Motion Picture Association
The Motion Picture Association is a 1922-founded private trade association representing seven major international film, television, and streaming studios, providing coordinated policy advocacy, ratings, and economic research across the U.S., Canada, and global markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1922
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Motion Picture Association does
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), founded in 1922 as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and rebranded to its current name in 2019, is a private trade association representing seven major international film, television, and streaming studios: Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and operates regional affiliates including MPA-Canada (Toronto), MPA-APAC, MPA-Latin America, and MPA-EMEA. Its functional mandate is to coordinate industry-wide policy advocacy, content protection, and economic research on behalf of its member studios, with Charles H. Rivkin serving as Chairman and CEO.
MPA's core "products" are non-commercial services rather than software: policy advocacy before governments and regulators (CRTC, Copyright Board of Canada, U.S. State Department), the Canada Home Video Rating System (a public lookup tool for G/PG/14A/18A/R/A ratings), recurring economic impact studies commissioned from KPMG, MNP, and Oxford Economics, and The Credits online magazine featuring behind-the-scenes interviews with Canadian and global creatives. Underlying technology is minimal — there is no proprietary platform, AI capability, or patent portfolio disclosed; the digital footprint consists of the mpa-canada.org and mpaa.org websites plus an X (Twitter) handle. The organization also coordinates the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a 30-member anti-piracy coalition.
The business model is membership-dues funded: MPA represents member studios' interests and is financed by their contributions, with revenue not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is policy-led and government-facing rather than commercial — engagement is direct with federal and provincial officials, regulators, and industry partners (Ontario Creates, Creative BC, FilmOntario, IATSE). MPA-Canada employs 1-10 staff (per firmographics) and functions as the unified advocacy voice for global studios operating in the Canadian audiovisual production sector, where MPA-member spending exceeded $8.3 billion annually and supported more than 171,000 jobs as of 2017.
Motion Picture Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Motion Picture Association
- Legal name
- Motion Picture Association, Inc.
- Website
- https://mpa-canada.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1922
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Motion Picture Association is a 1922-founded private trade association representing seven major international film, television, and streaming studios, providing coordinated policy advocacy, ratings, and economic research across the U.S., Canada, and global markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Motion Picture Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Association / Film Industry Advocacy
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- QC, Compliance & Certification (Technical/Editorial, Platform Specs) (MPAHALAI)
Keywords
Where Motion Picture Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Motion Picture Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership dues: MPA-Canada represents major international film, television, and streaming studios as members, with membership dues supporting the organization's operations and advocacy activities on behalf of the global production industry in Canada.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Motion Picture Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) is a trade association that advocates on behalf of major international film, television, and streaming studios. It provides coordinated government relations, policy advocacy, economic impact research, content protection support, and operates the Canada Home Video Rating System and The Credits online magazine showcasing creative professionals in the industry.
Product overview
The Motion Picture Association – Canada (MPA-Canada) is an advocacy organization representing major international film, television, and streaming studios in Canada. The organization does not offer a unified software product or platform but provides services including film ratings verification through the Canada Home Video Rating System, research and economic impact reports on the Canadian production industry, and The Credits online magazine showcasing Canadian film and television creatives. The MPA-Canada website serves as the primary digital platform for advocacy, research publication, film rating searches, news, and industry resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Credits: The Motion Picture Association's online magazine featuring behind-the-scenes interviews and stories about film and television production
Products and services
- Canada Home Video Rating System
Quantifiable outcome
- Global studios and streamers account for more than half of total film, television and streaming production investment across Canada
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Motion Picture Association
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Motion Picture Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Motion Picture Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.
- Prime Video & Amazon MGM StudioscoreNewest member studio of MPA, brought on by Charles Rivkin in 2024 to expand MPA's streaming representation
- Disney (ABC/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)coreMember studio of MPA-Canada representing major international film and television production company with streaming services
- Netflix, Inc.coreMember studio of MPA-Canada, recruited by Charles Rivkin in 2019 to reflect MPA's increased focus on streaming services
- Paramount Pictures CorporationcoreMember studio of MPA-Canada representing major international film and television production company
- Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.coreMember studio of MPA-Canada representing major international film and television production company
- Universal City Studios LLC (NBCUniversal)coreMember studio of MPA-Canada representing major international film and television production company
- Warner Bros. Discovery (HBO)coreMember studio of MPA-Canada representing major international film and television production company with streaming services
- Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE)coreGlobal anti-piracy initiative with 30 members including six MPA studios, HBO, Netflix, and Canada's Bell Media. MPA works with major platforms on content protection.
- Ontario CreatesregionalOntario's provincial film commission and creative industry agency, working with MPA-Canada on attracting productions and supporting local industry
- Creative BCregionalProvince of British Columbia's agency for creative sector economic development, partnered with MPA-Canada on film production initiatives
- FilmOntarioregionalIndustry consortium representing approximately 35,000 individuals from Ontario-based production companies, unions, studios, working with MPA-Canada on provincial advocacy
- IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees)regionalLabor union representing film and television technicians, with local chapters (873, 891) working with productions in Ontario and BC supported by MPA member studios
- KPMG in CanadaminorProfessional services firm engaged to conduct economic impact studies on global studios and streamers in Canadian audiovisual production sector
- MNP LLPminorCanadian accounting and business advisory firm engaged to conduct economic impact assessments for individual productions (Suits, Supernatural, Arrow, etc.)
- Oxford EconomicsminorEconomic consultancy engaged to analyze economic impacts of specific productions such as What We Do In The Shadows
- Government of CanadacoreFederal government including Copyright Board of Canada, CRTC, and Canadian Intellectual Property Office - regulatory bodies that govern the Canadian media landscape
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)minorInternational organization for intellectual property policy, standards, and cooperation that MPA-Canada maintains relationships with
- International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF)minorInternational organization coordinating film producer associations worldwide, affiliated with MPA-Canada
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Motion Picture Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FilmOntario: Ontario-based industry consortium representing ~35,000 production professionals and studios — explicitly named as an MPA-Canada partner. Closest functional peer as an industry-coordination and advocacy body, though geographically narrower.
- Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB): National trade association for Canadian private broadcasters. Direct peer to MPA-Canada as an industry advocacy and government-relations organization operating in the same Canadian media regulatory environment.
- Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA): National trade association representing independent Canadian producers — directly comparable to MPA-Canada as an industry advocacy body, but on the independent-producer side rather than the global-studio side. Both engage in policy advocacy and economic research for their members.
- Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE): Global anti-piracy coalition co-founded by MPA member studios. Peer because both organizations provide content-protection services coordinated across major studios and rights holders.
Emerging players
- Ontario Creates: Ontario's provincial film commission and creative-industry agency. Named MPA-Canada partner; comparable as a public-facing film/TV industry coordination body, though publicly funded rather than member-funded.
- Creative BC: British Columbia's creative-sector economic development agency — explicit MPA-Canada partner. Comparable industry-coordination function at provincial level.
Broad incumbents
- Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA): U.S. trade association representing major music labels. Highly analogous operating model to MPA — membership-funded industry advocacy, ratings/content advisories, anti-piracy enforcement — but for the recorded music industry rather than film/TV.
Others
- International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF): Global federation of national film-producer associations; affiliated with MPA-Canada. Thematic peer in international film-industry coordination and standards setting.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): U.N. agency for IP policy. MPA-Canada maintains an active relationship with WIPO. Thematic peer in international copyright and IP-enforcement policy, where MPA advocates for member studio rights.
- Internet Association (now shutdown) / Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA): Tech-industry advocacy organizations operating in adjacent policy domains (privacy, copyright, online speech). Comparable operating model — membership-funded policy advocacy in regulatory and legislative arenas — though covering different industries.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Motion Picture Association social profiles
Digital presenceMotion Picture Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Motion Picture Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Motion Picture Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Motion Picture Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Motion Picture Association
What does Motion Picture Association do?
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) is a trade association that advocates on behalf of major international film, television, and streaming studios. It provides coordinated government relations, policy advocacy, economic impact research, content protection support, and operates the Canada Home Video Rating System and The Credits online magazine showcasing creative professionals in the industry.
Is Motion Picture Association a public or private company?
Motion Picture Association is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Motion Picture Association founded?
Motion Picture Association was founded in 1922. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Motion Picture Association based?
Motion Picture Association is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Motion Picture Association make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership dues.
Who are Motion Picture Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FilmOntario, Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE). Emerging players are Ontario Creates and Creative BC. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Internet Association (now shutdown) / Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA).
Does Motion Picture Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Motion Picture Association.
What industry is Motion Picture Association in?
Motion Picture Association's product category is Trade Association / Film Industry Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAJ, Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits, with a secondary code of MPAHALAI, QC, Compliance & Certification (Technical/Editorial, Platform Specs). Its NAICS code is 5121 and its SIC code is 7829.