:
Daily Newspapers
Circulation has declined annually by 4.2% since 2009, equivalent to 281,000 copies. However, Q4 increases by 149,000 copies, compared to Q3, mainly the result of The Times moving from Hybrid to Daily newspapers.
Four Year Trend Analysis by Language:
Daily Newspapers
English titles have declined by 4.1% annually (200, 000 copies) over the period. Afrikaans titles have declined by 6.2% annually (83,000 copies) over the period. Vernacular titles have increased by 3,000 copies over the period.
Titles Showing Largest Decline:
Daily Newspapers
| No | Publication Name | TOTAL CIRCULATION | Corresponding Previous Period | Variance — Prior Year | Previous Quarter | Variance — Previous Quarter | ||
| 1 | Son (Daily) | 86 837 | 96 598 | -10,10% | 86 598 | 0,28% | ||
| 2 | Citizen, The (Daily) | 58 735 | 64 627 | -9,12% | 60 242 | -2,50% | ||
| 3 | Daily Sun | 297 614 | 322 324 | -7,67% | 291 132 | 2,23% | ||
| 4 | Witness, The | 17 549 | 18 804 | -6,67% | 17 260 | 1,67% | ||
| 5 | Cape Argus | 30 204 | 32 337 | -6,60% | 30777 | -1,86% |
Four Year Category Trend by Quarter:
Weekly Newspapers
Weekly newspapers reflect an erratic performance. Q4, however, declined by 4% (23,000 copies), compared to Q3.
Four Year Category Trend by Quarter:
Weekend Newspapers
Circulation has declined annually by 4.3% (407,000 copies) over the period. Q4, however, only declined by 1.7 % (31,000 copies), compared to Q3.
Four Year Trend Analysis by Language:
Weekend Newspapers
English titles have declined annually by 4.7% (305,000 copies) over the period. Afrikaans titles have declined annually by 7.4% (183,000 copies) over the period. Vernacular titles have grown annually by 13% (81,000 copies) over the period.
Four Year Category Trend by Quarter:
Local Newspapers
Local Newspapers have declined by 3.2% (65,000 copies) over the period. Q4 reflected a similar circulation compared to Q3.
Four Year Category Trend by Quarter:
Free Newspapers
Distribution has increased annually by 7.5% (1,615,000 copies) over the period, increasing by 4.6% (295.000 copies) in Q4, compared to Q3, mainly the result of new members.
Graphs, analysis and data courtesy of the ABC.
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