Variant of NAICS 1997 - Labour Force Survey (LFS) Industries

7 - Services-Producing Sector

15 - Information, Culture and Recreation

51 - Information and Cultural Industries

This sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in creating and disseminating (except by wholesale and retail methods) information and cultural products, such as written works, musical works or recorded performances, recorded dramatic performances, software and information databases, or providing the means to disseminate them. Establishments that provide access to equipment and expertise to process information are also included.

The unique characteristics of information and cultural products, and of the processes involved in their production and distribution, distinguish this sector from the goods-producing and services-producing sectors. In particular,

*the value of these products lies in their information, 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. 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.

*the intangible nature of the content of information and cultural products allows for their distribution in various forms. For example, a movie can be shown at a movie theatre, on a television broadcast, through video on demand, or rented at a local video store; a sound recording can be aired on radio, embedded in multi-media products or sold at a record store; software can be bought at retail outlets or downloaded from an electronic bulletin board; a newspaper can be purchased at a newsstand or received on-line. In addition, improvements in information technology are revolutionizing the distribution of these products. The inclusion in this sector of telecommunications carriers and Internet access providers reflects the increasingly important role these establishments play in making these products accessible to the public.

The main components of this sector are the publishing industries, including software publishing, the motion picture and sound recording industries, the broadcasting and telecommunications industries, and the information services and data processing industries. There are establishments engaged in culture-related activities that are classified in other sectors of NAICS. The most important are listed below.

  • Exclusion(s):

    Establishments primarily engaged in:

    • duplicating information or cultural products in print form, or in the form of optical or magnetic media(31-33)
    • wholesaling information and cultural products such as newspapers, books, software, videocasettes and sound recordings (See 41 Wholesale Trade)
    • retailing information and cultural products such as newspapers, books, software and sound recordings(44-45)
    • design activities (See 54 Professional, Scientific and Technical Services)
    • preserving and exhibiting objects, sites, and natural wonders of historical, cultural and/or educational value (See 71 Arts, Entertainment and Recreation)
    • producing live presentations that involve the performances of actors and actresses, singers, dancers, musical groups and artists, and other performing artists (See 71 Arts, Entertainment and Recreation)
    • performing in artistic productions, and in creating artistic and cultural works or productions as independent individuals (See 71 Arts, Entertainment and Recreation)
512 - Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries

This subsector comprises establishments primarily engaged in producing and distributing video and audio recordings or providing related services, such as post-production services, exhibition services, and motion picture processing and developing services. Sound recording studios are also included.

  • Exclusion(s):

    Establishments primarily engaged in:

    • duplicating pre-recorded video cassettes and sound recordings (See 33461 Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media)
    • wholesaling sound recordings (See 41444 Sound Recording Wholesalers)
    • wholesaling pre-recorded video cassettes (See 41445 Video Cassette Wholesalers)
5121 - Motion Picture and Video Industries

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in producing and/or distributing motion pictures, videos, television programs or commercials; exhibiting motion pictures or providing post-production and related services.

51219 - Post-Production and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries

This industry comprises establishments, not classified to any other industry, primarily engaged in providing post-production services and services to the motion picture and video industries, including specialized motion picture or video post-production services, such as editing, film/tape transfering, dubbing, subtitling, creating credits, closed captioning, and producing computer graphics, animation and special effects, as well as developing and processing motion picture films.

  • Exclusion(s):

    Establishments primarily engaged in:

    • mass duplicating of pre-recorded video cassettes (See 33461 Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media)
    • providing audio services for film, television, and video productions (See 51224 Sound Recording Studios)
    • operating film and video archives whose primary purpose is preservation (See 51412 Libraries and Archives)
    • renting wardrobes and costumes (See 53222 Formal Wear and Costume Rental)
    • renting studio equipment (See 53249 Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing)
    • casting actors and actresses with production companies (See 56131 Employment Placement Agencies)
512190 - Post-Production and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries

This Canadian industry comprises establishments, not classified to any other industry, primarily engaged in providing post-production services and services to the motion picture and video industries, including specialized motion picture or video post-production services, such as editing, film/tape transfering, dubbing, subtitling, creating credits, closed captioning, and producing computer graphics, animation and special effects, as well as developing and processing motion picture films.

  • Example Activities:

    • Closed captioning service, film or tape
    • Developing and printing of commercial motion picture film
    • Dubbing sound, motion picture
    • Editing motion picture films or video
    • Film and video transfer service
    • Film or tape closed captioning
    • Film processing laboratories, motion picture
    • Libraries, motion picture film, stock footage
    • Libraries, video tape, stock footage
    • Motion picture (or video) editing services
    • Motion picture and video post-production services
    • Motion picture film library, stock footage
    • Motion picture film processing, editing and titling
    • Motion picture laboratories
    • Motion picture or video titling or sub-titling
    • Motion picture production special effects, post-production
    • Motion picture stock footage, film libraries
    • Post-production facilities
    • Post-synchronization, sound dubbing
    • Sound dubbing service, motion picture
    • Special effects for motion picture, post production
    • Stock footage, film libraries
    • Tape transfer service
    • Teleproduction services
    • Television tape services (e.g., editing, transfers)
    • Titling of motion picture film or video
    • Video conversion services (i.e., between formats)
    • Video post-production services
    • Video tape library, stock footage
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