Sports daily to cease publication

JOHANNESBURG -- Sportsday, South Africa's only daily sports newspaper, is to cease publication tomorrow, its publisher, Times Media Limited, announced yesterday.

It was launched in March this year, with Bronwyn Wilkinson as the first woman editor of a major newspaper at the helm.

Shepherd Shonhiwa, executive director of TML Newspapers, said the paper had not achieved its targeted circulation and advertising budgets even though it had attracted a loyal readership of 15000 a day.

Paul Edwards, chief executive officer of TML's controlling shareholder, Johnnic, said Sportsday had been launched into a recessionary environment and discretionary income and advertising budgets had been under pressure.

Shonhiwa said TML would now concentrate its efforts on boosting the circulation of Sunday World, a joint venture between the group and the Sowetan. The Sunday paper was also launched in March this year.

"We have achieved a circulation of 25000 currently, which is below budget, but we are confident that with increased support this publication will prove to be a great success," he said. -- Sapa