The second quarter ABC results announced last week show the Isolezwe stable of three newspapers have continued to grow in a difficult economy. “With many titles down this quarter we are grateful for our successes,” says Isolezwe editor Sazi Hadebe. “At 90 092, Isolezwe ngeSonto has reached a new high – up 5.3% quarter-on-quarter and a staggering 11.8% year-on-year. This is brilliant!”
Saturday sister, Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo, continues its upward trend with a sale of 76 128. In the market for nearly a year, this weekend winner registered a quarterly increase of 9.2%
“Growth across all three titles suggests we are attracting new buyers and regulars are buying more often. Our weekend titles have a different content emphasis and are being bought in addition to the daily, even in tight times. The daily sale is above 100 000 for the seventh consecutive quarter, “says Hadebe. “Slightly off its record 117 266 in the first quarter, the 113 786 average is a 5.2% year-on-year increase.” Hadebe says it’s not easy maintaining that kind of growth “We work hard at giving readers the full story and chasing those that matter every day of the week.”
With two issues out, both reader and advertiser reaction to SiyaPhola, the free magazine published with Isolezwe in the last week of each month, has also been very positive.
