by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper-circulation statistics for the period July–September 2017 (ABC Q3 2017); see our magazine ABC analysis here. Apart from highlighting several figures that stand out for us, we’ve added a table of web traffic for Q3.
- 2 July 2019: Indy circ figures fall in ABC restatement
Note: we compare the current figures with the same figures for this time last year, and not with the previous quarter. Green equals growth; red declined; purple maintained, new entrant or renamed; orange discontinued or resigned; pink no submission or suspended; brown minimal newsstand sales; and grey moved to a new category.
Key insights
Total newspaper circulation declined by 1.5% on the previous quarter, and by 6% on the year prior, according to the latest ABC data. Daily newspapers declined by 3.9% on the previous quarter, and by 11.9% on the year prior. Weekly newspapers increased by 3.8% on the previous quarter, but decreased by 6.5% on the year prior. Weekend newspapers declined by 3.4% on the previous quarter, and by 12.1% on the year prior. Local newspapers remained static compared to the previous quarter, but declined by 6.6% on the year prior.
Daily newspaper circulation fell to 1 126 532 from 1 242 958 during the previous corresponding reporting period (Q3 2016); pdf replica editions totalled 6 957, while single-copy sales came in at 829 047. Circulation at the weeklies fell, too — total circulation declined to 486 616 from 521 678; weekend newspapers declined to 1 356 674 from 1 526 592; and local papers dropped to 333 884 from 357 629. Free sheets fell to 6 139 426, from 6 383 491.
ABC member circulation totals
- Daily newspapers: down to 1 126 532, compared to 1 242 958 for the previous corresponding period
- Weekly papers: down to 486 616 from 521 678
- Weekend papers: down to 1 356 674 from 1 526 592
- Local papers: down to 333 884 from 357 629
- Free papers: down to 6 139 426 from 6 383 491
Daily papers
In Gauteng, Pretoria News has declined to 12 570 from 15 206 (sales below 50% of retail cost = 2 438). Beeld has fallen to 37 560 from 43 374 in the previous corresponding reporting period. The Star is down to 75 288 from 85 975 (sales below 50% = 10 285). Sowetan is down to 73 650 from 88 299.
In the Cape, Die Burger (Eastern and Western Cape editions) has declined to 46 379 from 49 418. The Cape Argus has decreased to 27 640 from 30 062 [3 152 to Print Media in Education (PMIE)], while the Cape Times has also declined to 29 608 from 31 104 (3 092 copies go to PMIE). Son has fallen to 66 645 from 73 170.
In the Eastern Cape, Daily Dispatch has fallen to 18 086 from 20 763, and The Herald to 18 172 from 20 387.
In KwaZulu-Natal, The Mercury has declined to 25 129 from 25 758, and the Daily News is down to 23 283 from 25 301. The Witness has declined to 12 637 from 13 570.
Business Day has declined to 20 030 from 23 614, The Citizen to 44 216 from 45 947 (single copy sales: 29 116), and Daily Sun to 155 908 from 183 345. Isolezwe has fallen to 85 807 from 94 839. The Times is down to 45 098 from 59 072 (the print edition just got canned).
Volksblad has declined to 14 259 from 15 703. Diamond Fields Advertiser is down to 7 563 from 8 264.
The MarkLives Big Daily Newspaper List
- Daily Sun: 155 908
- Isolezwe: 85 807
- The Star: 75 288
- Sowetan: 73 650
- Son: 66 645
- Die Burger: 46 379 +1
- The Times: 45 098 -1
- The Citizen: 44 216
- Beeld: 37 560
- The Cape Times: 29 608
Weekly & weekend papers
Pretoria News Saturday has declined to 7 530 from 9 034 (sales below 50% of cover price: 1 384), while Independent on Saturday has fallen to 35 092 from 37 097 (sales below 50% of cover price: 3 323). The Weekend Argus (Saturday and Sunday editions) has declined to 51 651 from 54 166; the Saturday Star is down to 44 929 from 51 145 (sales below 50% of cover price: 3 880); Saturday Beeld has fallen to 36 962 from 40 311; Saturday Burger has declined to 59 048 from 62 833; and Saturday Dispatch to 16 372 from 17 648.
City Press has collapsed to 62 962 from 83 980 and Rapport falls to 115 878 from 127 764 (single copy sales: 91 108). The Sunday Times has declined to 260 781 from 283 360 (single copy sales: 154 363). Sunday Tribune has declined to 51 510 from 61 146 (sales below 50% = 6 000). Sunday Sun has crashed to 75 906 from 101 825, and Sunday World to 54 836 from 70 386.
Ilanga Langesonto is down to 37 746 from 42 770 and Isolezwe ngeSonto has declined to 67 499 from 75 100. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo has fallen to 65 213 from 75 672.
In terms of the weeklies, The Post is down to 36 703 from 43 037 (sales below 50%: 2 241) and Ilanga has fallen to 63 718 from 72 023. The Mail & Guardian has fallen to 27 766 from 28 781. Soccer Laduma is down to 281 950 from 295 556.
The MarkLives’ Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*
- Soccer Laduma: 281 950 +1
- Sunday Times: 260 781 -1
- Daily Sun: 155 908
- Rapport: 115 878
- Isolezwe: 85 807
- Sunday Sun: 75 906 +1
- The Star: 75 288 -1
- Sowetan: 73 650
- Isolezwe ngeSonto: 67 499 +2
- Son: 66 645 -1
Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo: 65 213 -1 falls out of top 10
Ilanga: 63 718
City Press: 62 962
*South African titles only. Must have a cover price. Excludes free papers. Movement on the Big Newspaper list compared to 2017 Q2 data.
Web traffic Q3
Impressions |
Daily ave unique browsers |
Title |
Sector |
Frequency |
Subs period |
14140311 | 94414 | Daily Sun | Daily Newspapers | MD, Mo-Fr | Jul-Sep |
10537928 | 98732 | The Citizen | Daily Newspapers | AD, Mo-Fr | Jul-Sep |
3564469 | 24337 | Son | Daily Newspapers | MD, Mo-Fr | Jul-Sep |
21933 | 1337340 | City Press | Weekend Newspapers | Wknd | Jul-Sep |
8921 | 461624 | Roodepoort Record | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Th | Jul-Sep |
7949 | 409589 | Lowvelder | Digital | N/A | Jul-Sep |
7113 | 314934 | Rekord Centurion | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Wed | Jul-Sep |
6892 | 325279 | Rekord East/Oos | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Tue | Jul-Sep |
6551 | 339869 | Kempton Express | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
5876 | 321849 | Krugersdorp News | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Wed | Jul-Sep |
5626 | 281383 | Northglen News | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Tue | Jul-Sep |
4093 | 193486 | Highway Mail | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Wed | Jul-Sep |
3986 | 194546 | Benoni City Times | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
3658 | 187822 | Randfontein Herald | Local Newspaper | Wkly, Tue | Jul-Sep |
3422 | 150278 | Rekord North/Noord | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Th | Jul-Sep |
3367 | 163425 | Rekord Moot | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Th | Jul-Sep |
3121 | 179425 | Witbank News | Local Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
3104 | 173460 | Chatsworth Rising Sun | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Tue | Jul-Sep |
3092 | 177514 | Middelburg Observer | Local Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
3072 | 145510 | Alberton Record | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
2868 | 123591 | Roodepoort Northsider (FormerlyNorthside | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
2769 | 135745 | Sandton Chronicle | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Wed | Jul-Sep |
2731 | 147119 | Ridge Times | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
2636 | 153651 | Mpumalanga News | Local Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
2396 | 79924 | Randburg Sun | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
2282 | 104429 | Bedfordview and Edenvale News | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
1851 | 150712 | George Herald | Local Newspaper | Wkly, Th | Jul-Sep |
1836 | 115740 | Ladysmith Gazette | Local Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
1705 | 88044 | Boksburg Advertiser | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
1548 | 89900 | Newcastle Advertiser | Local Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
1523 | 72334 | Southcoast Sun | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Th | Jul-Sep |
1443 | 73579 | Brakpan Herald | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
1404 | 71996 | Springs Advertiser | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
1349 | 70313 | Polokwane Observer | Local Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
1294 | 106464 | Fourways Review | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Wed | Jul-Sep |
1239 | 55094 | Northcliff & Melville Times | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
1187 | 51085 | Rosebank Killarney Gazette | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Tue | Jul-Sep |
1029 | 55507 | Steelburger News | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
1002 | 64067 | Kzn Eyethu | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
925 | 40226 | Southlands Sun | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Tue | Jul-Sep |
900 | 43962 | Berea Mail | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Th | Jul-Sep |
890 | 37782 | MARITZBURG SUN | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
846 | 54303 | Oudtshoorn Courant | Local Newspaper | Wkly, Fr | Jul-Sep |
839 | 50163 | Northern Natal Courier | Local Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
833 | 36684 | Comaro Chronicle | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
826 | 58919 | Mossel Bay Advertiser | Local Newspaper | Wkly, Fr | Jul-Sep |
787 | 41292 | Midrand Reporter | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Th | Jul-Sep |
744 | 39304 | Germiston City News | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
741 | 35618 | Southern Courier | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
738 | 43326 | Phoenix Sun | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Wed | Jul-Sep |
630 | 32585 | Vryheid Herald | Local Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
629 | 41187 | Knysna Plett Herald | Local Newspaper | Wkly, Th | Jul-Sep |
608 | 34098 | Estcourt & Midlands news | Local Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
555 | 29604 | Public Eye | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
524 | 30933 | Alex News | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Th | Jul-Sep |
377 | 20088 | Overport Rising Sun | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Th | Jul-Sep |
359 | 13342 | North Eastern Tribune | Free Newspaper | Wkly, Tue | Jul-Sep |
348 | 21195 | African Reporter | Local Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
317 | 19765 | South Cape Forum|Suid Kaap Forum | Local Newspaper | Wkly, Fr | Jul-Sep |
304 | 26164 | City Buzz | Free Newspaper | Mtly | Jul-Sep |
277 | 14082 | Corridor Gazette | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
276 | 11666 | White River Post | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
266 | 13700 | Joburg East Express | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
229 | 10523 | Hazyview Herald | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
212 | 9067 | Nelspruit Post | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
175 | 9753 | Barberton Times | Free Newspaper | N/A | Jul-Sep |
ABC 2017 stories
- ABC Analysis Q2 2017: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa
- ABC Analysis Q2 2017: The biggest-circulating consumer magazines in South Africa
- ABC Analysis Q1 2017: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa
- ABC Analysis Q1 2017: The biggest-circulating consumer magazines in South Africa
More ABC stories
Last updated 2 July 2019.
Herman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.
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