Analysis
NAICS 51219 is the 2022 NAICS industry for postproduction services and other motion picture and video industries, part of 5121 (Motion Picture and Video Industries). Census lists 36 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 3,435 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 23,535 people at an average annual payroll of $106,536 per employee (87th percentile of national industries). 84% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 17% and employment fell 23%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Census lists 9 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 33461, 51211, 51212 and 51213. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Across its national industries Census lists 36 index entries; typical ones are closed captioning services, taped material and booking agencies, motion picture.
It splits into 2 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 512191 (Teleproduction and Other Postproduction Services) with 3,144.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing postproduction services and other services to the motion picture industry, including specialized motion picture or video postproduction services, such as editing, film/tape transfers, titling, subtitling, credits, closed captioning, and computer-produced graphics, animation and special effects, as well as developing and processing motion picture film.
Illustrative Examples:
Motion picture film laboratories Stock footage film libraries Postproduction facilities Teleproduction services
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Mass duplicating video discs, tapes, and film | 33461 Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media |
| Motion picture and video production | 51211 Motion Picture and Video Production |
| Acquiring distribution rights and distributing film and video productions to motion picture theaters, television networks and stations, other media broadcast and streaming outlets, and exhibitors | 51212 Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
| Motion picture and video exhibition | 51213 Motion Picture and Video Exhibition |
| Providing audio services for film, television, and video productions | 51224 Sound Recording Studios |
| Formatting 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 | 51821 Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services |
| Renting wardrobes and costumes for motion picture production | 53228 Other Consumer Goods Rental |
| Renting studio equipment | 53249 Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing |
| Casting actors and actresses for employment with production companies | 56131 Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services |
Index entries (36)
- Closed captioning services, taped material
- Booking agencies, motion picture