South Africa’s online publishing industry grew 13,8% in local readership to 1,98-million users and 97,37-million page impressions in the third quarter of 2005 compared with the second quarter, the Online Publishers Association said on Thursday.
The latest Nielsen/Netratings audited figures also indicate a large increase in international visitors to South African websites.
The total combined readership for global and local visitors on these websites hit an all-time high of 5,39-million readers, or unique browsers, and 128,15-million page impressions in the third quarter.
About 76% of the online publishing industry’s page impressions are generated by its local base, which indicates that there is more activity by local readers than by their overseas counterparts, the OPA said.
According to the figures, Media24 led the pack with 2,158-million unique browsers or 35,568-million page impressions, of which 26,590-million page impressions were by 825 700 South African unique browsers.
Independent Online had a total of 1,650-million unique browsers and 16,167-million page impressions, while M-Web had 667 100 unique hits and 21,423-million page impressions.
M-Web is second in terms of South Africa unique browsers, totalling 543 827, while Independent Online attracted 483 007 unique local visitors.
Ranked fourth in terms of total unique browsers was Ananzi, followed by Mail & Guardian Online, iafrica.com, SuperSport Zone, CareerJunction and Johnnic Communications.
The OPA represents South Africa’s major online publishers and its base comprises content publishers, search engines, portals and e-commerce providers. – I-Net Bridge