ABC Q4 2024: Last quarter cements a mixed bag for 2024 for newspapers

20 Feb 2025

The release of the ABC circulation figures for newspapers for the last quarter of 2024 (Q4) shows what a mixed bag the year has been for newspapers.

The ABC Q4 2024 figures have been released. Image by Lesley Svenson, Bizcommunity.

Starting the year off relatively stable with only a 1.6% decrease in circulation from the previous quarter to this quarter in Q1, newspapers slipped into a double figure decline in Q2 of almost 14%.

The category then rebounded in Q3, with a quiet quarter. This quarter Q4, 2024, continues with the general trend of declining circulations.

This trend is unavoidable as digital and alternative information sources continue to grow and as the media landscape continues to shift.

What remains to be seen is if this slow decline will stabilise or continue to trickle away.

Daily Newspapers

This quarter also had only seven dailies with increases on the previous quarter, half of the 14 with increases in Q3 2024.

More dailies showed better increases in Q3 on the previous quarter with the highest increase at nearly 17% as opposed to this quarter, Q4, where the highest increase is only 2.6%.

The average total for the Daily category shows a decline on the previous quarter and the prior year.

Increases on the previous quarter were between 2.4 and 2.6% for Volkblad, The Herald and The Witness. These were the best for the quarterly figures.

Volksblad turned its fortunes around, from its 2.7% decline in Q3 on the previous quarter. The same is true for The Herlad turning an 11% decline in Q3 into an increase on this quarter.

The Witness maintained its upward trajectory from Q3 (where it had an 11.9% increase on the previous quarter) in Q4.

Also up on the previous quarter are The Burger, Daily, Sowetan, The Citizen, and The Star.

The Herald and Sowetan were also up on the prior year.

The Daily Dispatch up on the prior year, continued its upward momentum from Q3 2024 on the prior year. However, on the previous quarter, it shows a decrease of 3.7%. In Q3 it had a healthy 5.5% increase.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Daily Nation	MD, Mo-Sat	52,611		52,611	-5.6%	-6.2%
Burger, Die Daily	MD, Mo-Fr	25,199	634	25,833	2.2%	-1.1%
Beeld, Daily	MD, Mo-Fr	17,720	387	18,107	-3.4%	-4.8%
Bukedde	MD, Mo-Sat	17,443		17,443	-11.5%	-8.2%
Isolezwe	MD, Mo-Fr	15,916	2,328	18,244	-8.5%	-4.1%
New Vision	MD, Mo-Fr	15,201	100	15,301	-4.8%	-1.9%
Sowetan	MD, Mo-Fr	13,211	5,670	18,881	2.2%	5.6%
Citizen, The (Daily)	MD, Mo-Fr	11,228	9,596	20,824	0.1%	-9.1%
Daily Dispatch	MD, Mo-Fr	10,444	270	10,714	-3.7%	6.2%
Business Day	MD, Mo-Fr	10,171	2,736	12,907	-2.0%	-5.1%
Herald, The	MD, Mo-Fr	10,036	500	10,536	2.5%	5.1%
Times of Swaziland	MD, Mo-Fr	9,814		9,814	-1.8%	-17.1%
Daily Sun	MD, Mo-Fr	9,569	197	9,766	-8.4%	-22.6%
Mercury, The	MD, Mo-Fr	4,925	3,579	8,504	-4.9%	-6.2%
Witness, The	MD, Mo-Fr	4,790	1,355	6,145	2.4%	-2.7%
Star, The	MD, Mo-Fr	4,196	16,179	20,375	0.7%	14.2%
Volksblad	MD, Mo-Fr	3,872		3,872	2.6%
Daily News	MD, Mo-Fr	3,464	3,586	7,050	-4.1%	-1.6%
Cape Times	MD, Mo-Fr	3,007	4,754	7,761	-7.7%	-15.6%
Cape Argus	MD, Mo-Fr	2,309	5,803	8,112	-5.8%	-5.4%
Total		245,126	57,674	302,800	-3.4%	-2.9%

Weekly newspapers

Only two of the eight weeklies had increased on the previous quarter. In Q3 five of the eight saw increases on the previous quarter. This accounts for the average total of the category of declines of almost 10% on the previous quarter and nearly 18% on the prior year.

Of the two with increases this quarter, Daily Maverick was the best with 7.6%, and also the only weekly to increase on the prior year. Its positive figures build on its Q3 figures.

The only other weekly to increase on the previous quarter is The Son Weekly increasing by 2.3%.

The declines for the weeklies were quite substantial both for the previous quarter and the prior year with many in double figures.

Soccer Laduma’s declines on the prior year mirror its decline in Q3, which are in the negative 30%.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Soccer Laduma	Wkly, Wed	33,575	2	33,577	-14.5%	-30.3%
Ilanga	2xW, Mo&Th	20,649		20,649	-19.8%	-16.0%
SON Weekly	Wkly, Th	18,059	49	18,108	2.3%	-7.7%
Post, The	Wkly, Wed	12,185	3,533	15,718	-3.5%	-0.3%
Daily Maverick,	Wkly, Sat	10,557	1,402	11,959	7.6%	15.8%
Voice, The	Wkly, Fr	5,371		5,371	-8.7%	-16.2%
Mail & Guardian	Wkly, Fr	4,897		4,897	-10.2%	-36.1%
Lesotho Times	Wkly, Th	4,548	159	4,707	-24.4%	-31.9%
Total		109,841	5,145	114,986	-9.9%	-17.6%

Image by Lesley Svenson, Bizcommunity. The ABC Q3 2024 figures have been released

ABC Q3 2024: A quiet quarter for newspapers

Danette Breitenbach 21 Nov 2024

Weekend newspapers

This category showed a 7% average decline on the previous quarter and an 18.3% decline on the prior year.

As with the Weekies category, there was not much good news in the Weekend category with only three weekend newspapers showing an increase on the previous quarter (in Q3, six newspapers had increased on the previous quarter).

The only publication showing increases on the previous quarter and the prior year is Weekend Witness.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Sunday Nation	Wkly, Sun	55,848		55,848	-1.5%	-4.7%
Rapport	Wknd	53,213	1,312	54,525	0.6%	-5.1%
Sunday Times	Wknd	53,053	4,128	57,181	-3.2%	-8.1%
Burger, Die Saturday	Wkly, Sat	32,218	633	32,851	-1.3%	-5.0%
Beeld, Saturday	Wkly, Sat	21,065	221	21,286	-3.4%	-7.5%
Isolezwe ngeMpelaSonto	Wkly, Sat	17,904	2	17,906	-5.6%	-14.0%
Weekend Vision	Wkly, Sun	12,491	100	12,591	-23.3%	22.2%
Sunday Tribune	Wkly, Sun	11,201	4,278	15,479	-3.0%	-7.3%
Sunday World	Wknd	10,676	2,600	13,276	-9.6%	-11.6%
City Press	Wknd	9,995	1,231	11,226	3.0%	-11.5%
Citizen, The (Saturday)	Wkly, Sat	6,435	82	6,517	-3.0%	-19.0%
Weekend Witness	Wkly, Sat	4,307	1,563	5,870	6.4%	3.6%
Weekend Argus	Wknd	3,099	5,029	8,128	-4.0%	-11.9%
Independent on Saturday	Wkly, Sat	Resigned
Saturday Star, The	Wkly, Sat	Resigned
Daily Dispatch Weekend Edition (formerly Saturday Dispatch)	Wknd	Ceased publishing
Ilanga LempelaSonto	Wknd	Ceased publishing
Weekend Post	Wknd	Ceased Publishing
Total		291,505	21,179	312,684	-7.0%	-18.3%

Local newspapers

As is often the case, local newspapers provided some relief with a small average increase on the previous quarter of 0.3% and a huge increase on the prior year of over 61%.

This is good news as Q3 did not have much to cheer about. In Q4 there were some healthy increases ranging from just over 32% on the previous quarter for Newcastle Advertiser to over 20% for Vryheid Herald.

Also in double-figure increases on the previous quarter are Courier, Ladysmith Gazette and Talk of the Town.

Of these, all of them showed declines on the previous quarter in Q3, except for Ladysmith Gazette which had shown an increase on the previous quarter in Q3.

Increases on the prior year ranged from over 40% to just over 3%.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
African Reporter	Wkly, Fr	13,266		13,266	0.4%	-1.5%
George Herald (Thursday)	Wkly, Th	8,198		8,198	0.5%	-2.7%
Weslander, The	Wkly, Th	5,712	343	6,055	6.4%	40.6%
Paarl Post	Wkly, Th	5,667	99	5,766	3.6%	5.8%
The Kokstad Advertiser	Wkly, Th	5,126	5,812	10,938	1.5%
South Coast Herald incorporating Ugu District	Wkly, Th	4,666	1,200	5,866	-1.1%
Zululand Observer Weekend (Formerly Friday)	Wkly, Th	3,758	490	4,248	-0.5%	-9.6%
Lowvelder	Wkly, Th	3,317	15,028	18,345	0.2%
Mosselbay Advertiser	Wkly, Fr	3,262		3,262	1.1%	-9.6%
Observer Middelburg	Wkly, Fr	3,245	15,457	18,702	0.9%	4.4%
Limpopo Mirror	Wkly, Fr	3,138	156	3,294	-1.7%	-9.7%
Witbank News, Fri	Wkly, Fr	2,844	18,015	20,859	-0.1%	3.2%
Zululand Observer Monday	Wkly, Mon	1,867	320	2,187	1.6%	-10.7%
Mpumalanga News	Wkly, Wed	1,465	7,504	8,969	-1.0%	22.1%
Vaalweekblad	Wkly, Th	1,316		1,316	-10.8%	-54.1%
South Cape Forum/Suid Kaap Forum	Wkly, Th	1,214		1,214	-11.1%	-12.1%
Talk of the Town	Wkly, Th	984		984	15.0%	-4.6%
Newcastle Advertiser	Wkly, Th	947	4,334	5,281	32.1%
Knysna Plett Herald	Wkly, Th	945		945	-4.8%	-9.7%
Courier	Wkly, Th	836	1,486	2,322	12.8%
Observer Daller	Wkly, Fr	828	677	1,505	-2.0%
Oudtshoorn Courant	Wkly, Th	814		814	-4.5%	-4.1%
Excelsior News / Nuus	Wkly, Fr	763	2,031	2,794	1.0%
Ladysmith Gazette	Wkly, Th	710	2,396	3,106	12.6%
Zoutpansberger	Wkly, Th	699	804	1,503	-0.9%
Streeknuus	Wkly, Fr	645		645	0.9%	-22.2%
Graaff Reinet Advertiser	Wkly, Th	534		534	-17.1%	-21.0%
Vryheid Herald	Wkly, Th	352	2,573	2,925	20.6%
South Coast Herald-Mid South Coast Edition	Wkly, Wed	24	5,990	6,014	0.0%
Die Pos	Wkly, Th	No Submission
Total		77,142	84,715	161,857	0.3%	61.5%

Free newspapers

This category had an overall average decline of 0.4% on the previous quarter and a decline of over 16% on the prior year.

This year the general trend in this category has been a mixture of incremental increases and decreases on the previous quarter and prior year.

One exception this quarter is Herrie with an increase of nearly 20% on the previous quarter.

A highlight is Roodepoort Northsider (formerly Northside Chronicle) which sees increases on the previous quarter and prior year of 6.3% and 7% respectively.

No movement (0.0%) has been a hallmark of this category this year and it continues into Q4.

Publication	Frequency	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
PE Express	Wkly, Wed	120,204	0.0%	0.2%
Soweto Urban News	Wkly, Th	109,100	0.0%	0.0%
Sedibeng Ster	Wkly, Th	90,980	0.0%	0.0%
Plainsman	Wkly, Wed	87,077	-2.9%	-2.7%
City Vision	Wkly, Th	85,000	0.0%	0.0%
Vukani	Wkly, Wed	76,911	-1.6%	-1.5%
Mthatha Express	Wkly, Wed	70,002	0.0%	0.0%
Tabletalk	Wkly, Wed	66,366	-2.4%	-2.2%
Merebank & Chatsworth Tabloid	Wkly, Wed	64,980	0.0%	0.0%
North Coast Rising Sun	Wkly, Wed	64,800	0.0%	-0.1%
Rekord Centurion	Wkly, Wed	60,001	0.3%	0.3%
Phoenix Tabloid	Wkly, Tue	55,980	0.0%	0.0%
Randburg Sun	Wkly, Th	55,135	-8.2%	-8.3%
Highway Mail	Wkly, Fr	53,982	-0.1%	-0.1%
Kathorus Mail	F	53,605	-0.2%	0.2%
The Springfield Weekly Gazette	Wkly, Th	53,480	0.0%	0.0%
Chatsworth Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	52,700	0.0%	-0.7%
Athlone News	Wkly, Wed	52,421	-3.4%	-3.2%
Sandton Chronicle	Wkly, Wed	50,185	0.2%	0.4%
Thembisan	F	49,401	-0.5%	1.2%
Kempton Express	Wkly, Th	48,583	-0.2%	-0.2%
Southern Mail	Wkly, Wed	47,363	-3.3%	-3.0%
Roodepoort Record	Wkly, Th	46,469	0.0%	0.0%
Southern Suburbs Tatler	Wkly, Th	45,973	-2.9%	-2.7%
Bloemfontein Courant (formerly Krant)	Wkly, Th	44,890	0.0%	0.0%
Overport Rising Sun	Wkly, Th	44,800	0.0%	-0.1%
Bedfordview & Edenvale News	Wkly, Wed	44,327	-1.0%	-0.7%
Boksburg Advertiser	Wkly, Tue	43,182	-0.1%	0.1%
Rekord Far East	Wkly, Tue	42,914	0.4%
Ster, South	Wkly, Tue	41,460	0.0%	0.0%
Rosebank Killarney Gazette	Wkly, Tue	41,204	0.4%	0.3%
Bloemnuus	Wkly, Th	41,094	0.5%	0.0%
Ethekwini Times	Wkly, Fr	40,980	0.0%	0.0%
Umlazi Times	Wkly, Th	40,980	0.0%	0.0%
Tygerburger Mitchells Plain	Wkly, Wed	40,073	0.0%
Echo Eyethu	Wkly, Th	39,948	0.0%	0.0%
Rekord North/Noord	Wkly, Th	39,917	0.3%	-0.1%
Benoni City Times	Wkly, Th	38,829	0.0%	0.2%
Fourways Review	Wkly, Wed	38,152	3.7%	3.9%
Alberton Record	Wkly, Wed	37,896	0.1%	0.7%
Helderberg Gazette & District Mail	Wkly, Wed	37,125	0.4%	0.5%
Rekord East/Oos	Wkly, Tue	35,893	0.2%	-54.5%
Noordkaap Bulletin	Wkly, Th	35,341	0.2%	0.2%
Tongaat & Verulam Tabloid (former Northern Star)	Wkly, Tue	34,980	0.0%	0.0%
North Coast Courier	Wkly, Wed	34,875	0.0%	-0.2%
South Coast Fever	Wkly, Th	34,800	0.0%	0.9%
Ridge Times	Wkly, Tue	34,400	0.0%	0.0%
Go & Express	Wkly, Th	33,681	0.0%	-8.2%
Rekord Moot	Wkly, Th	33,546	0.0%	-0.1%
Ster, North	Wkly, Tue	32,760	0.0%	0.0%
Northcliff & Melville Times	Wkly, Tue	31,112	0.4%	1.0%
Constantiaberg Bulletin	Wkly, Th	31,000	-1.4%	-1.0%
Eyethu Bay Watch (Formerly Baywatch)	Wkly, Wed	30,970	0.0%	1.6%
Standard Breederivier Gazette	Wkly, Th	30,695	0.0%	2.4%
Vista	Wkly, Th	30,243	-0.1%	-14.2%
UD Express	Wkly, Wed	30,139	0.0%	0.5%
Diamond Fields Advertiser	Wkly, Fr	30,000	0.0%	0.0%
False Bay Echo	Wkly, Th	29,989	-3.3%	-2.9%
Rising Sun Lenasia	Wkly, Wed	29,967	0.1%	0.1%
Maritzburg Sun	Wkly, Wed	29,956	0.0%	0.0%
Public Eye	Wkly, Th	29,952	0.0%	0.0%
Rekord Mamelodi	Wkly, Fr	29,950	0.0%	0.0%
Issue Mangaung	Wkly, Wed	29,900	0.0%	0.0%
Umlazi Eyethu	Wkly, Th	29,881	0.0%	0.0%
Germiston City News	Wkly, Tue	29,873	-0.5%	0.2%
Polokwane Observer.	Wkly, Th	29,747	0.0%	0.0%
Midrand Reporter	Wkly, Th	29,677	4.7%	4.8%
Atlantic Sun	Wkly, Th	29,609	-4.2%	-3.8%
Tygerburger Table View	Wkly, Wed	29,078	0.0%	-3.3%
Rekord Noweto	F	28,950	0.0%	0.0%
Bolander	Wkly, Wed	28,700	-6.2%	-5.8%
Dolphin Coast Mail	Wkly, Wed	28,421	-5.1%	-5.1%
East Coast Mail	Wkly, Wed	28,421	-5.1%	-1.3%
Roodepoort Northsider (FormerlyNorthside Chronicle	Wkly, Th	28,378	6.3%	7.0%
People s Post Athlone & Landsdowne	Wkly, Tue	28,000	0.0%	0.0%
Northglen News	Wkly, Fr	27,473	0.0%	0.1%
Berea Mail	Wkly, Th	27,142	0.0%	0.0%
Krugersdorp News	Wkly, Wed	26,475	0.1%	0.0%
Springs Advertiser	Wkly, Th	25,771	-0.4%	-0.7%
Southern Courier	Wkly, Tue	25,228	-0.3%	-0.6%
People s Post Woodstock & City	Wkly, Tue	25,000	0.0%	0.0%
People s Post Grassy Park & Retreat	Wkly, Tue	25,000	0.0%	0.0%
Eikestadnuus.	Wkly, Th	24,180	0.6%	1.2%
Tygerburger Elsies-, Eersterivier & Ravensmead	Wkly, Wed	24,077	0.1%	-22.4%
Intshonalanga Eyethu	Wkly, Wed	23,780	0.0%	0.0%
People s Post False Bay	Wkly, Tue	22,000	0.0%	0.0%
Xpress Times	Wkly, Wed	21,980	0.0%	0.0%
Issue, Eastern Free State	Wkly, Th	21,900	0.0%	0.0%
Tygerburger Durbanville	Wkly, Wed	21,861	0.4%	-1.0%
Hermanus Times.	Wkly, Wed	20,919	0.3%	0.4%
Comaro Chronicle	Wkly, Wed	20,866	-0.3%	0.1%
Swartland Gazette (formerly Swartland Monitor).	Wkly, Tue	20,507	0.4%	3.3%
Kouga Express	Wkly, Th	20,319	0.1%	1.6%
Rekord West News/Wes Nuus	F	20,200	0.0%	-0.1%
Isolezwe IesiXhosa	Mtly	20,000	0.0%	0.0%
People s Post Claremont/Rondebosch	Wkly, Tue	20,000	0.0%	0.0%
People s Post Constantia/Wynberg	Wkly, Tue	20,000	0.0%	0.0%
Bonus Review	F	19,883	0.0%	0.0%
South Coast Sun	Wkly, Fr	19,875	0.0%	0.1%
Express	Wkly, Wed	19,871	-0.1%	-33.9%
UGU Eyethu	Wkly, Wed	19,850	0.0%	0.0%
Merebank Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	19,800	0.0%	-0.3%
Mid South Coast Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	19,800	0.0%	-0.3%
Lowvelder Express	Wkly, Th	19,760	0.0%
Heidelberg/Nigel Heraut	Wkly, Wed	19,364	-0.1%	-3.1%
Tygerburger Bellville	Wkly, Wed	19,349	0.3%	-0.3%
Brakpan Herald	Wkly, Fr	19,258	0.3%	0.5%
Tygerburger Kuilsrivier	Wkly, Wed	18,612	0.0%	-2.4%
Rekord Central/Sentraal	F	18,500	0.0%	0.0%
Tygerburger Brackenfell	Wkly, Wed	18,449	1.1%	1.2%
Randfontein / Westonaria Herald.	Wkly, Tue	18,236	-0.1%	-0.1%
TygerBurger De Grendel	Wkly, Wed	18,104	0.0%	-0.1%
Southlands Sun	Wkly, Fr	17,737	-0.1%	-0.1%
Steelburger News	Wkly, Th	17,715	0.0%	0.1%
TygerBurger Tyger Valley	Wkly, Wed	17,099	0.1%	0.1%
Potchefstroom Herald.	Wkly, Fr	16,930	0.0%	0.0%
Tygerburger Milnerton	Wkly, Wed	16,066	0.1%	-5.9%
Northern Eyethu	Mtly	15,888	0.0%	0.0%
Weskus Nuus	F	15,611	1.0%	0.7%
Tygerburger Kraaifontein	Wkly, Wed	15,129	0.3%	-1.7%
Alex News	F	14,790	0.0%	0.1%
Tygerburger Goodwood	Wkly, Wed	14,100	0.1%	0.2%
Tygerburger Parow	Wkly, Wed	14,089	0.1%	0.1%
Queensburgh News	F	12,955	-0.4%	-0.4%
Vrystaat Kroon	F	12,386	-0.3%	-0.5%
Carletonville Herald.	Wkly, Fr	11,990	0.0%	0.0%
Zululand Eyethu (formerly Eshowe Watch)	Mtly	11,972	0.0%	0.0%
Village Talk	Wkly, Wed	11,946	0.0%	0.0%
Highvelder, The	Wkly, Fr	11,790	0.0%	0.3%
Daily Sun On the GO - EC	Wkly, Th	10,995	0.0%	0.0%
Uthukela Eyethu	F	9,980	0.0%	-0.1%
Greytown Gazette	Wkly, Wed	9,885	0.0%	-1.0%
Representative	Wkly, Mon	9,816	-25.8%	-47.5%
Hazyview Herald	F	9,795	0.0%	0.0%
Herrie	Wkly, Th	8,682	19.6%	-22.0%
Daily Sun On the GO - FS	Wkly, Th	7,995	0.0%	0.0%
Ystervark	Wkly, Th	7,925	0.0%	0.0%
Corridor Express	F	7,720	0.0%
Observer Express	Wkly, Fr	7,715	0.0%
Parys Gazette	Wkly, Fr	7,480	0.0%	0.0%
Sentinel News	Wkly, Fr	7,265	0.0%	1.7%
Daily Sun On the GO - KZN	Wkly, Th	5,995	0.0%	0.0%
Capricorn Voice ..	Wkly, Wed	5,822	0.0%	-1.0%
Daily Sun On the GO - WC	Wkly, Th	4,995	0.0%	0.0%
Standerton Advertiser.	Wkly, Th	4,983	4.9%	4.9%
The Hilton	Mtly	4,960	0.0%	0.0%
Free State Sun	Wkly, Th	4,937	-0.7%	0.0%
Polokwane Review	Wkly, Wed	4,253	-11.8%	-12.0%
Bosvelder Review	Wkly, Th	2,873	0.0%	1.4%
Estcourt	Wkly, Th	2,497	0.0%	3.2%
Corridor Gazette	F	1,760	0.0%	-81.9%
Mpumalanga Mirror	F	Terminated
Maluti News	Wkly, Fr	Resigned
People s Post Mitchells Plain	Wkly, Tue	Rebranded
Vuk'uzenzele	Mtly	No Submission
Total		4,501,263	-0.4%	-16.3%