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ABC Q2 2024 Newspapers: Dailies and local newspapers buck the general continuing decline

Newspaper circulation in South Africa declined in Q2 2024 year on year (YOY) and quarter on quarter (QoQ) according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC).
Image by Ruth Cooper, Bizcommunity. Newspaper circulation in South Africa has decline year on year and quarter on quarter reports the ABC
Image by Ruth Cooper, Bizcommunity. Newspaper circulation in South Africa has decline year on year and quarter on quarter reports the ABC

The quarter's 13.7% decrease QoQ was much bigger than the 1.6% decline in Q1 2024. YoY the decline was also in double figures at 17.3%.

Local newspapers went against a general trend of decreases, with a significant 48.9% increase YOY.

More good news came from the daily newspaper category with a 1.2% increase QoQ.

The quarter saw a total combined circulation of 5,280,761 for all newspaper categories.

Daily newspapers

The circulation for daily newspapers in Q2 stood at 208,810, with just over a one percent increase QoQ and an 18.0% decline YoY.

The QoQ increase saw eight dailies with QoQ increases, with most under 10%.

The Herald was the only publication with double-figure QoQ increases, while The Daily Dispatch was the only daily with QoQ and YoY increases.

Citizen, Daily Sun and The Witness had decreases QoQ over five percent.

PublicationFrequencyPaid circulationFree circulationTotal circulation% change quarter% change year
Daily NationMD, Mo-Sat53,50253,502-4.8%-11.0%
Burger, Die DailyMD, Mo-Fr25,01964925,6686.2%-2.0%
Beeld, DailyMD, Mo-Fr18,22164418,865-2.6%-5.3%
BukeddeMD, Mo-Sat17,93517,935-2.9%-7.5%
IsolezweMD, Mo-Fr17,0402,85019,890-1.8%-11.0%
New VisionMD, Mo-Fr15,53210015,632-1.7%-5.4%
SowetanMD, Mo-Fr13,3763,76517,141-0.3%-33.6%
Citizen, The (Daily)MD, Mo-Fr11,5499,23720,786-7.3%-15.4%
Daily SunMD, Mo-Fr10,85319311,046-7.1%-34.0%
Times of SwazilandMD, Mo-Fr10,60710,607-2.6%-12.1%
Daily DispatchMD, Mo-Fr10,39415910,5535.3%1.9%
Business DayMD, Mo-Fr10,3422,75013,0926.3%-10.5%
Herald, TheMD, Mo-Fr9,5861,82111,40713.8%-1.5%
Mercury, TheMD, Mo-Fr5,4333,2518,684-0.7%-14.6%
Star, TheMD, Mo-Fr4,64715,47720,1249.2%-16.4%
Witness, TheMD, Mo-Fr4,6157495,364-8.6%-14.2%
Daily NewsMD, Mo-Fr3,8823,1737,0550.4%-9.2%
VolksbladMD, Mo-Fr3,8793,879-2.7%
Cape TimesMD, Mo-Fr3,1904,6877,8773.6%-24.9%
Cape ArgusMD, Mo-Fr2,4544,9257,3796.2%-27.7%
Son (Daily)MD, Mo-FrChanged Sector.

Weekly newspapers

Weekly newspapers had QoQ and YoY declines, with 4.4% and 11.9% respectively.

The category had a circulation of 118,557 in Q2.

In this category of only eight weeklies, with only five South African weeklies, three had QoQ increases, of which one was the South African weekly, Mail & Guardian. All increases were below three percent.

Daily Maverick showed increases QoQ and YoY, the only publication in the category to do so.

The category’s biggest faller was Soccer Laduma with a decrease QoQ of over 12%.

PublicationFrequencyPaid circulationFree circulationTotal circulation% change quarter% change year
Post, TheWkly, Wed12,3613,48615,847-0.3%-7.4%
Ilanga2xW, Mo&Th23,1171,52124,638-0.8%-15.0%
Daily Maverick,Wkly, Sat9,8191,24911,0682.3%7.2%
Lesotho TimesWkly, Th6,0562356,2912.1%-26.9%
SON WeeklyWkly, Th17,9944918,043-3.1%
Soccer LadumaWkly, Wed36,526236,528-12.4%-40.4%
Mail & GuardianWkly, Fr6,1426,1421.6%-24.8%
Voice, TheWkly, Fr5,5785,578-3.4%-20.3%

Weekend newspapers

The weekend category’s QoQ decrease was 8.3% but the real decrease was in the YoY with a 26.3% drop.

Only two weekend newspapers had a QoQ increase, Weekend Vision and Weekend Argus, with both increases just over 16%.

Uganda’s Weekend Vision also had a YoY increase.

PublicationFrequencyPaid circulationFree circulationTotal circulation% change quarter% change year
Sunday TimesWknd57,5473,04760,594-0.3%-34.6%
Sunday NationWkly, Sun55,55255,552-3.9%-13.1%
RapportWknd55,47919155,670-1.3%-8.4%
Burger, Die SaturdayWkly, Sat33,37463734,011-3.8%-4.0%
Beeld, SaturdayWkly, Sat22,98523423,219-3.7%-4.1%
Isolezwe ngeMpelaSontoWkly, Sat19,230219,232-3.0%-3.1%
Weekend VisionWkly, Sun15,20710015,30716.4%18.4%
Ilanga LempelaSontoWknd13,69913,699-8.7%-21.7%
Sunday WorldWknd12,2362,26114,497-3.8%-27.5%
Sunday TribuneWkly, Sun12,0113,56815,579-1.9%-12.6%
City PressWknd11,14039111,531-7.4%-22.4%
Citizen, The (Saturday)Wkly, Sat6,775726,847-16.6%-24.9%
Weekend WitnessWkly, Sat4,2088255,033-10.4%-6.9%
Weekend ArgusWknd3,4334,7808,21316.7%-21.5%
Independent on SaturdayWkly, SatResigned
Saturday Star, TheWkly, SatResigned
Daily Dispatch Weekend Edition (formerly Saturday Dispatch)WkndCeased publishing
Weekend PostWkndCeased Publishing.

Local newspapers

The significant YoY increase reported stems from the removal of the hybrid category by the ABC and the incorporation of the respective titles into the local newspaper category in Q1 of 2024.

There was a slight decline of 1.5% QoQ so it is no surprise that only seven newspapers in this category showed slightly increased QoQ.

Of the five newspapers that showed an increase YoY, the figures looked a bit better, with the Knysna Plett Herald in double figures.

The opposite is also true, with many newspapers having losses of double figures, with the Streeknuus showing a loss of over 30%

PublicationFrequencyPaid circulationFree circulationTotal circulation% change quarter% change year
Witbank News, FriWkly, Fr20,91920,919-0.8%8.1%
Observer MiddelburgWkly, Fr18,47918,479-0.8%7.8%
LowvelderWkly, Th17,02517,0250.7%
African ReporterWkly, Fr13,26413,264-1.1%-3.8%
George Herald (Thursday)Wkly, Th8,4618,461-0.1%-2.5%
Mpumalanga NewsWkly, Wed7,9947,9942.9%7.8%
Paarl PostWkly, Th5,713925,805-4.3%-4.7%
The Kokstad AdvertiserWkly, Th5,0095,72110,730-0.2%
South Coast Herald incorporating Ugu DistrictWkly, Th4,7051,3386,043-4.4%
Weslander, TheWkly, Th4,6923465,0381.0%3.0%
Zululand Observer Weekend (Formerly Friday)Wkly, Th3,9284904,418-5.7%-12.8%
Limpopo MirrorWkly, Fr3,6413,641-0.8%-4.3%
Mosselbay AdvertiserWkly, Fr3,4763,476-4.5%-8.2%
Zululand Observer MondayWkly, Mon1,9563202,276-5.1%-15.2%
VaalweekbladWkly, Th1,9541,954-27.7%-29.2%
Observer DallerWkly, Fr1,5331,533-2.2%
Die PosWkly, Th1,3111,1002,4110%
South Cape Forum/Suid Kaap ForumWkly, Th1,2851,285-7.8%-12.9%
Knysna Plett HeraldWkly, Th1,2841,2840.8%18.0%
Newcastle AdvertiserWkly, Th1,0632,9784,041-2.4%
Talk of the TownWkly, Th881881-0.5%-16.7%
Oudtshoorn CourantWkly, Th8478474.3%-2.4%
ZoutpansbergerWkly, Th8377061,5431.2%
Excelsior News / NuusWkly, Fr8291,9102,739-0.1%
CourierWkly, Th8271,2612,0884.4%
Ladysmith GazetteWkly, Th8191,8902,709-0.4%
StreeknuusWkly, Fr618618-29.2%-34.2%
Graaff Reinet AdvertiserWkly, Th613613-15.6%-23.1%
Vryheid HeraldWkly, Th3632,1192,4820%
South Coast Herald-Mid South Coast EditionWkly, Wed316,0136,0440%
Worcester StandardWkly, ThRebranded
Bosvelder ReviewWkly, FrChanged Sector
Observer DallerWkly, FrChanged Sector.

Free newspapers

The huge drop in the category’s overall circulation has been caused by a publication with a high circulation that has ceased its print edition and migrated to a digital distribution model.

The category reported a circulation of 4,524,628 in Q2.

There were QoQ and YoY declines that saw the category with an overall 16.7% decrease YoY and a 15.2% decline QoQ.

PublicationFrequencyTotal circulation% change quarter% change year
PE ExpressWkly, Wed120,1810.2%
Soweto Urban NewsWkly, Th109,100
Sedibeng SterWkly, Th90,980
PlainsmanWkly, Wed89,6560.1%
City VisionWkly, Th85,000-0.5%
VukaniWkly, Wed78,1760.2%
Mthatha ExpressWkly, Wed70,000
TabletalkWkly, Wed67,9640.2%
Merebank & Chatsworth TabloidWkly, Wed64,980
North Coast Rising SunWkly, Wed64,860
Randburg SunWkly, Th60,1710.1%
Rekord CenturionWkly, Wed59,964-0.3%-0.1%
Phoenix TabloidWkly, Tue55,980
Athlone NewsWkly, Wed54,2710.2%
Highway MailWkly, Fr54,1360.3%0.2%
Kathorus MailF53,765-0.1%-0.5%
The Springfield Weekly GazetteWkly, Th53,4800.4%
Chatsworth Rising SunWkly, Tue53,050
Sandton ChronicleWkly, Wed49,982-0.3%-1.0%
ThembisanF49,8060.3%3.8%
Southern MailWkly, Wed48,9730.2%
Kempton ExpressWkly, Th48,7300.5%0.1%
Southern Suburbs TatlerWkly, Th47,3580.3%
Roodepoort RecordWkly, Th46,4200.1%-0.3%
Bloemfontein Courant (formerly Krant)Wkly, Th44,890
Overport Rising SunWkly, Th44,850
Bedfordview & Edenvale NewsWkly, Wed44,4800.6%-0.3%
Boksburg AdvertiserWkly, Tue43,099-0.2%-0.2%
Rekord Far EastWkly, Tue42,902-0.2%
Ster, SouthWkly, Tue41,460
Rosebank Killarney GazetteWkly, Tue41,0250.5%-0.4%
BloemnuusWkly, Th41,014-0.1%-1.6%
Ethekwini TimesWkly, Fr40,980
Umlazi TimesWkly, Th40,980
Tygerburger Mitchells PlainWkly, Wed40,062-4.2%
Rekord North/NoordWkly, Th39,9820.1%
Echo EyethuWkly, Th39,948
Benoni City TimesWkly, Th38,8550.2%2.1%
Alberton RecordWkly, Wed37,7260.2%
Helderberg Gazette & District MailWkly, Wed37,0630.4%0.2%
Fourways ReviewWkly, Wed36,771-0.2%-0.3%
Rekord East/OosWkly, Tue35,9900.1%-54.4%
Noordkaap BulletinWkly, Th35,2990.1%
Tongaat & Verulam Tabloid (former Northern Star)Wkly, Tue34,980
North Coast CourierWkly, Wed34,91216.7%
South Coast FeverWkly, Th34,8000.9%-0.4%
Ridge TimesWkly, Tue34,400
Go & ExpressWkly, Th33,673-9.7%
Rekord MootWkly, Th33,557-0.1%
Ster, NorthWkly, Tue32,760
Constantiaberg BulletinWkly, Th31,4360.4%
False Bay EchoWkly, Th30,9990.4%
Northcliff & Melville TimesWkly, Tue30,9280.9%0.1%
Atlantic SunWkly, Th30,9140.4%
Standard Breederivier GazetteWkly, Th30,692-0.1%
Eyethu Bay Watch (Formerly Baywatch)Wkly, Wed30,6230.5%
BolanderWkly, Wed30,5810.4%
VistaWkly, Th30,237-14.2%-14.2%
UD ExpressWkly, Wed30,117-0.2%0.4%
Diamond Fields AdvertiserWkly, Fr30,000-25.0%
Germiston City NewsWkly, Tue29,9620.1%
Dolphin Coast MailWkly, Wed29,960
East Coast MailWkly, Wed29,960
Maritzburg SunWkly, Wed29,956
Public EyeWkly, Th29,952
Rekord MamelodiWkly, Fr29,950
Rising Sun LenasiaWkly, Wed29,925
Issue MangaungWkly, Wed29,900
Umlazi EyethuWkly, Th29,881
Polokwane Observer.Wkly, Th29,746
Tygerburger Table ViewWkly, Wed29,074-3.3%-3.3%
Rekord NowetoF28,950
Midrand ReporterWkly, Th28,3900.1%0.1%
People s Post Athlone & LandsdowneWkly, Tue28,000
Northglen NewsWkly, Fr27,5350.4%0.1%
Berea MailWkly, Th27,1670.2%0.2%
Roodepoort Northsider (FormerlyNorthside ChronicleWkly, Th26,7660.4%0.4%
Krugersdorp NewsWkly, Wed26,474
Springs AdvertiserWkly, Th25,922-0.4%0.1%
Southern CourierWkly, Tue25,339-0.5%-0.2%
People s Post Woodstock & CityWkly, Tue25,000
People s Post Grassy Park & RetreatWkly, Tue25,000
Eikestadnuus.Wkly, Th24,063-0.6%-0.1%
Tygerburger Elsies-, Eersterivier & RavensmeadWkly, Wed24,059-22.5%-22.8%
Intshonalanga EyethuWkly, Wed23,780
People s Post False BayWkly, Tue22,000
Xpress TimesWkly, Wed21,980
Issue, Eastern Free StateWkly, Th21,900
Tygerburger DurbanvilleWkly, Wed21,808-1.0%-0.9%
Comaro ChronicleWkly, Wed20,898-0.4%
Hermanus Times.Wkly, Wed20,8640.4%0.6%
Swartland Gazette (formerly Swartland Monitor).Wkly, Tue20,4735.7%
Kouga ExpressWkly, Th20,3041.5%
Rekord West News/Wes NuusF20,200
Isolezwe IesiXhosaMtly20,000
People s Post Claremont/RondeboschWkly, Tue20,000
People s Post Constantia/WynbergWkly, Tue20,000
ExpressWkly, Wed19,916-0.4%-33.7%
Bonus ReviewF19,886
South Coast SunWkly, Fr19,8860.6%0.1%
Merebank Rising SunWkly, Tue19,850
Mid South Coast Rising SunWkly, Tue19,850
UGU EyethuWkly, Wed19,850-0.4%
Lowvelder ExpressWkly, Th19,760
Tygerburger BellvilleWkly, Wed19,314-0.1%0.4%
Brakpan HeraldWkly, Fr19,2760.3%0.5%
Heidelberg/Nigel HerautWkly, Wed19,191-3.9%-3.9%
Tygerburger KuilsrivierWkly, Wed18,605-2.5%-2.5%
Rekord Central/SentraalF18,500
Tygerburger BrackenfellWkly, Wed18,2780.1%0.3%
Randfontein / Westonaria Herald.Wkly, Tue18,2540.1%
TygerBurger De GrendelWkly, Wed18,103-0.1%0.1%
Southlands SunWkly, Fr17,7650.4%-0.1%
Steelburger NewsWkly, Th17,7150.1%
TygerBurger Tyger ValleyWkly, Wed17,090
Potchefstroom Herald.Wkly, Fr16,930
Tygerburger MilnertonWkly, Wed16,068-5.9%-5.8%
Northern EyethuMtly15,888
Weskus NuusF15,510-0.2%3.4%
Tygerburger KraaifonteinWkly, Wed15,080-1.8%-1.7%
Alex NewsF14,790
RepresentativeWkly, Mon14,788-0.2%-24.6%
Tygerburger GoodwoodWkly, Wed14,0980.2%0.3%
Tygerburger ParowWkly, Wed14,069
Queensburgh NewsF13,0140.4%-0.1%
Vrystaat KroonF12,346-0.5%
Carletonville Herald.Wkly, Fr11,9800.4%-0.1%
Zululand Eyethu (formerly Eshowe Watch)Mtly11,972
Village TalkWkly, Wed11,946
Highvelder, TheWkly, Fr11,7900.3%
Daily Sun On the GO - ECWkly, Th10,995
Uthukela EyethuF9,979-0.2%0.2%
Greytown GazetteWkly, Wed9,885-1.0%
Hazyview HeraldF9,795
Daily Sun On the GO - FSWkly, Th7,995
YstervarkWkly, Th7,925
HerrieWkly, Th7,878-23.2%-37.6%
Corridor ExpressF7,720
Observer ExpressWkly, Fr7,715
Parys GazetteWkly, Fr7,480
Sentinel NewsWkly, Fr7,2651.7%
Daily Sun On the GO - KZNWkly, Th5,995
Capricorn Voice ..Wkly, Wed5,8850.1%
Daily Sun On the GO - WCWkly, Th4,995
The HiltonMtly4,960
Free State SunWkly, Th4,937
Polokwane ReviewWkly, Wed4,827-0.2%-0.2%
Standerton Advertiser.Wkly, Th4,750
Bosvelder ReviewWkly, Th2,9251.5%
EstcourtWkly, Th2,498
Corridor GazetteF1,760-81.9%
Maluti NewsWkly, FrResigned
YOUReThekwiniMtlyResigned
Breederivier Gazette.Wkly, WedRebranded
Maritzburg EchoWkly, ThRebranded
Msunduzi Eyethu (former Edendale)Wkly, ThRebranded
People s Post Mitchells PlainWkly, TueRebranded
Vuk'uzenzeleMtlyNo Submission
Umgungundlovu Eyethu (former Umngeni)FCeased publishing.

Tables by Andre Rademan.

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.
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