by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper-circulation statistics for the period October–December 2019 (ABC Q4 2019); see our consumer magazine ABC analysis here.
Newspaper overview
- Daily newspapers declined 5.7% on the previous quarter, and by 14% on the prior year
- Weekly newspapers declined by 8.7% on the previous quarter, and by 10.6% on the prior year
- Weekend newspapers declined by 7.4% on the previous quarter, and by 17.8% on the prior year
- Local newspapers increased by 0.2% on the previous quarter, and declined by 4.6% on the prior year.
Daily papers
In Gauteng, Pretoria News has declined by -20.1% (rounded), from 12 442 to 9 942 (single copy sales: 6 101) in the corresponding previous period (Q4 2018). Beeld has fallen -10.7%, from 32 500 to 29 021 (single copy sales: 11 800). The Star is down by -26.2%, from 75 772 to 55 889 (sales below 50%: 5 068; contracted travel sales: 16 978; single copy sales: 20 083). Sowetan has decreased by -22%, from 70 392 to 55 248 (single copy sales: 45 097).
In the Western Cape, Die Burger has declined by –15%, from 41 533 to 35 415 (single copy sales: 16 896).
The Cape Argus is down -12%, from 27 001 to 23 814 (sales below 50%: 2 231), while the Cape Times has decreased by -14%, from 29 353 to 25 376 (sales below 50%: 2 287). Son has fallen -21.5%, from 55 126 to 43 206.
In the Eastern Cape, Daily Dispatch has fallen -11.9%, from 15 468 to 13 624, and The Herald is down -12.1%, from 16 318 to 14 342.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Daily News is down -15.6%, from 23 241 to 19 606 (sales below 50%: 2 024; contracted travel sales: 4 650) and The Mercury has fallen -15.8%, from 25 175 to 21 202 (sales below 50%: 1 956; contracted travel sales: 4 201). The Witness has declined by -9.1%, from 10 926 to 9 935.
The Citizen has fallen by -12.1%, from 42 045 to 36 966 (multi-copy sales: 2 600; contracted travel sales: 8 252) and Business Day has declined by -9.1%, from 20 014 to 18 201 (sales below 50%: 3 500). The Daily Sun has fallen -16.9%, from 119 772 to 99 485. Isolezwe has decreased -17.1%, from 73 141 to60 651.
Volksblad has declined by -13.4%, from 13 784 to 11 931. Diamond Fields Advertiser has decreased by -9%, from 6 966 to 6 336.
Weekly & weekend papers
Pretoria News Saturday has fallen by -22.7%, from 6 645 to 5 139 (sales below 50% of cover price: 463); the Saturday Star has slid by –31%, from 44 200 to 30 238 (sales below 50% of cover price: 2 747; contracted travel sales: 5 675); the Weekend Argus (Saturday and Sunday editions) has declined by -24%, from 49 612 to 37 305 (sales below 50% of cover price: 2 910; contracted travel sales: 2 990) and the Independent on Saturday has fallen -30%, from 35 598 to 24 927 (sales below 50% of cover price: 2 568, contracted travel sales: 2 479).
Saturday Beeld has fallen -6.4%, from 38 072 to 35 649, but Saturday Burger has declined by -1.7%, from 49 717 to 48 888. Daily Dispatch Weekend Edition has declined by -18.1%, from 14 713 to 12 048.
City Press has dropped -25.4%, from 46 498 to 34 694, and Rapport is down -9.8%, from 105 900 to 95 556. The Sunday Times has declined by -19.8%, from 250 176 to 200 734 (contracted travel sales jumps from 29 029 in Q3 2019 to 43 629 in Q4 2019; multi-copy sales: 10 186).
Sunday Tribune has declined -25.9%, from 50 615 to 37 491 (sales below 50%: 3 363). Sunday Sun has fallen by -28%, from 46 352 to 33 356. The Sunday World has fallen -2%, from 38 901 to 38 120.
Ilanga Langesonto has declined by -10.6%, from 33 093 to 29 573, and Isolezwe ngeSonto has fallen by -20.1%, from 55 156 to 44 091. Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo has fallen -18.9%, from 57 016 to 46 231.
In terms of the weeklies, The Post has declined by -3.6%, from 38 065 to 36 699 (sales below 50%: 2 818), while Ilanga has declined by -9.7%, from 56 456 to 50 966. The Mail & Guardian is down -19.7%, from 25 834 to 20 739 (contracted travel sales: 6 000). Soccer Laduma is down -14.1%, from 223 515 to 191 897.
The MarkLives’ Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*
Q4 2019
- Sunday Times: 200 734
- Soccer Laduma: 191 897
- Daily Sun: 99 485
- Rapport: 95 556
- Isolezwe: 60 651 +1
- The Star: 55 889 -1
- Sowetan: 55 248
- Ilanga: 50 966
- Die Burger (Saturday): 48 888 +1
- Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo: 46 231 -1
*South African titles only. Must have a cover price. Excludes free papers.
See also
Herman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.
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