SBA size standard
$47 million
Measured by average annual receipts over the last 5 fiscal years
SBA table effective March 2023
Official definition
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.
FY2025 federal spending
The Department of Defense bought 48% of the $15.0M obligated under 516210 in FY2025.
- Contract awards
- 256
- Contract vehicles (IDVs)
- 14
Top buying agencies
- Department of Defense$7.2M
- Department of State$1.6M
- Department of Veterans Affairs$1.1M
- Department of Homeland Security$1.1M
- National Science Foundation$829.4K
FY2025 federal contract obligations, USAspending.gov
NAICS 516210 obligated $15 million in FY2025 across 256 contract awards, the smallest total in this reference set. DoD is $7 million, State $2 million, VA $1 million, DHS $1 million, NSF $1 million. The average award is around $59,000, and the low totals have a straightforward explanation: this is a new 2022 code, and the industry's federal spending still runs largely under 519130, the 2017 internet publishing and broadcasting code, which took in $134 million in the same year.
What belongs here
Media streaming distribution services, social network operation, media broadcasting and cable network operation, and supplying information such as news reports, articles, pictures, and features to news media.
- The 2017 predecessor code, still carrying most of the spend, is 519130.
- Web search portals and other information services moved to 519290.
- Software published for distribution is 513210.
Competing in this code
14 IDVs and 256 awards at small dollar values describes direct program office purchasing: streaming platform subscriptions, content distribution for public affairs, and news and imagery feeds. Nothing here requires scale. What it requires is being findable, and that is the specific problem with a brand new NAICS code. Most contracting officers have not used 516210, market research tools have thin history on it, and vendors who register only under it disappear. Register it, and keep the 2017 code active wherever your registration permits, until the federal usage catches up.
NAICS 516210 FAQ
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 516210?
SBA sets it at $47 million in average annual receipts, averaged over your last five completed fiscal years. Come in at or under that and you are small on every NAICS 516210 solicitation, including the set-asides.
Which agencies buy streaming and media network services under NAICS 516210?
FY2025 obligations: DoD ($7 million), State ($2 million), VA ($1 million), DHS ($1 million). Every buyer here is small, and the totals understate the industry because most of its federal spending still records under the 2017 code 519130.
Why is NAICS 516210 so small in federal spending?
Because it is a new 2022 code and adoption lags. NAICS 2022 moved internet broadcasting out of the 2017 code 519130 into 516210, but $134 million still ran under 519130 in FY2025 against $15 million under 516210. Federal usage has not caught up with the classification change.
Should I register under 516210 or 519130?
Both, for now. Register 516210 as your current code and keep 519130 active wherever your SAM registration and vehicle listings still allow. Contracting officers and market research tools have very little history with the new code, so a registration limited to 516210 makes you effectively invisible.