Division 59: Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities

Section J, Publishing, broadcasting, and content production and distribution activities. 6 subcategories with ISTAT's explanatory notes and the ATECO 2022 codes they come from.

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  1. 59Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities

    This division includes production of theatrical and non-theatrical motion pictures videos or audiovisual works whether for direct projection in theatres, for broadcasting or streaming; supporting post-production activities (for example, film editing, cutting, dubbing or conversion to video streaming formats); distribution of motion pictures and other audiovisual productions to other industries; as well as the projection of motion pictures or other audiovisual productions. Further included is the buying and selling of distribution rights for motion pictures or other audiovisual productions.

    This division also includes sound recording activities, in other words: the production of original (sound) master recordings, releasing, promoting and distributing them; the publishing of music, associated with its distribution directly to the public via streaming and downloads; sound recording service activities in a studio or elsewhere.

    Excludes

    • wholesale and retail sale of audio and video recordings on physical media, see section GG
    • provision of streaming distribution services and downloads not associated with publishing of the content, see division 6060
    • video rental, see section OO
    • activities of independent musicians and actors, directors, stage designers and support activities for the performing arts, see section SS
  2. 59.1Motion picture, video and television programme activities
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    This group includes the production of theatrical and non-theatrical motion pictures, videos or audiovisual works, whether on film, hard drive or other digital storage media, associated with digital distribution, for direct projection in theatres or for broadcasting or streaming; supporting post-production activities (for example, film editing, cutting, dubbing or conversion to video streaming formats); distribution of motion pictures or other audiovisual productions to other industries as well as their projection.

    Buying and selling of motion pictures or other audiovisual production distribution rights are also included.

  3. 59.11Motion picture, video and television programme production activities
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • film duplicating (except reproduction of motion picture film for theatrical distribution) as well as reproduction of audio and video recordings on physical media from master copies, see 18.2018.20
    • wholesale of recorded media, see 46.4946.49
    • retail sale of recorded media, see 47.6947.69
    • post-production activities, see 59.1259.12
    • reproduction of motion picture film for theatrical distribution, see 59.1259.12
    • processing motion picture film, see 59.1259.12
    • sound recording and recording of audiobooks, see 59.2059.20
    • television broadcasting, see 60.2060.20
    • creating a complete television channel programme, see 60.2060.20
    • film processing, excluding processing motion picture film, see 74.2074.20
    • activities of personal theatrical or artistic agents or agencies, see 74.9974.99
    • rental of videotapes and DVDs to the general public, see 77.2277.22
    • real-time (i.e. simultaneous) closed captioning (e.g. of live television performance meetings or conferences), see 82.9982.99
    • activities of independent cartoonists, see 90.1290.12
    • activities of independent actors, see 90.2090.20
    • activities of independent stage designers and other support activities to the performing arts, see 90.390.3
    • activities of independent directors, see 90.3990.39
  4. 59.11.0Motion picture, video and television programme production activities
  5. 59.11.00Motion picture, video and television programme production activities
    From ATECO 2022: 59.11.00 Attività di produzione cinematografica, di video e di programmi televisivi (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • production of motion pictures, videos or audiovisual and television programme elements
    • production of advertising films
    • production of animated audiovisual works
    • production of television or video news programmes
    • production of vlogs
    • production of video podcasts

    Also includes

    • activities of content creators publishing video contents
  6. 59.12Motion picture, video and television programme post-production activities
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • film duplication and reproduction of audio and video recordings from master copies, see 18.2018.20
    • wholesale of recorded media, see 46.4946.49
    • retail sale of recorded media, see 47.6947.69
    • animation production, see 59.1159.11
    • film processing, not for the motion picture industry, see 74.2074.20
    • rental of recorded media to the general public, see 77.2277.22
    • real-time (i.e. simultaneous) closed captioning, see 82.9982.99
    • activities of independent actors, cartoonists, directors, stage designers, and other support activities to the performing arts, see division 9090
  7. 59.12.0Motion picture, video and television programme post-production activities
  8. 59.12.00Motion picture, video and television programme post-production activities
    From ATECO 2022: 59.12.00 Attività di post-produzione cinematografica, di video e di programmi televisivi (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • motion picture, video or audiovisual and television programme post-production activities, e.g.:
      • editing, titling, subtitling credits, closed captioning
      • film/tape transfers
      • conversion to video streaming formats
      • dubbing
    • activities of motion picture film laboratories and activities of special laboratories for animated films:
      • developing and processing motion picture film
      • reproduction of motion picture film for cinema distribution

    Also includes

    • activities of stock footage film libraries, etc.
  9. 59.13Motion picture and video distribution activities
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • film duplication and reproduction of audio and video recordings from master copies, see 18.2018.20
    • wholesale of recorded media, see 46.4946.49
    • retail sale of recorded media, see 47.6947.69
    • reproduction of motion picture film for theatrical distribution, see 59.1259.12
    • video streaming distribution and download service activities not associated with publishing, see 60.2060.20
    • management of copyrights and distribution rights for films, see 74.9174.91
    • rental of recorded media, see 77.2277.22
  10. 59.13.0Motion picture and video distribution activities
  11. 59.13.00Motion picture and video distribution activities
    From ATECO 2022: 59.13.00 Attività di distribuzione cinematografica, di video e di programmi televisivi (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • acquiring copyrights or distribution rights (e.g. for film and audiovisual works)
    • distributing productions (e.g. film and audiovisual works to motion picture theatres, television networks and stations, and exhibitors)
  12. 59.14Motion picture projection activities
  13. 59.14.0Motion picture projection activities
  14. 59.14.00Motion picture projection activities
    From ATECO 2022: 59.14.00 Attività di proiezione cinematografica (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • activities of motion picture or audiovisual projection in cinemas, in open air or other projection venues
  15. 59.2Sound recording and music publishing activities
  16. 59.20Sound recording and music publishing activities
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    This class includes sound recording and music publishing activities.

    Excludes

    • reproduction from master copies of music or other sound recordings, see 18.2018.20
    • wholesale of recorded media, see 46.4946.49
    • retail sale of recorded media, see 47.6947.69
    • audio streaming and download distribution service activities not associated with publishing, see 60.1060.10
    • activities of musicians, see 90.2090.20

    Implementation rule

    • Releasing, promoting and distributing sound recordings to wholesalers, retailers or directly to the public may include production of master recordings or obtaining the reproduction and distribution rights to master recordings.
  17. 59.20.1Sound recording activities
  18. 59.20.10Sound recording activities
    From ATECO 2022: 59.20.30 Studi di registrazione sonora (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • production of original (sound) master recordings, including digital recordings, that are accessible online or via any hard copy
    • sound recording service activities, including the production of recorded (i.e. non-live) radio programming, audio podcasts, as well as audio for film, television, books etc.

    Also includes

    • conversion of sound recordings to audio streaming formats
  19. 59.20.2Music publishing activities
  20. 59.20.20Music publishing activities
    From ATECO 2022: 59.20.10 Edizione di registrazioni sonore (in part) · 59.20.20 Edizione di musica stampata (in part)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • music publishing, i.e. activities of:
      • acquiring and registering copyrights for musical compositions
      • promoting, authorising and using these compositions in recordings, radio, television, motion pictures, live performances, print and other media
      • jointly publishing and distributing sound recordings via streaming and downloads

    Also includes

    • publishing of music and sheet music books

Source and disclaimer

The code you find here has no legal value, like the one from ISTAT's own navigator. You can use it as a reference when you register or change a VAT number with the Business Register or the Italian Revenue Agency. If in doubt, ask your accountant. ISTAT's official ATECO navigator.

Data: ISTAT, ATECO 2025 classification, CC BY 4.0 licence. We reorganised the files for search without changing the text of codes and notes, except for the capitalisation of section titles. CC BY 4.0

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