DuArt Media Services

What DuArt Media Services does

DuArt Media Services, operating under the legal entity Du-Art Film Laboratories, Inc., is a New York-based, family-owned company founded in 1922 by Al Young as the oldest continually operating film laboratory in the United States. Historically the company provided film processing, post-production services (notably processing titles such as Dirty Dancing, The Cider House Rules, and Forrest Gump), audiobook production in English, Spanish, and other languages for trade, educational, governmental, and corporate publishers, and internationally recognized localization services for animation clients including The Pokémon Company International. Its technology base centered on pioneering film processes — one of the earliest continuous 35mm processing machines (1927), the first Eastmancolor negative processing (1950), and the Frame-Count cueing system that earned a 1979 Academy Award for Technical Achievement and contributed to Irwin Young's 2000 Gordon E. Sawyer Award.

In 2021 the company ceased media services operations and pivoted to operating as a real estate holding. Current revenue is generated from co-working space rentals, temporary office leases, and full-floor leases to media production companies in the historic, 12-story DuArt Building at 245 West 55th Street, just south of Columbus Circle in Midtown Manhattan. The building was listed for sale at $38M in November 2022, the Chairman (Irwin Young) passed away in January 2022, and a $3.13 per share distribution was declared in November 2024 — signals consistent with a managed wind-down of the operating company rather than a growth-stage business. The firm is privately held within the Young family (Linda Young has served as President and CEO since 1998) with 101-250 historical employees and no evidence of external institutional capital.

Name

DuArt Media Services

Legal name

Du-Art Film Laboratories, Inc.

Website

https://duart.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DuArt Media Services (legal: Du-Art Film Laboratories, Inc.) is a New York-based, family-owned firm founded in 1922 as the oldest continually operating U.S. film lab. After ceasing media services in 2021, it operates as a real estate holding, leasing co-working and office space in the 12-story DuArt Building at 245 West 55th Street.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Production and Post-Production Services

NAICS

Sound Recording Studios (51224), Other Sound Recording Industries (512290), Sound Recording Industries (5122)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiobook Production & Studios (Narration, Recording, Editing, Mastering) (MPAJAIAB)

Keywords

• Film processing services
• Audiobook production
• Media localization
• Post-production services
• Commercial real estate

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Operations: Since 2021, DuArt ceased media services operations and focuses on real estate holdings. The company generates revenue through leasing full floors, temporary office space leases to media production companies, and co-working space rentals in the historic DuArt Building at 245 West 55th Street, New York City.
2. Media Services (Historical): Previously generated revenue through world-class audiobook production in English, Spanish, and other languages for publishers, as well as film processing, post-production, and localization services for animation companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DuArt Media Services provides audiobook production in English, Spanish, and other languages for trade, educational, governmental, and corporate publishers, and operates the historic 12-story DuArt Building at 245 West 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan, offering co-working spaces, temporary office leases, and full-floor rentals to media production companies. Since 2021, the company has shifted its primary operations to real estate holdings following the cessation of media services.

Product overview

DuArt Media Services operates as a multi-service company that historically functioned as a premier film processing laboratory and has evolved into a diversified media services provider. The company offers audiobook production in English, Spanish, and other languages for publishers, along with localization services for animation companies. After ceasing media operations in 2021, the company now focuses on its real estate holding, The DuArt Building, offering co-working spaces and office leasing to media companies. Founded in 1922, DuArt is the oldest continually operating film lab in the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audiobook Production Services World-class audiobook production services in English, Spanish, and other languages for trade, educational, governmental, and corporate publishers.
• Film Processing and Post-Production Traditional film processing and post-production services, including 35mm processing, Eastmancolor negative processing, and Super-16mm blow-ups, for theatrical films such as Dirty Dancing, The Cider House Rules, and Forrest Gump.
• Localization Services
• DuArt Building Real Estate Services Co-working spaces, temporary office space leases, and full-floor rentals at the historic 12-story DuArt Building at 245 West 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan, with 12+ feet high ceilings and exposed brickwork, targeted to media production companies.

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Pokémon Company InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuArt has been internationally recognized for highly acclaimed localization services with The Pokémon Company International as a key client among other renowned animation companies.
• CBSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical collaboration with CBS on EVR consumer video-player-based special-motion film in 1966.
• Film ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrwin Young served as Chairman of the Board of Film Forum, a major nonprofit exhibitor of independents in New York City.
• Film Society of Lincoln CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrwin Young served as past-president of The Film Society of Lincoln Center.
• Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrwin Young served as past-president of SMPTE, the professional association for motion-imaging technologists.
• Independent Features Project (Gotham Film & Media Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrwin Young was a member of the board of the Independent Features Project, now the Gotham Film & Media Institute.
• NY State Council on the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrwin Young served as a member of the NY State Council on the Arts.
• Metrograph TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetrograph's series 'The Process' features films processed at DuArt Film Laboratories and works by Robert M. Young, paying tribute to the Young brothers' contributions to independent cinema.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Hachette Audio: Audiobook publishing arm of major trade publisher Hachette Book Group. Comparable to DuArt's audiobook production services for trade publishers, though as part of a much larger publishing operation.
• Simon & Schuster Audio: Major audiobook publisher producing content for trade and library markets. Comparable to DuArt's audiobook production work for trade publishers as part of a large publishing house.
• HarperAudio: Audiobook publishing division of HarperCollins. Peer to DuArt's trade audiobook production services, operating at much larger scale within a global publishing conglomerate.

Direct peers

• Recorded Books (RBmedia): Major audiobook publisher and producer with in-house studio operations across multiple languages. Comparable to DuArt's multilingual audiobook production capability serving institutional and trade publishers.
• Dreamscape Media: Independent audiobook production company that produces and distributes audiobooks for major publishers. Direct peer to DuArt's B2B audiobook production services for trade, educational, and corporate publishers.
• Tantor Audio: Audiobook publisher and producer producing content for major trade and library channels. Comparable to DuArt's audiobook production capabilities across multiple genres and languages.
• Power Station at BerkleeNYC: Major NYC professional audio recording and post-production facility. Comparable to DuArt's historical film processing, audio post-production, and recording studio operations in New York.
• Blackstone Publishing: Independent audiobook publisher with in-house production studios. Comparable to DuArt's audiobook production capability for trade, educational, and library publishers.
• Brilliance Audio: Audiobook production and publishing division producing content for library and retail markets. Peer to DuArt's institutional audiobook production work for educational and library publishers.
• Audible Studios: In-house production arm of Audible that records and produces audiobooks at scale. Was a direct competitor to DuArt's audiobook production services for trade and educational publishers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/duartmedia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCa5SvFoxsqGj08XNyzh-ogA
• Facebookfacebook.com/duart-media-services-158813704554514
• Instagraminstagram.com/duartmedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DuArt Media Services