Extracts from the ABC Q1 2014 presentation released today, Wednesday, 14 May 2014, show a continued decline in weekly and weekend newspaper sales. As a counter trend, the circulation of free papers continues to rise. Two good-news stories stand out — Daily Dispatch jumping 18% and Isolezwe up 11% on Q4 2013.
On the downside, weekend titles have dropped only 1.8% (Afrikaans titles have faired worse than their English or vernacular counterparts).
Graphs, analysis and data courtesy of the ABC.
Four-year total newspaper circulation trend by quarter
Total newspaper circulation has increased by 20 000, compared to the previous quarter.
Four-year category trend by quarter: daily newspapers
Circulation has declined annually by 4.5% since 2010, equivalent to 304 000 copies. However, Q1 has remained static, compared to Q4.
Titles showing largest growth: daily newspapers
| No | Publication name | TOTAL CIRCULATION | Corresponding previous period | Variance — prior year | Previous quarter | Variance — previous quarter | ||
| 1 | Daily Dispatch | 30 199 | 28 879 | 4,57% | 25 521 | 18,33% | ||
| 2 | Isolezwe | 119 846 | 116 186 | 3,15% | 107 119 | 11,88% |
Titles showing largest decline: daily newspapers
| No | Publication name | TOTAL CIRCULATION | Corresponding previous period | Variance — prior year | Previous quarter | Variance — previous quarter | ||
| 1 | Citizen, The (Daily) | 57 385 | 63 854 | -10,13% | 58 735 | -2,30% | ||
| 2 | Cape Argus | 30 319 | 33 247 | -8,81% | 30 204 | 0,38% | ||
| 3 | Son (Daily) | 84 87 | 92 213 | -7,96% | 86 837 | -2,27% |
Four-year category trend by quarter: weekly newspapers
Q1 has declined by 2.5% (13 000 copies), compared to Q4.
Four-year category trend by quarter: weekend newspapers
Circulation has declined annually by 5% (485 000 copies) over the period. Q1, however, has only declined by 1.8% (34 000 copies), compared to Q4.
Titles showing largest growth: weekend newspapers
| No | Publication name | TOTAL CIRCULATION | Corresponding previous period | Variance — prior year | Previous qQuarter | Variance — previous quarter | ||
| 1 | Saturday Dispatch | 22 109 | 20,450 | 8,11% | 20 679 | 6,92% |
Titles showing largest decline: weekend newspapers
| No | Publication name | TOTAL CIRCULATION | Corresponding previous period | Variance — prior year | Previous quarter | Variance — previous quarter | ||
| 1 | Rapport | 177 016 | 210 675 | -15,98% | 187 288 | -5,48% | ||
| 2 | Beeld, Saturday | 55 26 | 65 645 | -15,82% | 58 411 | -5,39% | ||
| 3 | Volksblad–Saturday | 17 913 | 20 234 | -11,47% | 18 286 | -2,04% | ||
| 4 | IlangaLangesonto | 55 224 | 61 918 | -10,81% | 56 074 | -1,52% | ||
| 5 | Pretoria NewsSaturday | 10 177 | 11 382 | -10,59% | 10 126 | 0,50% | ||
| 6 | Son op Sondag (formerly Sondag Son) | 50 186 | 55 885 | -10,20% | 54 625 | -8,13% |
Four-year category trend by quarter: local newspapers
Local newspapers have declined by 2.8% (63 000 copies) over the period. Q1 has increased by 11 000 copies, compared to Q4.
Four-year category trend by quarter: free newspapers
Distribution has increased annually by 7.1% (1 513 000 copies) over the period. Q1 has increased by 53 000 copies, compared to Q4.
Graphs, analysis and data courtesy of the ABC.
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ABC: The biggest circulating newspapers in South Africa
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ABC Newspaper Round-up: Weekend papers suffer
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