Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily providing media streaming distribution services, operating social network sites, operating media broadcasting and cable television networks, and supplying information, such as news reports, articles, pictures, and features, to the news media. These establishments distribute textual, audio, and/or video content of general or specific interest. Illustrative Examples: Broadcasting networks, radio Broadcasting networks, television Cable broadcasting networks Cable television networks Internet broadcasting Pay-per-view cable programming Satellite radio networks Satellite television networks Social network sites, Internet Stand-alone streaming services Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) services Syndicates, news Virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (vMVPDs) Web broadcasting Wiki sites, Internet
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Information 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Information sector comprises establishments engaged in the following processes: (a) producing and distributing information and cultural products, (b) providing the means to transmit or distribute these products as well as data or communications, and (c) processing data. The main components of this sector are motion picture and sound recording industries; publishing industries, including software publishing; broadcasting and content providers; telecommunications industries; computing infrastructure providers, data processing, Web hosting, and related services; and Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services. The unique characteristics of information and cultural products, and of the processes involved in their production and distribution, distinguish the Information sector from the goods-producing and service-producing sectors. Some of these characteristics are: 1. Unlike traditional goods, an ''information or cultural product,'' such as an online newspaper or a television program, does not necessarily have tangible qualities, nor is it necessarily associated with a particular form. A movie can be viewed at a movie theater or through television broadcast, video-on-demand, or streaming services. A sound recording can be aired on radio, embedded in multimedia products, streamed, or sold at a record store. 2. Unlike traditional services, the delivery of these products does not require direct contact between the supplier and the consumer. 3. The value of these products to the consumer lies in their informational, educational, cultural, or entertainment content, not in the format in which they are distributed. Most of these products are protected from unlawful reproduction by copyright laws. 4. The intangible property aspect of information and cultural products makes the processes involved in their production and distribution very different from goods and services. Only those possessing the rights to these works are authorized to reproduce, alter, improve, and distribute them. Acquiring and using these rights often involves significant costs. In addition, technology has revolutionized the distribution of these products. It is possible to distribute them in a physical form, via broadcast, or online. 5. Distributors of information and cultural products can easily add value to the products they distribute. For instance, broadcasters add advertising not contained in the original product. This capacity means that unlike traditional goods distributors, they derive revenue not from sale of the distributed product to the final consumer, but from those who pay for the privilege of adding information to the original product. Similarly, a directory and mailing list publisher can acquire the rights to thousands of previously published newspaper and periodical articles and add new value by providing search and software and organizing the information in a way that facilitates research and retrieval. These products often command a much higher price than the original information. Excluded from this sector are establishments primarily engaged in custom design of software; mass reproducing software or other prerecorded audio and video material on magnetic or optical media; producing live artistic and cultural works or productions; and performing in or creating artistic and cultural works or productions as independent (i.e., freelance) individuals. |
| 516 | Broadcasting and Content Providers 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Broadcasting and Content Providers subsector include establishments that create content or acquire the right to distribute content and subsequently broadcast or distribute that content. The industry groups (Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations and Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers) are based on differences in the methods of communication and the nature of services provided. The Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations industry group includes establishments that operate radio or television broadcasting stations for the programming and transmission of programs to the public. Programming may originate in their own studio, from an affiliated network, or from external sources. The Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers industry group includes establishments providing media streaming distribution services, operating social network sites, operating media broadcasting and cable television networks, and supplying information, such as news reports, articles, pictures, and features, to the news media. The establishments classified in this subsector are often engaged in the production and purchase of programs and other textual, audio, and/or video content, and they typically generate revenues from the sale of advertising space and air time, subscriptions, donations, subsidies, and/or the sale of programs. Establishments operating telecommunications facilities and infrastructure and distributing audio and video programming, including cable and satellite television subscription programming, are included in Subsector 517, Telecommunications. Establishments primarily engaged as independent contractors in the installation and maintenance of broadcasting systems are classified in Sector 23, Construction. Establishments primarily engaged in the production, or production and distribution, of motion pictures and sound recordings are included in Subsector 512, Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries. |
| 5162 | Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 4-digit industry group | Industries in the Broadcasting and Content Providers subsector include establishments that create content or acquire the right to distribute content and subsequently broadcast or distribute that content. The industry groups (Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations and Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers) are based on differences in the methods of communication and the nature of services provided. The Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations industry group includes establishments that operate radio or television broadcasting stations for the programming and transmission of programs to the public. Programming may originate in their own studio, from an affiliated network, or from external sources. The Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers industry group includes establishments providing media streaming distribution services, operating social network sites, operating media broadcasting and cable television networks, and supplying information, such as news reports, articles, pictures, and features, to the news media. The establishments classified in this subsector are often engaged in the production and purchase of programs and other textual, audio, and/or video content, and they typically generate revenues from the sale of advertising space and air time, subscriptions, donations, subsidies, and/or the sale of programs. Establishments operating telecommunications facilities and infrastructure and distributing audio and video programming, including cable and satellite television subscription programming, are included in Subsector 517, Telecommunications. Establishments primarily engaged as independent contractors in the installation and maintenance of broadcasting systems are classified in Sector 23, Construction. Establishments primarily engaged in the production, or production and distribution, of motion pictures and sound recordings are included in Subsector 512, Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries. |
| 51621 | Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 516210. |
| 516210 | Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily providing media streaming distribution services, operating social network sites, operating media broadcasting and cable television networks, and supplying information, such as news reports, articles, pictures, and features, to the news media. These establishments distribute textual, audio, and/or video content of general or specific interest. Illustrative Examples: Broadcasting networks, radio Broadcasting networks, television Cable broadcasting networks Cable television networks Internet broadcasting Pay-per-view cable programming Satellite radio networks Satellite television networks Social network sites, Internet Stand-alone streaming services Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) services Syndicates, news Virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (vMVPDs) Web broadcasting Wiki sites, Internet |
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Classification References
- 01Operating radio and television broadcasting stations--are classified in Industry Group 5161, Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations;
- 02Providing cable and satellite television distribution services using facilities and infrastructure that they operate--are classified in U.S. Industry 517111, Wired Telecommunications Carriers;
- 03Operating Web sites that use search engines to allow for searching information on the Internet--are classified in Industry 519290, Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services;
- 04Producing radio program recordings--are classified in Industry 512290, Other Sound Recording Industries;
- 05Producing television programs--are classified in Industry 512110, Motion Picture and Video Production;
- 06Acquiring distribution rights and distributing motion pictures and videos to motion picture theaters, television networks and stations, other media broadcast and streaming outlets, and exhibitors--are classified in Industry 512120, Motion Picture and Video Distribution;
- 07Publishing, or publishing and distributing, content they create or own, including game software and gaming site publishers--are classified in Subsector 513, Publishing Industries;
- 08Formatting content, provided by a customer, for streaming and providing hosting and infrastructure support on behalf of the content owner, generally on a contract or fee basis, including game server hosting providers--are classified in Industry 518210, Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services; and
- 09Independent performing, writing, and journalism, including photojournalists and musicians--are classified in Subsector 711, Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries.
Index Items
Blog sites, Internet
Broadcasting exclusively on Internet, audio
Broadcasting exclusively on Internet, video
Broadcasting networks, radio
Broadcasting networks, television
Cable broadcasting networks
Cable television networks
Entertainment broadcasting sites, Internet
Feature syndicates (i.e., advice columns, comic, news)
Gaming sites, Internet (except publishers)
Internet broadcasting
Internet entertainment broadcasting sites
Internet radio stations
Internet sports broadcasting sites
Internet video broadcast sites
Media (e.g., audio, video) streaming distribution services
Network broadcasting service, radio
Network radio broadcasting
Network television broadcasting
Networks, cable television
News picture gathering and distributing services
News reporting services
News service syndicates
News ticker services
Newspaper feature syndicates
Pay television networks
Pay-per-view cable programming
Radio broadcasting network services
Radio broadcasting networks
Radio broadcasting syndicates
Road traffic reporting services
Satellite radio networks
Satellite television networks
Social network sites, Internet
Specialty television (e.g., music, sports, news) cable networks
Stand-alone streaming services
Subscription television networks
Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) services
Syndicates, news
Television broadcasting networks
Television subscription services
Video broadcasting, exclusively on Internet
Video on Demand (VOD) programming
Video on Demand (VOD) streaming distribution services
Virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (vMVPDs)
Web broadcasting
Wiki sites, Internet
Wire photo services
Wire services, news
How Item Can Help
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External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 516210.
Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Media Buying & Technology Council
Industry organization providing resources and standards for media buying, ad tech, and digital networks.
FTC Internet Privacy and Data Analytics Resource Hub
Government resource offering regulations and guidance on data collection, user privacy, and digital platform practices.
Nielsen Media Research
Global data and analytics firm providing insights into media consumption trends and content distribution metrics.
