This subsector comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating radio or television broadcasting stations for programming and transmission to the public. Programming may originate in their own studio, from an affiliated network, or from external sources. This subsector also comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing media streaming distribution services, operating media broadcasting, satellite and cable television networks, and supplying information, such as news reports, articles, pictures, and features, to the news media. These may operate by cable systems, satellite transmission or over the Internet. These establishments distribute textual, audio, and/or video content of general or specific interest.

Classification Reference

Official classification fields for this page

Official classification fields taken from the current StatCan source bundle.

Characteristic	Description
Official title	Broadcasting and content providers
Classification	NAICS Canada 2022 Version 1.0
Publishing authority	Statistics Canada
Hierarchical level	Subsector
Parent code	51 - Information and cultural industries
International correspondence	ISIC Rev. 4; harmonized with US and Mexico NAICS at higher levels.
Source	https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/subjects/standard/naics/2022/v1/index
Source verification	2026-08-13

Canada Business Context

Canada-wide tax and filing context

Canada-wide business, tax, and filing context from the local country pack and tax pack.

Characteristic	Description
Tax authority	Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Business identifier	Business Number (BN): 9-digit identifier with program account suffixes such as RT0001 for GST/HST, RP0001 for payroll, and RC0001 for corporate income tax.
Filing requirements	Business Number registration; Form T2125 (Statement of Business or Professional Activities) attached to T1; Form T2 (Corporation Income Tax Return); Form T5013; Form GST34
Sector authority	Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and Quebec Law 25 authorities

Classification Confidence Score

3 of 5 factors passing

6/ 10

Verified official source — naics-scian-2022-structure-v1-eng.csv (2026-08-13)

International crosswalk — No international correspondence found

Previous edition migration — NAICS 2017 to 2022 continuity confirmed

Complete hierarchy — 2 levels confirmed in hierarchy

Size or threshold documented — Not applicable for hub levels

Trade or export match — No direct HS code correspondence in current bundle

Legacy crosswalk — Legacy system (SIC 1980) retired in this region

Business Profiles

When you might need code 516

Professions specific to this sector are linked to this part of the Canadian classifier so the page speaks to real work teams.

01 516

Digital publisher

Use this page when the file covers online editorial products, digital subscriptions, content release planning, and ad placements. It helps confirm whether 516 Broadcasting and content providers is the closest NAICS Canada branch before BN registration, GST/HST review, banking onboarding, procurement notes, or internal classification work.

02 516

Telecom network product manager

Use this page when the file covers telecom offerings, subscriber products, network service packaging, and rollout plans. It helps confirm whether 516 Broadcasting and content providers is the closest NAICS Canada branch before BN registration, GST/HST review, banking onboarding, procurement notes, or internal classification work.

03 516

Film post-production coordinator

Use this page when the file covers edit suites, sound finishing, delivery masters, and post workflow. It helps confirm whether 516 Broadcasting and content providers is the closest NAICS Canada branch before BN registration, GST/HST review, banking onboarding, procurement notes, or internal classification work.

04 516

Data processing service operator

Use this page when the file covers hosted processing jobs, database runs, batch output, and managed platform services. It helps confirm whether 516 Broadcasting and content providers is the closest NAICS Canada branch before BN registration, GST/HST review, banking onboarding, procurement notes, or internal classification work.

Business Map

Business categories in this branch

A rotating set of business activity examples linked to this part of the Canadian hierarchy.

In this section

Source row

516Broadcasting and content providers

This page mirrors the source row from the structure CSV and the matching rows from the elements and crosswalk files.

Frequently asked questions

What does code 516 cover?

Broadcasting and content providers: This subsector comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating radio or television broadcasting stations for programming and transmission to the public. Programming may originate in their own studio, from an affiliated network, or from external source...

Which level of the hierarchy is 516?

It is a subsector page in the NAICS Canada 2026 hierarchy.

What is the parent of 516?

It rolls up to 51 Information and cultural industries.

Should I stop at 516 or go lower?

2 lower-level item(s) sit under this branch: Radio and television broadcasting stations, Media streaming distribution services and other media networks and content providers.

Are official inclusion notes attached to 516?

No inclusion rows are attached to this page in the local elements file.

Are there exclusion notes for 516?

No exclusion rows are attached to this page in the local elements file.

Does 516 include illustrative examples?

No example rows are attached on this page in the local elements file.

What kinds of businesses often start from this page?

Examples in this branch include Streaming media, Data processing, Platform services, Telecom operations.

Is there an ISIC mapping for 516?

No ISIC correspondence row is attached to this page.

Does this page show a US NAICS reference?

No same-code US NAICS reference row is attached on this page.

Why are both English and French titles shown?

NAICS Canada is bilingual, so the page keeps both language titles visible for comparison and lookup.

Where does the page text come from?

From the local StatCan structure file, elements file, ISIC crosswalk, and the bundled US 6-digit reference workbook.