ABC Analysis Q2 2015: The biggest-circulating newspapers in SA

by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper circulation statistics for the period April–June 2015 (ABC Q2 2015). (See our magazine ABC analysis here.)

Daily newspaper circulation has fallen to 1 487 797 from 1 570 566 during the previous corresponding reporting period (Q2 2014); PDF replica editions totalled 5 431 copies, and sales below 50% of the cover price 25 450 copies. Circulation at the weeklies have fallen, too — total circulation has declined to 551 241 from 585 873; weekend newspapers have gone from 2 002 602 to 1 810 535; and local papers have also seen a decline, falling to 392 076, from 410 140. Free sheets have dropped to 6 229 420 from 6 579 103.

ABC member circulation totals:

• Daily newspapers: down to 1 487 797, compared to 1 570 566 for the previous corresponding period
• Weekly papers: down to 551 241 from 585 873
• Weekend papers: down to 1 810 535 from 2 002 602
• Local papers: down to 392 076 from 410 140
• Free papers: down to 6 229 420 from 6 579 103

Note: we compare the current figures with the same figures for this time last year, and not with the previous quarter. Green equals growth, dark red decline, purple maintained or new entrant, orange discontinued and pink no submission or suspended.

Daily papers

In Gauteng, Beeld has fallen to 50 536 from 60 066 in the previous corresponding reporting period, and Pretoria  News to 14 626 from 16 914. The Star has declined to 88 421 from 96 029 (sales below 50% = 12 875). Sowetan is down to 94 245 from 99 529.

In the Cape, Die Burger (Eastern and Western Cape editions) has declined to 54 477 from 57 423. The Cape Argus has grown to 30 428 from 29 170, while the Cape Times holds relatively steady at 31 647 — slightly down from 31 784. Son has fallen to 83 255 from 84 726.

In the Eastern Cape, Daily Dispatch has fallen to 24 497 from 26 915 and The Herald to 21 149 from 22 987.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Daily News has fallen to 26 368 from 29 457 and The Mercury to 27 591 from 28 938. The Witness has declined to 15 891 from 17 308.

Business Day has declined to 28 196 from 30 901, The Citizen to 56 395 from 57 096 (with sales below 50% at 4 993), and Daily Sun to 240 513 from 272 677. Isolezwe is up to 108 629 from 104 860. The Times is down to 130 607 from 144 440.

Volksblad has declined to 17 929 from 19 576. Diamond Fields Advertiser is down to 8 941 from 9 519.

The MarkLives Big Daily Newspaper List*

1. Daily Sun: 240 513
2. The Times: 130 607
3. Isolezwe: 108 629
4. Sowetan: 94 245
5. The Star: 88 421
6. Son: 83 255
7. The Citizen: 56 395
8. Die Burger: 54 477
9. Beeld: 50 536
10. The Cape Times: 31 647

Weekly & weekend papers

Saturday Beeld has fallen to 43 808 from 53 480, and Pretoria News Saturday to 8 494 from 9 748. The Saturday Star is down to 57 965 from 70 963. Saturday Burger has fallen to 68 791 from 71 141. The Weekend Argus Saturday edition is down to 36 137 from 37 831, but the Weekend Argus Sunday edition has grown to 18 965 from 17 187. Saturday Dispatch has fallen to 20 780 from 21 412. Independent on Saturday is down to 38 958 from 41 070.

City Press has declined to 98 971 from 119 257 and Rapport to 146 402 from 176 798. The Sunday Times falls to 355 414 from 390 738. Sunday Tribune is down to 62 991 from 68 920. Sunday Sun is down to 146 079 from 177 304 and Sunday World to 102 041 from 106 812.

Ilanga Langesonto has declined to 45 281 from 52 361 but Isolezwe ngeSonto has grown to 89 104 from 85 700. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo also has increased to 81 580 from 79 476.

In terms of the weeklies: Ilanga has fallen to 82 034 from 93 914, but The Post ticks up to 43 567 from 43 463. The Mail & Guardian has fallen to 30 785 from 40 000. Soccer Laduma is down slightly to 295 497 from 295 964.

The MarkLives’ Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*

1. Sunday Times: 355 414
2. Soccer Laduma: 295 497
3. Daily Sun: 240 513
4. Rapport: 146 402 +1
5. Sunday Sun: 146 079 -1
6. The Times: 130 607
7. Isolezwe: 108 629
8. Sunday World: 102 041 +1
9. City Press: 98 971 -1
10. Sowetan: 94 245

Isolezwe ngeSonto: 89 104
The Star: 88 421
Ilanga: 82 034
Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo  81 580

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

ABC Q2 2015 stories:

• ABC Analysis Q2 2015: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa
• ABC Analysis Q2 2015: The biggest-circulating consumer magazines in South Africa
• ABC Print Round-up Q2 2015 in one word: Decline

ABC Q1 2015 stories:

• ABC Analysis Q1 2015: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa
• ABC Analysis Q1 2015: The biggest-circulating consumer magazines in South Africa

ABC Q4 2014 stories:

• ABC Analysis Q4 2014: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa
• ABC Analysis Q4 2104: The biggest-circulating consumer magazines in South Africa

ABC Q3 2014 stories:

• ABC Analysis Q3 2104: The biggest-circulating consumer magazines in South Africa
• ABC Analysis Q3 2104: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa
• ABC Magazine Round-up Q3 2014: Consumer mags revisit flawed circ counting
• ABC Newspaper Round-up Q3 2014: The Star is down 15.89%

ABC Q2 2014 stories:

• ABC Analysis Q2 2014: The biggest circulating consumer magazines in South Africa
• ABC Analysis Q2 2014: The biggest circulating newspapers in South Africa
• ABC Magazine Round-up Q2 2014: Even the good news is bad news
• ABC Newspaper Round-up Q2014: Depressing doesn’t even describe it

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