Magazines ABC Q3 2022: print publications remain critical but stable

15 Nov 2022

According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) of South Africa the magazine category for Q3 2022 has remained relatively stable despite some publications missing declarations.

Source: Compiled by Emily Stander.

“The magazine category appears relatively flat; however, magazines like the Jet Club (custom category) and significant players still need to be declared, and publications still in circulation affect quarterly reporting. We will have kept the Q3 and Q2 2022 distribution reasonably stable if we compare estimated circulation, including those numbers,” the statement said.

The ABC said 3.3 million magazines were consumed in quarter three.

"Thus, although media distribution in print looks to follow a slow downward trend, publishers maintain their creativity to stay in business which is vastly important and can be commended," said the ABC.

Consumer Magazines

Like in previous quarters consumer magazines continued to have reporting changes and changed sectors.

Plus 50, Baba & Kleuter, Compleat Golfer, Marktoe! and The Gardener all had double digit uptakes for the third quarter.

Women’s magazines: Sarie, Glamour and Women and Home showed steady growth with single digit uptakes for quarterly and y-o-y readership.

Marktoe! continues to bring home the bacon with double digit increases across the board once again.

Your Pregnancy and Baby, Rooi Rose Magazine and Women's Health are new members in the sector.

Arts, Culture and Heritage
Publication	Period	Frequency	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Jewish Life	Jul -Sep	Mtly	8,687	8,687	-1.1%	8.9%
Val de Vie Magazine	Jan -Dec	2xA	0	Reporting Change
Val de Vie Magazine	Jul -Sep	2xA	14,900	14,900	No Issue	57.7%
Business and News
Business Brief	Jul -Sep	AltM	0	Changed Sector
Financial Mail	Jul -Sep	Wkly, Fr	2,869	11,946	-4.3%	-4.9%
Finweek	Jul -Sep	F	0	Ceased Publishing
Forbes Africa	Jul -Sep	AltM	4,063	9,166	1.7%	Reporting Change
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Changed Sector
The Big Issue Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	204	6,093	0.7%	18.2%
Conservation and Wildlife
African Birdlife	Jul -Sep	AltM	1,009	6,430	-4.4%	Reporting Change
Entertainment
Eat Out	Jan -Dec	Ann	0	Reporting Change
TV Plus (Afrikaans)	Jul -Sep	F	0	11,741	2.1%	-11.7%
TV Plus (English)	Jul -Sep	F	0	2,275	-12.6%	-41.6%
Family Interest
Huisgenoot	Jul -Sep	Wkly, Th	6,934	114,232	-3.8%	-12.3%
LIG	Jul -Sep	11xA	450	15,425	-0.2%	Changed Frequency
Plus 50	Jul -Sep	6xA	1,621	5,879	32.6%	Reporting Change
Spot-On (Formerly known as Spotong)	Jul -Sep	AltM	21,049	21,049	-0.2%	Changed Sector
The Crest	Jul -Sep	7xA	10,456	10,456	1.5%	-16.0%
The Ridge	Jul -Sep	8xA	12,228	12,228	-0.9%	-24.9%
You	Jul -Sep	Wkly, Th	5,248	58,734	-7.5%	-13.6%
Farming
Farmer's Weekly	Jul -Sep	Wkly, Fr	98	6,763	9.9%	12.1%
Grond tot Mond	Jul -Sep	Q	5,126	6,826	Reporting Change
Landbouweekblad	Jul -Sep	Wkly, Th	0	11,031	-6.3%	-33.4%
Landbouweekblad Vee	Jul -Sep	Ann	0	Resigned
Marktoe!	Jul -Sep	Mtly	13,593	13,593	15.4%	42.1%
Veeplaas	Jul -Sep	11xA	2,854	7,829	2.8%	1.5%
Health & Wellbeing
Grow to Eat	Jan -Dec	3xA	0	Reporting Change
Home
Conde Nast House & Garden	Jul -Sep	Mtly	5,063	12,001	-2.4%	-11.7%
Easy DIY	Jul -Sep	Q	490	4,777	-6.6%	-32.6%
Food&Home Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Resigned
Idees/Ideas	Jan -Jun	AltM	0	Reporting Change
Lose It,	Jul -Sep	Q	0	8,468	-25.0%	-45.6%
SA Home Owner	Jul -Sep	11xA	2,617	19,585	-4.2%	-14.0%
Sarie Kos / Food	Jul -Sep	Q	0	15,246	-6.9%	-21.0%
The Gardener / Die Tuinier	Jul -Sep	Mtly	9,579	25,216	17.6%	-4.4%
Tuis Home	Jul -Sep	8xA	2,764	66,749	-10.5%	-11.9%
Visi	Jul -Sep	6xA	2,765	13,705	-3.8%	25.8%
Leisure
Let’s Braai / Kom ons Braai (former The Ultimate Braai)	Jul -Jun	Ann	0	Reporting Change
Silver Digest	Jul -Sep	4xA	0	No Issue
Male
GQ	Jul -Sep	5xA	3,079	5,444	-3.1%	1.3%
Men's Health	Jul -Sep	6xA	0	No Issue		New Member
Popular Mechanics	Jul -Sep	Mtly	4,199	13,505	1.9%	9.3%
Very Interesting (former Braintainment)	Jan -Jun	AltM	0	Resigned
Motoring
Bike SA	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Resigned
Car	Jul -Sep	Mtly	15,498	42,094	0.6%	-4.3%
Driven Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	7,296	7,296	0.6%	-47.5%
TOPGEAR SOUTH AFRICA	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Terminated
Parenting
Baba & Kleuter	Jul -Sep	Q	0	13,697	26.8%	Reporting Change
Baby's and Beyond	Jul -Sep	Q	7,443	10,401	3.6%	No Issue
Your Pregnancy and Baby	Jul -Sep	AltM	1,431	5,836	-8.5%	New Member
Pets
Animaltalk	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Resigned
Dog Directory	Jul -Jun	Ann	0	Resigned
Sport and Hobby
Compleat Golfer	Jul -Sep	Mtly	4,097	7,604	17.5%	23.3%
Kick Off	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Discontinued
Magnum	Jul -Sep	8xA	0	11,097	-14.6%	29.0%
SA Rugby	Jul -Sep	Mtly	1,550	10,069	-9.7%	-24.3%
Travel, Tourism & Hospitality
Cape Etc.	Jul -Sep	3xA	0	No Issue
Getaway	Jul -Sep	Mtly	5,425	15,587	2.0%	-4.7%
go! Drive & Camp and Weg! Ry & Sleep	Jul -Sep	AltM	397	28,720	1.1%	-11.2%
Weg / Go Platteland	Jul -Sep	Q	0	19,143	-0.8%	-16.3%
Weg/Go	Jul -Sep	AltM	0	48,162	3.7%	-4.4%
Woman's General
BONA Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	6,098	17,279	New Member
Fairlady	Jul -Sep	AltM	2,361	29,218	-17.8%	-25.7%
Garden & Home Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	6,978	17,572	6.9%	Reporting Change
Glamour,	Jul -Sep	Q	7,798	13,382	8.2%	7.0%
Kuier	Jul -Sep	F	0	56,314	-4.4%	-15.6%
Rooi Rose Magazine	Jul -Sep	AltM	7,066	28,245	1.4%	New Member
Sarie	Jul -Sep	AltM	1,996	67,776	7.0%	5.1%
True Love	Jul -Sep	AltM	531	13,462	-19.0%	-26.4%
Women & Home Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	10,063	28,876	1.6%	2.9%
Women's Health	Jul -Sep	6xA	0	No Issue		New Member
Youth
Barbie Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Resigned
Careers Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Terminated
Very Interesting Junior	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Resigned

B2B Magazines

MIMS, Resource, Inside Mining, Modern Quarying and MechChem Africa are the only B2B magazines that had double-digit uptakes for the quarter. MIMS particularly made a strong comeback after suffering a double-digit loss of 36.3% in quarter 2 and is now sitting at a 58.9% gain in quarter 3.

Medical Chronicle and The Specialist Forum Journal continue to show a steady uptake every quarter and y-o-y.

SA Graan continues to see a positive uptake in its y-o-y numbers.

Construction World which was a standout in Q2 continues on its winning streak with increased gains once again in Q3 and the prior year.

Agricultural
Publication	Period	Frequency	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
OVK NuOVK Nuus/News	Jul -Sep	4xA	4,755	4,755	0.0%	Reporting Change
SA Graan / Grain	Jul -Sep	Mtly	20,968	20,968	9.8%	33.3%
SABI Magazine	Jul -Sep	AltM	0	Resigned
Stockfarm	Jul -Sep	Mtly	1,675	7,107	2.4%	-7.5%
Wineland	Jul -Sep	Mtly	3,133	3,194	-1.5%	-0.5%
Architecture
earthworks.	Jan -Dec	Q	0	Resigned
Floors in Africa	Jul -Sep	7xA	0	Changed Sector
Leading Architect & Design	Jul -Sep	AltM	6,616	6,666	3.8%	-11.9%
SA Building Review	Jan -Dec	Ann	0	Reporting Change
Timber IQ	Jul -Sep	AltM	0	Resigned
To Build	Jul -Sep	3xA	8,524	9,846	0.3%	Reporting Change
Walls & Roofs in Africa	Jul -Sep	7xA	0	Changed Sector
Automotive
Road Ahead, The	Jan -Dec	Q	0	Reporting Change
Taxi Guardian	Jul -Sep	Mtly	420	420	-10.3%	New Member
Civil Construction
Civil Engineering	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Changed Sector
Concrete Trends	Jan -Dec	Q	0	Reporting Change
Construction Review.	Jan -Jun	AltM	0	Terminated
Construction World	Jul -Sep	Mtly	15,719	15,719	3.5%	20.5%
IMIESA	Jul -Sep	11xA	12,065	12,065	3.0%	1.7%
Spec Handbooks	Jul -Sep	Ann	19,868	19,868	Reporting Change
Communications
Future SA	Jul -Sep	4xA	4,997	8,052	4.6%	New Member
Nex Media	Jul -Jun	4xA	0	Resigned
SA Profile	Jan -Dec	Ann	0	Reporting Change
Service	Jul -Sep	Q	0	No Issue		New Member
The Gapp Magazine	Jul -Sep	AltM	0	Resigned
Electrical Engineering
Electricity & Control	Jul -Sep	Mtly	13,033	13,033	3.7%	23.3%
ESI Africa	Jul -Jun	Q	0	Reporting Change
Sparks Electrical News	Jul -Sep	Mtly	13,825	13,825	3.9%	24.0%
Engineering - Other
Capital Equipment News	Jul -Sep	Mtly	12,695	12,695	5.7%	28.8%
Dataweek	Jul -Sep	Mtly	2,771	2,771	-2.4%	9.7%
MechChem Africa	Jul -Sep	AltM	10,363	10,363	12.9%	Reporting Change
Motion Control	Jul -Sep	Q	1,993	1,993	1.9%	4.1%
Plumbing Africa	Jul -Sep	Mtly	9,584	9,685	1.7%	12.2%
Refrigeration and Airconditioning	Jul -Sep	Mtly	6,788	6,805	7.7%	3.6%
SA Instrumentation & Control	Jul -Sep	Mtly	4,157	4,157	1.2%	10.7%
Water & Sanitation Africa	Jul -Sep	AltM	7,650	7,650	12.0%	Reporting Change
Health and Wellbeing
Fire Protection	Jul -Sep	Q	0	Changed Sector
Hi-Tech Security Solutions	Jul -Sep	8xA	4,126	4,126	-1.5%	12.6%
MDR Medical Desk Reference	Jul -Sep	Ann	0	No Issue
Medical Chronicle	Jul -Sep	11xA	26,594	26,594	4.2%	1.8%
MIMS	Jul -Sep	Mtly	445	3,714	58.9%	-13.5%
Modern Medicine Magazine	Jul -Sep	AltM	3,104	3,628	2.3%	Reporting Change
South African Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Review	Jul -Sep	11xA	2,879	2,899	1.8%	-9.7%
The Specialist Forum Journal	Jul -Sep	11xA	22,041	22,041	2.6%	51.7%
Hospitality, Catering and Tourism
Explore South Africa.	Jan -Dec	Q	0	Reporting Change
Meetings	Jan -Jun	AltM	0	Reporting Change
Meetings	Jul -Sep	AltM	4,755	4,755	Reporting Change
The Meetings & Event Planner (former SA Conference Directory)	Jul -Sep	Ann	0	No Issue
Industry
Analytical Reporter	Jul -Sep	AltM	5,444	5,444	1.4%	-13.2%
Cold Link Africa	Jul -Sep	AltM	4,039	4,048	0.0%	-28.3%
Eastern Cape Business	Jul -Sep	Ann	0	No Issue
Free State Business,	Jan -Dec	Ann	0	Reporting Change
Gauteng Companies	Jul -Jun	Ann	0	Reporting Change
Industrial Buyer	Jul -Sep	AltM	0	Resigned
Jewellers' Network Directory	Jan -Dec	Ann	0	Suspended
KwaZulu Natal Business	Jul -Sep	Ann	0	No Issue
Lighting in Design	Jul -Sep	Q	6,894	6,894	3.4%	Reporting Change
Limpopo Business	Jan -Dec	Ann	0	Reporting Change
LINKED by Jewellers Network	Jul -Jun	Q	0	Resigned
Mpumalanga Business	Jul -Sep	Ann	0	No Issue
North West Business	Jul -Sep	Ann	0	No Issue
Northern Cape Business	Jul -Sep	Ann	0	No Issue
Opportunity (Exploring Business Prospects in SA)	Jul -Sep	Q	4,916	4,916	-0.1%	Reporting Change
Resource	Jul -Sep	Q	6,981	6,981	19.8%	Reporting Change
SA Affordable Housing	Jul -Sep	AltM	0	Resigned
Smart Energy International	Jul -Sep	AltM	0	No Issue
South African Business.	Jan -Dec	2xA	0	Reporting Change
South African Food Review	Jul -Sep	11xA	3,728	3,778	-1.8%	-23.9%
The Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Handbook.	Jul -Jun	Ann	0	Suspended
Western Cape Business,	Jan -Dec	Ann	0	Reporting Change
Information and Computer Technology
Brainstorm	Jul -Sep	11xA	3,724	7,950	-2.5%	-8.5%
The Margin	Jul -Sep	Q	0	Merged into Brainstorm
Management
African Decisions	Jul -Sep	Q	11,190	11,458	-10.1%	14.1%
Black Business Quarterly	Jul -Sep	Q	46,571	47,389	2.5%	-54.1%
Blue Chip,	Jul -Sep	Q	7,407	7,407	-0.2%	Reporting Change
FA News	Jul -Sep	AltM	2,750	2,916	0.4%	0.0%
KZN Invest	Jul -Sep	Q	5,315	5,315	9.7%	0.2%
Leadership	Jul -Sep	Mtly	41,599	41,846	-5.5%	Reporting Change
Money Marketing	Jul -Sep	Mtly	7,436	7,443	-3.8%	-13.9%
South African Business Intergrator	Jul -Sep	2xA	7,518	9,912	1.3%	Reporting Change
Mining & Quarrying
African Mines Handbook	Jan -Dec	Ann	0	Reporting Change
African Mining Brief	Jul -Sep	AltM	960	960	-2.0%	Reporting Change
African Mining Inc. Mining Mirror	Jul -Sep	11xA	20,955	21,059	-5.5%	-11.0%
Earthbroker	Jul -Sep	Mtly	5,382	5,382	0.0%	0.0%
Engineering News & Mining Weekly	Jul -Sep	Wkly, Fr	10,297	13,020	-2.2%	27.9%
Inside Mining	Jul -Sep	Q	9,619	9,619	28.9%	Reporting Change
Inside Mining	Jul -Jun	4xA	0	Reporting Change
Mining Business Africa	Jul -Sep	6xA	1,720	1,720	5.4%	New Member
Mining Review Africa.	Jul -Sep	11xA	0	No Issue
Modern Mining	Jul -Sep	Mtly	13,141	13,141	4.2%	22.9%
Modern Quarrying	Jul -Sep	Q	6,619	6,619	11.8%	Reporting Change
Retail
DIY And Industrial Trade News	Jul -Sep	Mtly	10,428	10,428	-0.5%	7.8%
Pharmacy Magazine (former Frontshop)	Jul -Sep	Mtly	17,175	17,175	-6.0%	8.8%
Supermarket and Retailer	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Changed Sector
Transport and Logistics
Freight News Features	Jul -Sep	Mtly	5,656	5,880	-4.5%	21.8%

Custom Magazines

Custom magazines continue to improve this year with increases in 14 different publications. In Flight Magazine and Taste saw the highest increases in this quarter.

The youth magazine and Home sectors both saw increased gains for their publications in the quarter.

Rove SA is a new member in this category.

Farming
Publication	Period	Frequency	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Dairy Mail, The.	Jul -Sep	Mtly	1,117	1,121	-51.8%	-50.5%
Rooi Vleis / Red Meat	Jan -Jun	AltM	0	Reporting Change
Wolboer / Wool Farmer	Jul -Sep	AltM	0	Changed Sector
Health & Wellbeing
Fitlife	Jul -Sep	Mtly	260	18,384	-15.3%	-30.2%
Journal of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes SA	Jul -Jun	3xA	0	Reporting Change
SA Pharmaceutical Journal	Jan -Jun	10xA	0	Reporting Change
SA Pharmacist's Assistant (SAPA)	Jul -Sep	Q	0	No Issue
South African Medical Journal	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Suspended
Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia &Analgesia	Jul -Sep	AltM	0	No Issue
Home
Fresh Living	Jul -Sep	Q	14,718	36,945	No Issue
Living Space	Jul -Sep	Mtly	2,122	36,970	5.0%	0.6%
My Kitchen	Jul -Sep	Mtly	2,141	70,838	2.2%	2.9%
Industry Specific
Forum Tydskrif	Jul -Sep	Q	149,784	149,784	0.1%	0.1%
J S E	Jul -Sep	Q	14,150	15,391	6.3%	9.4%
Sea Rescue	Jul -Sep	3xA	18,456	18,456	-6.0%	9.6%
Servamus	Jul -Sep	Mtly	43	8,528	2.8%	-5.9%
In-flight
In Flight Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	30,045	30,045	6.6%	6.3%
Skyways	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Resigned
Leisure
Private Edition	Jul -Sep	Q	9,162	9,162	-0.8%	14.7%
Taste.	Jul -Sep	AltM	3,014	35,255	7.6%	4.7%
Male
Man	Jul -Sep	Mtly	1,426	51,567	2.9%	19.9%
Tech..	Jul -Sep	Mtly	1,676	30,855	-1.4%	-8.8%
Motoring
Motor	Jul -Sep	Mtly	284	10,337	-17.2%	-40.9%
Professional
Accountancy SA	Jul -Sep	11xA	0	Changed Sector
De Rebus	Jul -Sep	11xA	0	Changed Sector
Retail
Clicks Club Card	Jul -Sep	AltM	0	Resigned- Digital only
Club Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	14,844	264,410	0.4%	2.0%
Jet Club	Jul -Sep	7xA	0	No Issue
Sport and Hobby
Game & Hunt/Wild & Jag	Jul -Sep	Mtly	64,869	66,527	-0.1%	-0.9%
SA Hunter/Jagter	Jul -Sep	8xA	0	29,230	-8.6%	-14.0%
Sports Club	Jul -Sep	Mtly	2,285	89,973	3.7%	12.0%
Wildland Magazine	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	Changed Sector
Travel, Tourism & Hospitality
Escapes	Jul -Sep	Mtly	736	15,247	-14.3%	-28.4%
Premier	Jul -Sep	Mtly	7,885	7,885	2.4%	-42.6%
Rove SA	Jul -Sep	2xA	7,804	10,519	-0.7%	New Member
Woman's General
Balanced Life	Jul -Sep	Mtly	983	49,046	0.3%	-3.8%
Youth
ClubX	Jul -Sep	Mtly	816	92,628	5.3%	24.6%
Kids Super Club	Jul -Sep	Mtly	0	65,730	2.4%	-5.6%

Free magazines

Two publications had a zero percent increase/decrease, while Get It (Ballito to Umhlanga) saw the highest gains for the quarter and on a y-o-y basis.

Publication	Period	Frequency	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Botswana Advertiser.	Jul -Sep	F	99,965	0.0%	5.3%
Get It (Ballito to Umhlanga)	Jul -Sep	Mtly	11,962	2.1%	20.1%
Get It (Bloemfontein)	Jul -Sep	Mtly	6,890	0.0%	0.0%
Get It (Highway)	Jul -Sep	Mtly	11,486	-2.8%	16.9%
Get It (Jo'burg South)	Jul -Sep	Mtly	14,800	0.6%	0.8%
Get It (Jo'burg West)	Jul -Sep	Mtly	14,008	-3.8%	-2.6%
Get It (Lowveld)	Jul -Sep	Mtly	6,200	0.0%	0.0%
Get It (Northern Suburbs Joburg)	Jul -Sep	Mtly	14,900	0.8%	0.6%
Get It (Pretoria)	Jul -Sep	Mtly	14,844	0.7%	1.5%

Magazines ABC Q2 2022: Free and digital magazines the heroes

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Karabo Ledwaba

About Karabo Ledwaba

Karabo Ledwaba is a Marketing and Media Editor at Bizcommunity and award-winning journalist. Before joining the publication she worked at Sowetan as a content producer and reporter. She was also responsible for the leadership page at SMag, Sowetan's lifestyle magazine. Contact her at karabo@bizcommunity.com