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In the fast-paced world of digital media, keeping a pulse on the biggest online news publishers is essential both for consumers seeking reliable information and for advertisers looking to reach broad audiences. According to the recent statistics released by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) South Africa, the country's leading digital industry association, there's a clear picture of who's commanding the digital news space in South Africa.
IAB South Africa's meticulous data analysis, powered by their partnership with dY/dX, churns out audited readership metrics for the nation's largest online publications. These figures are integral for understanding audience behavior, industry trends, and for setting the stage for digital marketing strategies.
Topping the leaderboard is News24, an absolute giant with an audience of 712,000 active daily readers and a staggering 171 million page views per month. Such figures enshrine News24 as South Africa's primary digital information hub.
BusinessTech emerges as the leader in the business sector, earning the credential of South Africa's largest business publication with its 392,000 daily readers, and capturing those interested in the financial and tech landscape with 28 million monthly page views.
In a close running is IOL, ranking as the second-largest general news publication, and boasting 390,000 daily readers alongside 25 million monthly page views. This suggests a tight competition at the top of the digital publishing realm in South Africa.
Daily Maverick, synonymous with insightful commentary and investigative journalism, stands firm with 365,000 daily eyes on their content and 13 million page views per month, testifying to the public's appetite for in-depth reporting and analysis.
Not to be outclassed, MyBroadband rounds out the top five with 278,000 daily readers, providing tech enthusiasts with their fix of 16 million monthly page views of content.
The broader list includes noteworthy contenders such as Citizen, The South African, and TimesLive, among others, each carving out substantial space in South Africa's diverse media landscape.
IAB South Africa's statistics further categorize the country's online publishers by average active daily users and page views, highlighting the dominance of Media24. As a conglomerate overseeing News24 among other properties, Media24's hold over the digital news market is apparent with data indicating 1.03 million average active daily users and 317 million page views.
Following suit is Broad Media, appealing to niche audiences via its portfolio of BusinessTech, MyBroadband, and others, amassing 914,000 daily users and a substantial 56 million page views.
Lastly, Arena Holdings, the power behind TimesLive and Business Day, displays its influence with 444,000 daily users and an impressive 30 million page views.
These numbers paint a vivid portrait of South Africa's online news consumption and showcase the powerful reach of these digital giants in the information age.