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Magazines ABC Q4 2022: Magazine category looks up

By Danette Breitenbach

22 Feb 2023

The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) of South Africa's Quarter 4, 2022 shows that the magazine category is looking up, due to business-to-business (B2B) and custom magazines increasing distribution from Quarter 3, 2022.

Source: MSN MSN The ABC Q4 2022 is out

However, in particular, consumer magazines and free magazines have not yet found their feet, with the two sectors mainly showing declines in Q4, 2022 on Q3, 2022 as well as the number of publications changing sector, resigning or no issue.

In a statement the ABC has also noted the growth of digital magazines. “In general, digital growth is drastic across the board as many publishers opt for hybrid or digital-only publications. The true impact of digital-only remains to be seen."

It adds that digital publications have increased from 333,068 (Q3, 2022) to 382,135 (Q4, 2022).

Consumer Magazines

Of the 17 sectors the Business and News sector fared the best in terms of number of publications that increased on the previous quarter, with the Family Interest sector faring that worst with no increases on the previous quarter. The same can be said for the Home sector, except for Lose It and The Gardener/Die Tuinier which both showed increases on the previous quarter with the Gardener/Die Tuinier also showing an increase on the prior year.

The Male and Women’s General sectors continued to decline except for Rooi Rose (a new member) and Women and Home. In the Male sector the two publications both did, however, have an increase on the prior year.

The only two publications in the Youth sector have both resigned.

Arts, Culture and Heritage
Publication	Frequency	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Jewish Life	Mtly	8,435	8,435	-2.9%	3.9%
Val de Vie Magazine	2xA	0	No Issue
Business and News
Business Brief	AltM	0	Changed Sector
Financial Mail	Wkly, Fr	2,659	12,066	1.0%	-5.4%
Forbes Africa	AltM	3,892	9,216	0.9%	-10.6%
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine	Mtly	0	Changed Sector
The Big Issue Magazine	Mtly	79	7,415	21.7%	3.9%
Conservation and Wildlife
African Birdlife	AltM	537	6,303	-2.0%	3.6%
Entertainment
TV Plus (Afrikaans)	F	0	11,555	-1.6%	-12.3%
TV Plus (English)	F	0	2,323	2.1%	-32.5%
Family Interest
Huisgenoot	Wkly, Th	4,571	105,296	-7.8%	-18.9%
LIG	11xA	860	14,988	-2.8%	-14.6%
Plus 50	6xA	2,140	5,309	-9.7%	-8.2%
Spot-On (Formerly known as Spotong)	AltM	0	No Issue		Changed Sector
The Crest	7xA	10,289	10,289	-1.6%	-19.4%
The Ridge	8xA	12,217	12,217	-0.1%	-24.2%
You	Wkly, Th	3,626	53,963	-8.1%	-21.7%
Farming
Farmer's Weekly	Wkly, Fr	470	6,415	-5.1%	-10.4%
Grond tot Mond	Q	0	No Issue
Landbouweekblad	Wkly, Th	0	11,162	1.2%	-11.1%
Marktoe!	Mtly	12,792	12,792	-5.9%	19.7%
Veeplaas.	11xA	0	Changed Sector
Health & Wellbeing
Grow to Eat	3xA	2,441	11,731	Reporting Change	5.6%
Odyssey Magazine.	Q	0	Resigned
Home
Conde Nast House & Garden	Mtly	4,940	11,821	-1.5%	-0.9%
Easy DIY	Q	0	3,520	-26.3%	-43.5%
Food&Home Magazine	Q	2,025	13,348	New Member
Lose It,	Q	0	9,618	13.6%	-12.6%
SA Home Owner	11xA	3,636	17,061	-12.9%	-24.3%
Sarie Kos / Food	Q	0	13,218	-13.3%	-29.7%
The Gardener / Die Tuinier	Mtly	10,345	25,808	2.3%	15.1%
Tuis Home	8xA	1,713	62,379	-6.5%	-14.7%
Visi	6xA	1,555	10,279	-25.0%	-14.6%
Leisure
Let’s Braai / Kom ons Braai (former The Ultimate Braai)	Ann	10,270	20,718	Reporting Change
Life & Style.	4xA	4,800	4,800	New Member
Silver Digest	4xA	0	No Issue
Male
GQ	5xA	2,880	4,928	-9.5%	0.2%
Popular Mechanics	Mtly	3,449	13,164	-2.5%	8.4%
Very Interesting (former Braintainment)	AltM	0	Resigned
Motoring
Bike SA	Mtly	0	Publication Closed
Car	Mtly	16,233	41,097	-2.4%	-4.6%
Driven Magazine	Mtly	7,717	7,717	5.8%	-45.3%
Parenting
Baba & Kleuter	Q	0	No Issue
Baby's and Beyond	Q	7,437	9,501	-8.7%	3.8%
Things to do With Kids	2xA	8,019	8,019	New Member
Your Pregnancy and Baby	AltM	1,629	6,102	4.6%	-13.3%
Pets
Animaltalk	Mtly	0	Resigned
Sport and Hobby
Compleat Golfer	Mtly	5,247	8,271	8.8%	32.1%
Kick Off	Mtly	0	Discontinued
Magnum	8xA	0	9,758	-12.1%	-13.1%
SA Rugby	Mtly	1,899	10,170	1.0%	-23.3%
Travel, Tourism & Hospitality
Cape Etc	3xA	4,123	6,627	No Issue	-5.9%
Getaway	Mtly	5,395	15,138	-2.9%	-6.8%
go! Drive & Camp and Weg! Ry & Sleep	AltM	361	24,740	-13.9%	-19.9%
Weg / Go Platteland	Q	0	17,874	-6.6%	-12.0%
Weg/Go	AltM	85	41,463	-13.9%	-16.0%
Woman's General
BONA Magazine	Mtly	4,815	14,403	-16.6%	New Member
Fairlady	AltM	0	26,628	-8.9%	-25.9%
Garden & Home Magazine	Mtly	4,824	15,617	-11.1%	0.7%
Glamour,	Q	7,207	11,621	-13.2%	-5.8%
Kuier	F	0	54,735	-2.8%	-20.9%
Rooi Rose Magazine	AltM	4,564	29,063	2.9%	New Member
Sarie	AltM	859	59,050	-12.9%	-10.1%
True Love	AltM	0	8,384	-37.7%	-50.3%
Women & Home Magazine	Mtly	9,076	30,088	4.2%	6.6%
Youth
Barbie Magazine	Mtly	0	Resigned
Very Interesting Junior	Mtly	0	Resigned

B2B Magazines

This category, always a highlight in the magazine category, has increased circulation in Q4 2022 over Q3, 2022. However, most increases are incremental, with only Blue Chip (with a reporting change), Brainstorm and Plumbing Africa with increases on the previous quarter in double figures.

The increases on the prior year is a better picture, with many publications in double figures, some increasing over 20% with the highest increase coming from Mining Review Africa.

Stalwarts from previous quarters such as Construction World and most of the Engineering – Other sector continue to drive up the circulation of the category. On the flip side, the Retail sector continues to decline.

The biggest sector, Industry, had a new member but also some resignations, a suspension and reporting changes.

Agricultural
Publication	Period	Frequency	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
OVK Nuus/News	Oct -Dec	4xA	4,755	4,755	0.0%	-7.2%
SA Graan / Grain	Oct -Dec	Mtly	21,342	21,342	1.8%	3.8%
SABI Magazine	Oct -Dec	AltM	0	Resigned
Stockfarm	Oct -Dec	Mtly	1,762	6,522	-3.1%	-4.9%
Veeplaas	Oct -Dec	11xA	3,160	8,001	Changed Sector
Wineland	Oct -Dec	Mtly	3,122	3,191	-0.1%	-1.2%
Architecture
earthworks	Oct -Dec	Q	0	Resigned
Floors in Africa	Oct -Dec	7xA	0	Changed Sector
Leading Architect & Design	Oct -Dec	AltM	6,799	6,862	2.9%	-4.8%
SA Building Review	Oct -Dec	Ann	0	No Issue	Reporting Change
Timber IQ	Oct -Dec	AltM	0	Resigned
To Build	Oct -Dec	3xA	8,626	9,826	-0.2%	-0.7%
Walls & Roofs in Africa	Oct -Dec	7xA	0	Changed Sector
Automotive
Taxi Guardian	Oct -Dec	Mtly	0	No Audit		New Member
Civil Construction
Civil Engineering	Oct -Dec	Mtly	0	Changed Sector
Construction World	Oct -Dec	Mtly	16,499	16,499	5.0%	19.3%
IMIESA	Oct -Dec	11xA	12,118	12,118	0.4%	2.8%
Spec Handbooks	Oct -Dec	Ann	0	No Issues
Communications
Future SA	Oct -Dec	4xA	5,059	7,336	-8.9%	New Member
Nex Media	Jul -Jun	4xA	0	Resigned
SA Profile	Oct -Dec	Ann	0	No Issue	Reporting Change
Service	Oct -Dec	Q	4,958	4,958	No Issue	0.2%
Electrical Engineering
Electricity & Control	Oct -Dec	Mtly	13,416	13,416	2.9%	18.3%
ESI Africa	Oct -Dec	Q	3,283	3,283	Reporting Change
Sparks Electrical News	Oct -Dec	Mtly	14,176	14,176	2.5%	17.4%
Engineering - Other
Capital Equipment News	Oct -Dec	Mtly	12,773	12,773	0.6%	18.8%
Dataweek	Oct -Dec	Mtly	2,792	2,792	0.8%	-1.0%
MechChem Africa	Oct -Dec	AltM	9,824	9,824	-5.2%	22.2%
Motion Control	Oct -Dec	Q	2,093	2,093	5.0%	4.2%
Plumbing Africa	Oct -Dec	Mtly	10,854	10,950	14.2%	13.7%
Refrigeration and Airconditioning	Oct -Dec	Mtly	6,989	7,004	3.1%	0.2%
SA Instrumentation & Control	Oct -Dec	Mtly	4,263	4,263	2.5%	3.8%
Water & Sanitation Africa	Oct -Dec	AltM	7,618	7,618	-0.4%	9.9%
Health and Wellbeing
Fire Protection	Oct -Dec	Q	0	Changed Sector
Hi-Tech Security Solutions	Oct -Dec	8xA	4,235	4,235	2.6%	2.9%
Medical Chronicle	Oct -Dec	11xA	26,820	26,820	0.8%	9.4%
MIMS	Oct -Dec	Mtly	171	1,802	-51.5%	-11.9%
Modern Medicine Magazine	Oct -Dec	AltM	2,929	3,437	-5.3%	-16.6%
South African Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Review	Oct -Dec	11xA	2,970	2,990	3.1%	-1.8%
The Specialist Forum Journal	Oct -Dec	11xA	21,835	21,835	-0.9%	1.0%
Hospitality, Catering and Tourism
Meetings	Oct -Dec	AltM	4,615	4,615	-2.9%	Changed Sector
Meetings	Oct -Dec	AltM	0	Changed Sector
The Meetings & Event Planner (former SA Conference Directory)	Oct -Dec	Ann	0	No Issues	Reporting Change
Industry
Analytical Reporter	Oct -Dec	AltM	5,525	5,525	1.5%	-2.4%
Cold Link Africa	Oct -Dec	AltM	4,179	4,186	3.6%	-0.6%
Eastern Cape Business..	Jul -Jun	Ann	0	Reporting Change
Free State Business,	Oct -Dec	Ann	4,964	4,964	Reporting Change	-50.1%
Gauteng Companies	Oct -Dec	Ann	4,949	4,949	Reporting change
Industrial Buyer	Oct -Dec	AltM	0	Resigned
Jewellers' Network Directory	Oct -Dec	Ann	0	Resigned	Suspended
KwaZulu Natal Business..	Jul -Jun	Ann	0	Reporting Change
Lighting in Design	Oct -Dec	Q	7,167	7,167	4.0%	28.4%
Limpopo Business.,	Oct -Dec	Ann	4,943	4,943	Reporting Change	-50.3%
LINKED by Jewellers Network	Jul -Jun	Q	0	Resigned
Mpumalanga Business.,	Oct -Dec	Ann	0	No Issue
North West Business..	Jul -Jun	Ann	0	Reporting Change
Northern Cape Business..	Jul -Jun	Ann	0	Reporting Change
Opportunity (Exploring Business Prospects in SA)	Jul -Jun	Q	0	Reporting Change
Opportunity (Exploring Business Prospects in SA)	Oct -Dec	Q	4,921	4,921	0.1%	Reporting Change
Resource	Oct -Dec	Q	6,471	6,471	-7.3%	20.6%
SA Affordable Housing	Oct -Dec	AltM	0	Resigned
Smart Energy International	Oct -Dec	AltM	0	No Submission
South African Business	Oct -Dec	2xA	9,928	9,928	Reporting change	-33.5%
South African Food Review	Oct -Dec	11xA	2,856	2,905	-23.1%	-37.4%
The Journal of African Business	Oct -Dec	Q	4,961	4,961	New Member
The Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Handbook	Oct -Dec	Ann	0	Terminated
Western Cape Business,	Oct -Dec	Ann	4,949	4,949	Reporting Change	-50.2%
Information and Computer Technology
Brainstorm	Oct -Dec	11xA	4,373	9,170	15.3%	8.4%
The Margin	Oct -Dec	Q	0	Merged into Brainstorm
Management
African Decisions	Oct -Dec	Q	10,889	12,119	5.8%	15.3%
Black Business Quarterly	Oct -Dec	Q	36,528	37,349	-21.1%	-63.9%
Blue Chip,	Oct -Dec	Q	18,010	18,010	143.1%	Reporting Change
Business Day Earth	Oct -Dec	Ann	11,900	19,800	New Member
Business Day Empowerment	Oct -Dec	Ann	9,300	19,800	New Member
FA News	Oct -Dec	AltM	2,753	2,919	0.1%	1.0%
KZN Invest	Oct -Dec	Q	5,147	5,147	-3.2%	-9.1%
Leadership	Oct -Dec	Mtly	39,671	39,868	-4.6%	-18.6%
Money Marketing	Oct -Dec	Mtly	7,427	7,433	-0.1%	-8.0%
South African Business Intergrator	Oct -Dec	2xA	8,560	9,810	-1.0%	11.1%
Top Women in Business & Government	Oct -Dec	Ann	0	Terminated		Non Submission
Mining & Quarrying
African Mines Handbook	Oct -Dec	Ann	1,349	1,980	Reporting Change	54.6%
African Mining Brief	Oct -Dec	AltM	0	No Submission
African Mining Inc. Mining Mirror	Oct -Dec	11xA	21,079	21,167	0.9%	-6.2%
Earthbroker	Oct -Dec	Mtly	5,382	5,382	0.0%	0.0%
Engineering News & Mining Weekly	Oct -Dec	Wkly, Fr	9,984	12,688	-2.5%	6.7%
Inside Mining	Oct -Dec	Q	9,094	9,094	-5.5%	Reporting Change
Mining Business Africa	Oct -Dec	6xA	0	No Submission		New Member
Mining Review Africa.	Oct -Dec	11xA	4,663	4,663	No Issue	136.0%
Modern Mining	Oct -Dec	Mtly	13,634	13,634	3.8%	20.6%
Modern Quarrying	Oct -Dec	Q	6,480	6,480	-2.1%	32.7%
Retail
DIY And Industrial Trade News	Oct -Dec	Mtly	10,264	10,264	-1.6%	2.2%
Pharmacy Magazine (former Frontshop)	Oct -Dec	Mtly	15,795	15,795	-8.0%	-20.7%
Supermarket and Retailer	Oct -Dec	Mtly	0	Changed Sector
Transport and Logistics
Freight News Features	Oct -Dec	Mtly	5,918	6,157	4.7%	7.7%

Magazines ABC Q3 2022: print publications remain critical but stable

Karabo Ledwaba 15 Nov 2022

Custom Magazines

Custom Magazines increased on the back of Jet Club from 1,262,183 (Q3, 2022) to 1,494,116 (Q4, 2022).

Of the 14 sectors in the category, all had some increases on the previous quarter with six sectors with all increases on the previous quarter. The exception is the Health & Wellbeing sector which has only a changed publisher, two reporting changes, two no issues and one suspension.

While In-Flight Magazine showed good increases on the previous quarter and prior year, the resignation of Skyways, the only other publication in this sector, leaves it the lone survivor in the sector.

The best performing publications are Man and Club both on the previous quarter and prior year.

Farming
Publication	Frequency	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Dairy Mail, The.	Mtly	1,161	1,161	3.6%	-48.5%
Wolboer / Wool Farmer	AltM	0	Changed Sector
Health & Wellbeing
Fitlife.	Mtly	0	Changed Publisher
Journal of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes SA	3xA	0	Resigned	Reporting Change
SA Pharmaceutical Journal	10xA	0	4,254	Reporting Change	-36.3%
SA Pharmacist's Assistant (SAPA)	Q	0	Resigned	No Issue
South African Medical Journal	Mtly	8,474	8,725	Suspended	-6.0%
Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia &Analgesia	AltM	0	Resigned	No Issue
Home
Fresh Living	Q	11,549	27,939	-24.4%	-26.9%
Living Space..	Mtly	474	37,812	2.3%	8.5%
My Kitchen..	Mtly	686	74,893	5.7%	11.1%
Industry Specific
Forum Tydskrif	Q	149,710	149,710	0.0%	0.4%
J S E	Q	12,485	14,234	-7.5%	-1.3%
Sea Rescue	3xA	17,866	17,866	-3.2%	13.6%
Servamus	Mtly	43	8,143	-4.5%	-9.7%
In-flight
In Flight Magazine	Mtly	32,471	32,471	8.1%	13.6%
Skyways	Mtly	0	Resigned
Leisure
Private Edition	Q	9,245	9,245	0.9%	15.6%
Taste.	AltM	1,144	34,554	-2.0%	7.4%
Male
Man	Mtly	400	56,914	10.4%	34.8%
Tech..	Mtly	700	32,310	4.7%	0.0%
Motoring
Motor..	Mtly	0	Changed Publisher
Professional
Accountancy SA	11xA	0	Changed Sector
De Rebus	11xA	0	Changed Sector
Retail
Club Magazine	Mtly	5,133	269,265	1.8%	6.4%
Jet Club	7xA	0	233,005	No Issue	-15.6%
Sport and Hobby
Game & Hunt/Wild & Jag	Mtly	66,601	68,074	2.3%	-0.7%
SA Hunter/Jagter	8xA	0	28,929	-1.0%	-13.8%
Soccer Club	Mtly	500	48,484	2.4%	12.1%
Sports Club.	Mtly	570	97,305	8.1%	20.5%
Wildland Magazine	Mtly	0	Changed Sector
Travel, Tourism & Hospitality
Escapes	Mtly	0	Changed Publisher
Premier	Mtly	8,373	8,373	6.2%	-39.6%
Rove SA	2xA	8,012	9,206	-12.5%	-2.9%
Woman's General
Balanced Life	Mtly	276	49,723	1.4%	2.9%
Youth
ClubX	Mtly	333	101,288	9.3%	37.7%
Kids Super Club.	Mtly	766	70,233	6.9%	7.1%

Free magazines

This smaller category had only one increase on the previous quarter and three increases on the prior year. Four publications were stable with no increases, but also no decreases. The declines in circulation on the previous quarter were generally low. The same can be said for the Q4 2022 increases/declines on the prior year.

Get It (Highway) and Get It (Jo'burg West) had the biggest declines on the previous quarter and prior year.

Publication	Frequency	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Botswana Advertiser.	F	99,965	0.0%	5.3%
Get It (Ballito to Umhlanga)	Mtly	11,964	0.0%	20.1%
Get It (Bloemfontein)	Mtly	6,890	0.0%	0.0%
Get It (Highway)	Mtly	11,813	2.9%	20.2%
Get It (Jo'burg South)	Mtly	14,750	-0.3%	0.5%
Get It (Jo'burg West)	Mtly	13,275	-5.2%	-10.4%
Get It (Lowveld)	Mtly	6,200	0.0%	0.0%
Get It (Northern Suburbs Joburg)	Mtly	14,750	-1.0%	-0.7%
Get It (Pretoria)	Mtly	14,657	-1.3%	0.0%

Danette Breitenbach

About Danette Breitenbach

Danette Breitenbach is a marketing & media editor at Bizcommunity.com. Previously she freelanced in the marketing and media sector, including for Bizcommunity. She was editor and publisher of AdVantage, the publication that served the marketing, media and advertising industry in southern Africa. She has worked extensively in print media, mainly B2B. She has a Masters in Financial Journalism from Wits.