Iconic SA football publication Kick Off has printed its final magazine after 28 years in another reminder that print is dying a fast death. Photo: Pixabay
SA football magazine Kick Off prints its final copy
Iconic SA football publication Kick Off has printed its final magazine after 28 years in another reminder that print is dying a fast death.
Iconic SA football publication Kick Off has printed its final magazine after 28 years in another reminder that print is dying a fast death. Photo: Pixabay
Once iconic South Africa football publication Kick Off has printed its final ever magazine after 28 years.
As much was revealed in the latest – and final – edition of the magazine which went on sale on Sunday, 21 August.
It’s no secret that the magazine – along with virtually ever other magazine (and newspaper) in South Africa – has struggled tremendously over the last decade with the Covid-19 pandemic signaling the demise of many.
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The magazine’s online section will continue to operate, but it too, according to the official IAB statistics, has seen a dramatic decline in recent times.
Kick Off was started by Touchline Media in February 1994, having been a brainchild of the publishing house’s managing director at the time, Rob Moore, and football guru Mark Gleeson.
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Battling financially, the magazine was sold last decade to Soccer Laduma owner Pieter du Toit.
When Du Toit retired, Media24 continued to publish both Kick Off and Soccer Laduma.
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According to TimesLIVE, Gleeson said Kick Off’s closing is sad for South African football.
“It’s very sad. It lasted a quarter of a century and spanned almost from SA’s readmission into African and world football through the highs of Bafana Bafana winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 and going to successive World Cups in 1998 and 2002, to reflect the glory days of SA football.
“The magazine’s demise comes at a time when the game is at a low ebb, which is sad. I feel, personally, having started it, quite bereft actually.”
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As reported by The South African website, the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) of South Africa magazine circulation statistics last week showed clearly how magazines – and newspapers – in Mzansi are dying a fast death.
Magazines showed dramatic decreases
For the three-month (quarter two) period April to June 2022, every single magazine in the Top 10 saw double-digit percentage decreases, barring Car (7% down) and Women’s Health (new).
These latest figures are a continuation of a similar trend over previous quarters – and years.
Media24 are responsible for the publication of eight of the top 10 magazines.
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If you were ever in need of confirmation that magazines – and print in general – are dying a fast death in South Africa and that digital is the way of the future, this is yet another sobering reminder.
Don’t be surprised to see fewer and fewer magazines on the shelves in your nearest bookstore in the near future.
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