by Russell Southwood (@BalancingActAfr) In this video interview, Geoff Cohen, CEO of 24.com, talks about:
the importance of mobile; what it knows about its audience
how it does and doesn’t compare to newspapers
its profitability (brilliant – ed.)
and its use of video.
Russell Southwood (@BalancingActAfr) is the founder of Balancing Act and the web TV channel Smart Monkey TV (@SmartMonkeyTV), and has been an analyst in telecoms, internet and broadcast in Africa for the last 15 years. Smart Monkey TV aims to capture the energy at the crossroads between African culture and technology. MarkLives is syndicating content from Smart Monkey TV on a weekly basis for the column “Smart Africa TV”.
— MarkLives’ round-up of top ad and media industry news and opinion in your mailbox every Monday and Thursday. Sign up here!
by SAARF & MarkLives (@marklives) See who made it to the top of our National and DStv charts for the week of 3–9 November 2014! A collaboration between the South African Audience Research Foundation (SAARF) and MarkLives, this #Top40TVratings column is a weekly roundup of SA’s TV audience viewership.
We reveal the best-watched shows of the week before (in this case, 3–9 November 2014), where they ran and how many South Africans tuned in to watch.
We offer two tables:
The first covers all households — free-to-air viewing (the various SABC channels and e.tv), as well as the DStv platform.
The second charts the best-watched shows on the DStv network of channels only.
SAARF/MarkLives #Top40TVratings Charts: 3–9 November 2014
National
Market
Target
Activity
National
Total Indv (incl guests)
Live + VOSDAL
Counter
Description (grouped)
Channel
Level 1
Level 2\variable
(r) AMR %
AMR
SHR %
1
SKEEM SAAM
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
18.9
8 100 095
61.79%
2
SOUL CITY
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
14.3
6 129 056
47.56%
3
MUVHANGO
SABC 2
Drama
Drama
13.8
5 912 095
49.00%
4
MUTUAL FRIENDS
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
12.9
5 516 461
42.69%
5
KOWETHU
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
11.8
5 075 991
43.80%
6
SHREDS AND DREAMS
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
10.6
4 545 803
35.52%
7
MY PERFECT FAMILY
SABC 1
Sitcom
Sitcom
10.6
4 526 591
35.48%
8
ZAZIWA
SABC 1
Variety
Variety
10.0
4 311 111
34.26%
9
WHEN WE WERE BLACK 2
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
9.6
4 116 788
32.67%
10
SELIMATHUNZI
SABC 1
Variety
Variety
9.3
3 982 308
30.95%
11
POWERBALL
SABC 2
Variety
Variety
8.9
3 808 472
35.83%
12
SCANDAL
e.tv
Drama
Drama
8.6
3 687 045
29.32%
13
ZULU NEWS
SABC 1
News
News
8.4
3 610 897
30.92%
14
TELKOM KNOCKOUT CUP ORLANDO PIRATES VS SUPERSPORT UNITED
SABC 1
Sport
Football soccer)
8.2
3 516 570
34.02%
15
1’S AND 2’S SHOW
SABC 1
Music
Music
7.9
3 385 773
27.92%
16
XHOSA NEWS
SABC 1
News
News
7.6
3 245 491
29.23%
17
SPEAK OUT
SABC 2
Actuality
Actuality
7.4
3 187 199
35.64%
18
TOMORROW NEVER DIES
e.tv
Movies
Action/adventure
6.6
2 835 550
30.69%
19
THE X FACTOR SOUTH AFRICA
SABC 1
Reality
Reality
6.6
2 832 630
29.13%
20
RHYTHM CITY
e.tv
Drama
Drama
6.0
2 594 214
25.67%
21
WWE WRESTLING RAW
e.tv
Sport
Wrestling
5.9
2 528 059
28.73%
22
SKWIZAS
SABC 2
Sitcom
Sitcom
5.6
2 390 706
23.81%
23
SKEEM SAAM -R
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
5.4
2 304 004
49.73%
24
MUVHANGO -R
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
5.3
2 275 292
49.17%
25
MOHLOLOHADI 2
SABC 2
Drama
Drama
5.3
2 268 598
23.35%
26
KHUMBUL’ EKHAYA
SABC 1
Magazine
Magazine
5.2
2 251 504
20.42%
27
MUVHANGO -O
SABC 2
Drama
Drama
5.2
2 237 077
31.30%
28
VELAPHI -R
SABC 1
Sitcom
Sitcom
5.1
2 191 337
46.35%
29
FAN BASE
SABC 1
Music
Music
5.0
2 166 224
23.56%
30
SA’S GOT TALENT
e.tv
Variety
Variety
5.0
2 164 153
20.58%
31
SHREK 2
e.tv
Movies
Animation
5.0
2 136 243
18.19%
32
7DE LAAN
SABC 2
Soap opera
Local
4.9
2 112 947
21.02%
33
SHORTS
SABC 2
Movies
Action/adventure
4.9
2 112 562
27.27%
34
AMAZA
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
4.9
2 103 514
20.51%
35
MUVHANGO -R
SABC 2
Drama
Drama
4.8
2 052 960
31.91%
36
SARAFINA
SABC 3
Movies
Movies
4.7
2 033 331
16.84%
37
KATCH IT WITH KHANYI
e.tv
Variety
Variety
4.6
1 980 509
22.52%
38
NEWS
e.tv
News
News
4.5
1 918 206
17.98%
39
THE LINK
SABC 1
Documentary
Documentary
4.5
1 913 706
22.71%
40
ISIDINGO:THE NEED
SABC 3
Soap opera
Local
4.5
1 911 442
16.41%
DStv
Market
Target
Activity
DStv
Total Indv (incl guests)
Live + VOSDAL
Counter
Description (grouped)
Channel
Level 1
Level 2\variable
(r) AMR %
AMR
SHR %
1
SKEEM SAAM
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
11.5
1 551 344
37.10%
2
MUVHANGO
SABC 2
Drama
Drama
9.5
1 289 993
33.47%
3
ISIBAYA
Mzansi Magic
Variety
Variety
6.3
853 402
20.90%
4
ZAZIWA
SABC 1
Variety
Variety
6.0
816 062
19.58%
5
POWERBALL
SABC 2
Variety
Variety
5.9
800 091
23.26%
6
SELIMATHUNZI
SABC 1
Variety
Variety
5.8
786 293
18.67%
7
OUR PERFECT WEDDING (MAG)
Mzansi Magic
Magazine
Magazine
5.6
755 512
16.97%
8
IRISH INTERNATIONAL RUGBY IRELAND VS SOUTH AFRICA
SuperSport 1
Sport
Rugby all)
5.3
716 780
17.51%
9
SPEAK OUT
SABC 2
Actuality
Actuality
5.2
698 255
23.42%
10
SCANDAL
e.tv
Drama
Drama
4.9
659 883
16.09%
11
MY PERFECT FAMILY
SABC 1
Sitcom
Sitcom
4.5
610 184
14.46%
12
SOUL CITY
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
4.5
601 728
14.43%
13
RHYTHM CITY
e.tv
Drama
Drama
4.3
583 278
16.22%
14
XHOSA NEWS
SABC 1
News
News
4.2
565 075
13.92%
15
7DE LAAN
SABC 2
Soap opera
Local
4.1
559 747
15.62%
16
ZULU NEWS
SABC 1
News
News
4.1
556 366
14.23%
17
KOWETHU
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
3.8
509 354
13.02%
18
MUTUAL FRIENDS
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
3.6
487 815
11.82%
19
1’S AND 2’S SHOW
SABC 1
Music
Music
3.3
443 338
11.89%
20
MADEAS WITNESS PROTECTION
Mzansi Magic
Movies
Drama
3.2
436 899
11.85%
21
KHUMBUL’ EKHAYA
SABC 1
Magazine
Magazine
3.2
427 429
11.63%
22
SHREDS AND DREAMS
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
3.1
425 265
10.59%
23
WHEN WE WERE BLACK 2
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
3.1
420 327
10.24%
24
CARTE BLANCHE
M-Net
Actuality
Actuality
3.1
419 183
9.45%
25
SARAFINA
SABC 3
Movies
Movies
3.1
417 552
11.21%
26
TELKOM KNOCKOUT CUP ORLANDO PIRATES VS SUPERSPORT UNITED
SABC 1
Sport
Football soccer)
3.0
408 087
11.34%
27
ISIDINGO:THE NEED
SABC 3
Soap opera
Local
3.0
399 178
10.10%
28
ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL RUGBY:ENGLAND VS NEW ZEALAND
SuperSport 1
Sport
Rugby all)
2.9
388 484
11.92%
29
NEWS
e.tv
News
News
2.9
387 596
10.28%
30
SKWIZAS
SABC 2
Sitcom
Sitcom
2.8
378 632
10.35%
31
MUVHANGO -R
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
2.7
369 247
22.33%
32
SKEEM SAAM -R
SABC 1
Drama
Drama
2.7
365 544
22.10%
33
THE X FACTOR SOUTH AFRICA
SABC 1
Reality
Reality
2.7
360 892
9.72%
34
TELKOM KNOCKOUT CUP ORLANDO PIRATES VS SUPERSPORT
SuperSport 4
Sport
Football soccer)
2.6
351 549
10.13%
35
SHREK 2
e.tv
Movies
Animation
2.6
347 356
8.52%
36
WWE WRESTLING RAW
e.tv
Sport
Wrestling
2.6
345 569
9.60%
37
MOHLOLOHADI 2
SABC 2
Drama
Drama
2.4
329 497
10.74%
38
RUGBY BUILD UP
SuperSport 1
Sport
Rugby all)
2.3
316 491
9.07%
39
IDOLS YR 10
Mzansi Magic
Reality
Reality
2.3
312 290
8.03%
40
KATCH IT WITH KHANYI
e.tv
Variety
Variety
2.3
310 934
8.98%
How to read the tables
AMR% refers to the number of people in a target market who were watching an event ie programme, expressed as a percentage of the population for that demographic: “On average, 16.3% of adults aged 15+ who watched TV from 28 Jan-3 Feb 2014 watched Society on SABC 1”.
AMR is the number of people in a target market watching a specific event ie programme per minute, expressed in absolute figures: “On average, 1, 541, 066 adults aged 15+ who watched TV from from28 Jan-3 Feb 2014 watched Society on SABC 1”.
Share % (SHR %) is the share or proportion of the available audience (people watching TV at that time) that a specific channel/programme has achieved at that time: “Society achieved a share % of 52.59% from 28 Jan- 3 Feb 2014 on SABC 1″.
SAARF is the name by which the South African Audience Research Foundation is familiarly known. SAARF’s main objective is to direct and publish media audience and product/brand research for the benefit of its stake-holders, thereby providing data for target marketing and a common currency for the buying and selling of media space and time. SAARF has thus the responsibility to measure the audiences of all traditional media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, cinema and out of home media.
— MarkLives’ round-up of top ad and media industry news and opinion in your mailbox every Monday and Thursday. Sign up here!
Louise Marsland (@Louise_Marsland)’s weekly pick of recent product, packaging and design launches:
FreshStop continues convenience rollout
Magnum pleasure stores pop up, and
Design Partnership takes on a new gym contract
Fresh expansion
The chain of retail forecourt convenience stores, FreshStop, celebrated its 170th store opening in Pretoria in October 2014, continuing its nationwide rollout of the 24-hour chain. FreshStop has opened 13 stores in the Gauteng region since January this year, and has an aggressive pipeline of new store openings planned for upcoming months.
Gerhardt Prinsloo, development manager for FreshStop Inland, explains: “We have 69 FreshStop at Caltex stores open across Gauteng and Mpumalanga, and we are aiming to grow in excess of 200 stores nationally in the next few months. During this past month, we’ve opened four stores across the country, three of them in Gauteng and one in KwaZulu-Natal.
“FreshStop has grown into a 170-store national franchise network over the past five years and, to date, we’ve invested in excess of R400 million in C-store expansion. This investment not only empowers and develops our franchisees, but also enables them to build businesses that are sustainable and create jobs in their local communities.”
FreshStop, part of the Fruit & Veg City group, was named International Convenience Retailer of the Year 2013, due in part to its innovative product offering which places an emphasis on fresh produce and offering healthier alternatives to its customers.
The rise in the forecourt convenience retail market is attributed to a growing middle class market in South Africa with increased disposable income, who require added-value services such as pre-paid electricity, airtime, coffee bars like the Seattle franchise, and ‘dashboard-dining’ options such as quick and healthy food on the run, fresh produce and daily essentials.
Pleasure yourself
From international cities such as New York, Melbourne, Amsterdam, Paris and Istanbul, to Joburg, the Magnum Pleasure Store opened at The Zone @ Rosebank, Johannesurg, on 1 November for an eight-week run until 24 December.
The Joburg concept pop-up pleasure store is in celebration of Magnum ice cream’s 25th birthday globally, and it has been travelling the globe since 2013.
According to Rob Muirhead from Mbongiworks, which has brought Magnum Joburg to life [and the same company which did the three-month pop-up Jacobs Board Game Café in Parkhurst in 2012 — ed-at-large], the concept store is designed to create a halo effect across the entire Magnum product range and allows the brand to play in this territory of ‘life’s greatest small pleasures’ instead of competing directly against other snacks.
Apart from being able to customise your own Magnum ice cream (R40, choice of three toppings), fashion shows, jewellery displays and VIP events (hosted by local celebrities) are adding a touch of glamour.
There are also a host of other surprise pop-up experiences planned at the store – and the only way to get exclusive access is to stay engaged on Facebook.com/MagnumSouthAfrica or follow @MagnumSA on Twitter and share your choices at #MakeMyMagnumSA.
Latest figures: over 1000 ice creams are being sold per day!
Viva gym
It’s been a while since a new chain of gyms has launched in SA, particularly one with a focus on the design aesthetic and the customer first.
Viva Gyms, which was founded in the UK, launched here this year, with the interior architecture and look and feel for the brand in SA created by Design Partnership. In doing so, the focus has been on creating a space “for the people”. Viva!
“Our challenge,” says Design Partnership architect, Justin Saker, “was to create a space that appeals to everybody and that makes exercising and working towards the common goal of being fit and healthy, an energetic and positive experience.
“Although it costs less to attend this gym, we did not want the interior space to look ‘cheap’. Instead, we opted to create a premium and polished look with good finishes and an urban feel that would appeal to everybody.”
Viva Gyms are dry gyms (no steam rooms or pools) to reduce rates and focus on providing gym facilities for people in the middle-to-lower income brackets.
Shelf Life is a weekly column by Louise Marsland on MarkLives. Tweet new product, packaging and design launches to @louise_marsland or email her at louise.marsland at gmail.com. Want to sponsor Shelf Life? Contact us here.
Louise has written about the FMCG, media, marketing and advertising industry for 20 years as a former editor of magazines AdVantage, Marketing Mix and Progressive Retailing, as well as websites Bizcommunity.com and FMCGFiles. She also edited the weekly Wednesday Media & Marketing Page for The New Age newspaper. She is currently the publishing editor of industry trendwatching portal, TRENDAFRiCA, for consumer insight, research and trends in Africa; a regular industry columnist and speaker; a consultant on content strategy; and contributing editor to Fast Company South Africa magazine, which has just launched in South Africa.
— MarkLives’ round-up of top ad and media industry news and opinion in your mailbox every Monday and Thursday. Sign up here!
Absolutely brilliant! Definitely one of my favourite covers of 2014 — such a simple concept and yet, at the same time, deep as well (when you think about it properly…).
So, for the cover story about “failure” (read the full story “Welcome to the Failure Age” here), the NYT team is showing one of its ‘failed’ covers for this issue, which in turn makes the final cover everything other than a failure!
Yes, Vladimer Putin is The Advocate’s Person of the Year! But this title means the opposite of what eg TIME gives out every year.
The Advocate (all about “Gay News, LGBT Rights, Politics, Entertainment”) is giving him this (irony may also be found in the placement of this title…) because “[d]riving the governmental, religious, and popular disdain for gays and lesbians, the Russian president became the single greatest threat to LGBTs in the world in 2014”.
I first went “What…?” when I first saw the cover, but then I figured out it’s about (sexual) preferences among guys. It makes a lot of sense, and is brilliant (even though vulgar…).
Volkskrant Magazine had a survey where it looked at different aspects which turn different guys on, and it seems the belly button also made the list.
The reason that I’m including them is because PAPER (which I’ve never heard of before) did what it set out to do: “Break the internet”.
It’s almost as if a massive marketing plan has been coming together perfectly, as the magazine is on everyone’s lips and fingertips (for good and bad reasons, variously but, either way, people are talking about it). It’s what case studies are made of!
And, for that reason only, I’m including it in my weekly post. Want more reading material?
MagLove by @MediaSlut is a regular slot featuring the best local and international magazine covers every week, recognising well thought-out, powerful and interesting (and hopefully all three-in-one) covers and celebrating the mix of pragmatism, creativity and personal taste that created each of them. The (for now anonymous) blogger behind MediaSlut knows way too much for his own good about media in South Africa, magazines in particular. His mission is to show when SA magazines fail but, most importantly, also when they succeed. If you’re looking for a library about SA magazines and news, this is your one-stop pitstop.
— MarkLives’ round-up of top ad and media industry news and opinion in your mailbox every Monday and Thursday. Sign up here!
Every week, The Ad Feature team on 702 takes you through the highs and lows of advertising in South Africa. This week,Andy Rice (@ricecommaandy) applauds Hollard Insurance for having fun in a “Caravan“, while Chas Everitt trips up with its clichés and corny lines.
Find out why these feature in this week’s Heroes & Zeros by watching the webisode below:
For a fresh look at the world of advertising, Jenny Crwys-Williams of talk radio station 702 (@Radio702) chats to advertising critic Andy Rice on The Ad Feature, every Wednesday 2.30pm — 3pm. The filmed Heroes & Zeroes will appear on MarkLives every Friday as a webisode.
— MarkLives’ round-up of top ad and media industry news and opinion in your mailbox every Monday and Thursday. Sign up here!
by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released consumer-magazine circulation statistics for the period July–September 2014 (ABC Q3 2014). (See our newspaper ABC analysis here.)
Here are several consumer magazine ABC figures that stand out for us. We’ve also updated our list of the biggest-circulating consumer magazines in SA.
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 equals decline, purple equals maintained and orange equals discontinued.
Decreased
Consumer-magazine circulation has decreased by 3% (176 000 copies) over the previous quarter. Total circulation has fallen to 5 766 119 from 6 010 568 in the corresponding reporting period.
Single copy sales stand at 3 711 874 (down from 3 859 455 in Q2 2014) and total paid (includes subscription figures) stand at 4 454 692 (down from 4 722 323 in Q2 2014). Paid-for replica PDF copies (digital copy sales at 50% plus of retail price) stand at 79 910 (down from 89 144 in Q1 2014 and 80 561 in Q2 2014).
Some 116 806 copies can be attributed to distribution at less than 50% (on average) of the title-cover price. This is down significantly from the 217 366 copies reported in the Q1 2014 reporting period.
Commend Media24
We commend Media24 for revising how it tallies digital copy sales through bundled subscriptions offered by Media24 Magazines via its Kaboedel/The Bundle service, which skewed rate card numbers and offered a false reflection of the circulation health of individual titles. Instead of reflecting the sales of the bundled PDF replica titles, it is now only claiming the actual downloads of each title.
Some insights
Media24 has set right the mess it made in the Q2 reporting period through its inclusion of bulk PDF titles. Instead of reflecting the sales of the bundled PDF replica titles, it is now only claiming the actual downloads of each title.
Financial Mail returns as the biggest-circulating business magazine in terms of paid-for (sales, bulk and subscriptions) circulation.
Succeed Magazine and PC Format have been discontinued.
Neither golfing title now circulates above 10 000 — Golf Digest stands at 8 583, down from 11 547 and Compleat Golfer at 9 424, down from 10 700.
The business press
Financial Mail has declined to 20 343 from 22 551 in the corresponding previous reporting period but is up on Q2 2014 (19 866). Finweek is down to 12 075 from 14 013 after the Kaboedel debacle shot up its circulation numbers to 23 782 in Q2 2014.
Entrepreneur has fallen to 18 274 from 20 609. Forbes Africa has grown to 15 285 from 14 890 (note it did drop 7 620 copies as Bulk Non-Requested) and Green Business Journal to 7 798 from 5 563. Noseweek manages the exact same circulation figure as in the corresponding previous reporting period (17 312).
Personal Finance has grown to 13 334 from 11 647. Your Business Magazine has grown to 11 088 from 10 153. Succeed Magazine has been discontinued.
Farmer’s Weekly has fallen to 14 632 from 15 138 and Landbouweekblad to 34 103 from 36 802.
Biggest-circulating business magazines in terms of paid-for (sales, bulk and subscriptions) circulation:
heat magazine has declined to 25 320 from 29 139. People has fallen to 67 378 from 77 201. TV Plus (Afrikaans) is up slightly to 36 243 from 36 055 but the English edition falls to 38 523 from 42 586.
Bona has fallen to 87 626 to 104 234, Drum to 107 626 from 113 555, Huisgenoot to 258 803 from 277 577 and YOU to 139 873 from 161 200.
The Big Issue sees an increase to 12 218 from 11 736.
Home & gardening, leisure
Conde Nast House & Garden has declined to 40 052 from 45 874 and Easy DYI to 13 333 from 23 379. Food and Home Entertaining has fallen to 31 139 from 31 810 and House & Leisure to 43 154 from 44 071.
Elle Decoration has grown to 25 025 from 24 044, SA Home Ownerto 42 500 from 39 719 and SA Garden and Home to 62 811 from 61 059. Tuis Home has climbed to 94 207 from 82 994 and Visito 15 778 from 11 026. Taste is listed as a custom magazine – circulation has grown to 30 115 from 25 651 (single copy sales: 23 630). Fresh Living has declined to 67 031 from 72 424 (single copy sales: 46 101).
Men’s market
Blaque Magazine has repeated its Q2 performance in Q3 with a circulation figure of 16 089. Braintainment has continued its growth trajectory, up 15 443, compared to 13 133 in the previous corresponding reporting period. Destiny Man is up to 22 517 from 18 730.
GQ has fallen back to 25 167 from 29 675 — but it now publishes 11 copies a year instead of 10.
Men’s Health has fallen to 48 733 from 56 022, and Popular Mechanics to 38 871 from 43 307. Stuff has held steady at 19 392 (total paid: 12 347).
Flat fast
Health, fitness, sport
Amakhosi has fallen to 25 954 from 36 346 and Sowetan Magazine to 16 689 from 20 373. Kick Off has declined to 36 087 from 53 568 and Runners World to 14 803 from 18 311. Neither golfing title now circulates above 10 000 — Golf Digest stands at 8 583, down from 11 547 and Compleat Golfer at 9 424, down from 10 700.
Magnum has declined to 15 721 from 17 006 and Game & Hunt/Wild & Jag to 15 198 from 16 556, but SA Hunter has jumped to 46 513 from 43 014.
Modern Athlete has jumped to 27 713 from 20 093 (mostly Bulk Requested). Wildland Magazine has grown to 8 877 from 4 910.
Hitting the road
CAR has fallen to 66 129 from 79 041 and Leisure Wheels to 17 843 from 20 385. Topcar has declined to 15 854 from 19 255 and TopGear to 20 722 from 26 494. Drive Out/WegRy has grown to 33 055 from 31 743.
Getaway has fallen to 42 358 from 43 335 and Weg/Go to 61 164 from 75 349.
SA Country Life has grown to 39 169 from 38 826. New member Weg/Go Platteland has maintained its Q2 2014 circulation of 35 219.
Woman’s general
Cosmopolitan has declined to 61 886 from 63 386, Destiny Magazine to 29 221 from 31 427 and Glamour to 58 048 from 68 805. Elle has fallen to 33 051 from 34 089, Fair Lady to 51 064 from 54 509, and Finesse to 58 612 from 67 319.
Good Housekeeping/Goeie Huishouding is down to 54 757 from 63 594 and Ideas/Idees to 69 493 from 77 166. Leef has fallen to 35 323 from 36 182 and Move! to 122 424 from 123 058. True Love is down to 57 631 from 61 292, Vroue Keur to 64 823 from 73 933 and Woman and Home to 105 257 from 106 036.
Essentials has grown to 40 807 from 36 396 and Fitness Magazineto 22 841 from 22 162. Grazia is up to 21 702 from 21 475. Kuier climbs to 109 165 from 102 512 and Marie Claire to 36 217 from 35 330. Rooi Rose has risen to 102 301 from 94 492 but Sarie has fallen to 85 578 from 92 661. Your Family is up to 42 993 from 41 277, Women’s Health to 55 933 from 55 371 and Longevity to 21 080 from 20 443.
by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper circulation statistics for the period July–September 2014 (ABC Q3 2014). (See our magazine ABC analysis here.)
Daily newspapers have increased their combined circulation figures to 1 532 305 compared to 1 475 429 (a number that includes a number of sub-Saharan newspapers outside of SA) in the previous corresponding reporting period (we are also still seeing the impact of The Times changing sectors — from hybrid to daily).
It’s also still down from 1 571 532 in Q2. Copy sales stand at 1 171 799 (or 792 067 for SA papers only). Digital editions have declined, compared to Q2 — to 5 849 from 6 250.
Weekend papers have declined to 1 930 485 from 2 163 784. SA-only circulation stands at 1 789 625. Copy sales stand at 1 513 161 and digital PDF replicas at 4 397. Weeklies have declined to 612 864 from 652 927.
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 equals decline, and orange equals resigned.
ABC member circulation totals:
Daily newspapers: up to 1 532 305 compared to 1 475 429 for the previous corresponding period
Weekly papers: down to 612 864 from 652 927
Weekend papers: down to 1 930 485 from 2 163 784
Local papers: down to down to 410 676 from 423 199
Free papers: up to 6 547 750 from 6 458 826
Daily papers
In Gauteng, Beeld has fallen to 59 282 and Pretoria News to 15 124 from 17 194. The Star has suffered a significant decline to 84 785 from 100 804. Sowetan is up to 99 287 from 99 061.
In the Cape, Die Burger (Eastern and Western Cape editions) has declined to 55 894 from 58 134. The Cape Argus has fallen to 29 004 from 30 777 and the Cape Times to 31 548 from 32 435. Son falls to 80 584 from 86 598.
In the Eastern Cape, Daily Dispatch holds steady at 26 684 — up slightly from 26 501 — as does The Herald: up to 21 972 from 21 446.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Daily News has fallen to 27 989 from 30 538 and The Mercury to 27 392 from 28 646. The Witness has grown to 17 573 from 17 260.
Business Day has declined to 30 699 from 32 846, The Citizen to 55 875 from 60 242. Daily Sun falls to 262 431 from 291 132 and Isolezwe to 101 584 from 108 484.
Saturday Beeld has fallen to 49 234 from 59 690, and Pretoria News Saturday to 8 034 from 10 515. The Saturday Star is down to 62 514 from 73 408. Saturday Burger falls to 68 598 from 72 381 and Weekend Argus to 54 516 from 57 022. Saturday Dispatch climbs to 21 241 from 19 561.
City Press has declined to 113 550 from 121 137 and Rapport to 163 329 from 183 187. The Sunday Times falls to 390 511 from 420 066. Sunday Tribune is down to 65 378 from 70 167. The Sunday Independent resigned from the ABC in Q2. Sunday Sun is down to 166 814 from 176 692 and Sunday World to 106 507 from 116 875.
Ilanga Langesonto has declined to 49 298 from 56 656, Isolezwe ngeSonto to 82 292 from 84 726 and Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo to 74 195 from 78 772.
In terms of the weeklies: Ilanga has fallen to 88 923 from 99 582, The Post to 42 202 from 44 722 and the Mail & Guardian to 37 627 from 42 242. Soccer Laduma has declined to 328 041 from 334 869.
The MarkLives’ Biggest Circulation Per Issue Newspaper List*
Extracts from the ABC Q3 2014 presentation released today, Thursday, 13 November 2014, show a dramatic decline in magazine circulation year-on-year.
Total magazines have declined by 560 000 copies over the previous quarter and consumer magazines have decreased by 3% (176 000 copies) over the previous quarter.
Consumer magazine circulation has declined annually by 2% (547 000 copies) over the four-year period. Q3 has declined by 3% (175 000 copies), compared to Q2. The ABC notes that “while the results reflect a disappointing result, more careful inspection will reveal that this decline is influenced by a review of a recent digital packaging of titles and their counting methodology.”
Consumer magazines that have gained traction over the past quarter include Destiny Man, up 20%; Braintainment, +17%; Modern Athlete, +37.9%; Essentials, +12%; Rooi Rose, +8.3%; SA Home Owner, +7%; and Habitat, +5.6%.
Total magazines have declined by 560 000 copies over the previous quarter. Consumer magazines have decreased by 3% (176 000 copies) over the previous quarter.
4 Year Category Trend by Quarter: Consumer Magazines
Circulation has declined annually by 2% (547 000 copies) over the period. Q3 has declined by 3% (175 000 copies), compared to Q2.
4 Year Category Trend by Quarter: Consumer Magazines — Home
Q3 has increased by 31 000 copies, compared to Q2, mainly the result of a new entrant.
4 Year Category Trend by Quarter: Consumer Magazines — Woman’s General
Circulation has declined by 3.8% annually (257 000 copies) over the four-year period. Q3 has declined by 71 000 copies, compared to Q2, partly the result of a discontinued title (O, The Oprah Magazine).
4 Year Category Trend by Quarter: Custom Magazines
Circulation has declined annually by 2.8% (1 513 000 copies) over the four-year period. Q3 has declined by 362 000 copies, compared to Q2.
4 Year Category Trend by Quarter: Free Magazines
Circulation has declined annually by 17.8% over the four-year period. Q3, however, has increased by 17 000 copies, compared to Q2.
Extracts from the ABC Q3 2014 presentation released today, Thursday, 13 November 2014, show that total newspaper circulation has declined by 66 000 copies compared to the previous quarter.
Year-on-year daily newspaper circulation has declined annually by 3.8% since 2010, equivalent to 233 000 copies. The Star is down 15.89%, compared to the corresponding reporting period last year, Pretoria News is as down 12.04% and Daily Sun is down 9.86%.
Weekly papers have increased by 35 000 copies, compared to Q2. Among the weeklies, the Mail & Guardian is down 10.93% and Ilanga 10.70%. Weekend papers have declined annually by 5.7% (534 000 copies) over the the past four years, and by 67 000 copies compared to Q2.
Bucked the trend
Saturday Dispatch, meanwhile, has bucked the trend to grow by 8.59%.
Pretoria News Saturday has fallen by 23.59%, compared to the corresponding reporting period last year; Saturday Beeld by 17.52%; The Saturday Star by 14.84%; and Ilanga Langesonto by 12.99%.
4 Year Total Newspaper Circulation Trend by Quarter
Total newspaper circulation has declined by 66 000 copies, compared to the previous quarter.
4 Year Category Trend by Quarter: Daily Newspapers
Circulation has declined annually by 3.8% since 2010, equivalent to 233 000 copies.
4 Year Trend Analysis by Language: Daily Newspapers
English titles have declined by 3.9% annually (176 000 copies) over the period. Afrikaans titles have declined by 5.2% annually (61 000 copies) over the period. Vernacular titles have increased by 1% (4 000 copies) over the period
4 Year Trend Analysis: Coastal vs Inland Daily Newspapers
Inland circulation has declined annually by 3.6% (138 000 copies) over the period. Coastal circulation has declined annually by 4.3% (95 000 copies) over the period.
4 Year Category Trend by Quarter: Weekly Newspapers
Weekly newspapers reflect an erratic performance. Q3, however, has increased by 35 000 copies, compared to Q2.
4 Year Category Trend by Quarter: Weekend Newspapers
Circulation has declined annually by 5.7% (534 000 copies) over the four-year period. Q3, however, has declined by 3.9% (67 000 copies), compared to Q2.
4 Year Trend Analysis by Language: Weekend Newspapers
English titles have declined annually by 6.3% (404 000 copies) over the period. Afrikaans titles have declined annually by 8.2% (185 000 copies) over the period. Vernacular titles have grown annually by 8.5% (55 000 copies) over the period.
4 Year Category Trend by Quarter: Local Newspapers
Local Newspapers have declined by 3.2% (65 000 copies) over the four-year period.
4 Year Category Trend by Quarter: Free Newspapers
Distribution has increased annually by 5.7% (1 275 000 copies) over the four-year period. Q3 has remained static, compared to Q2.
by Arthur Goldstuck (@art2gee)There is no better indication of what consumers are doing on their smartphones than the apps they most commonly download — and social media, games and fitness dominate the app stores of three of the major smartphone platforms in South Africa.
It’s a well-known fact that many apps are tried once and never used again. At the same time, however, it is likely that the proportion of apps in continual use will be related to the number of times they are downloaded. In other words, the more an app is downloaded, the more likely it is to become one of those must-haves that are used every day.
On all three major app stores, namely Google Play for Android, the Apple App Store for iOS, and the Windows Store, the top three free downloads are all social or messaging. Moreover, for Android, the fastest-growing smartphone platform in South Africa, the top five apps fall into this category, and for Windows, the top four, according to the SA Social Media Landscape 2015 study by World Wide Worx and Fuseware.
The headline findings of the study were released in September, but the final report, released this week, provides surprising insights into the extent to which mobile devices and their apps capabilities are driving social media.
The top paid apps for both Android and Windows are games, while for iOS fitness apps take the first and third positions, as well as one other position in the top 10.
Does this mean iOS users are more health-conscious? Not necessarily: fitness app downloaders tend to download multiple apps to try them out and see which work best. The drop-off rate is likely to be higher for these than for social apps, which are downloaded specifically to be used every day.
The iOS and Android listings also provide top grossing apps, and these indicate where the deepest commitment lurks on smartphones and tablets. On both platforms, it emerges that games dominate revenue. All top ten Android apps and nine out of ten iOS apps are gaming apps.
Again, this is not an indication that the apps are more popular than social apps, merely that the latter can be used effectively and to their fullest without making any in-app purchases, whereas further functionality can be unlocked in games through payment, which feeds off the addiction that many players develop in games like Candy Crush and Clash of Clans.
The top apps on each platform (BlackBerry stats were not available at the time of compiling the report) in South Africa are:
Google Play (Android)
Free
WhatsApp
Facebook Messenger
Facebook
Paid
Minecraft
Poweramp Full Version Unlocker
Nova Launcher Prime
iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod)
Free
Facebook Messenger
WhatsApp
Instagram
Paid
All-in fitness
iTheme
7 Minute Workout Challenge
Windows Phone
Free
Facebook
BBM
WhatsApp
Paid
iStunt 2
Asphalt 5
Sonic 4 Episode 1
Arthur Goldstuck heads up World Wide Worx (www.worldwideworx.com) and is editor-in-chief of Gadget. He is a consulting editor to MarkLives and our media tech columnist. Follow him on Twitter on @art2gee. This article has been republished from Gadget.
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Russell Southwood (@BalancingActAfr) is the founder of Balancing Act and the web TV channel Smart Monkey TV (@SmartMonkeyTV), and has been an analyst in telecoms, internet and broadcast in Africa for the last 15 years. Smart Monkey TV aims to capture the energy at the crossroads between African culture and technology. MarkLives is syndicating content from Smart Monkey TV on a weekly basis for the column “Smart Africa TV”.
