The Rise and Fall...and Rise of Kodak

For most of the 20th century, Kodak was the closest a company could get to being a monopoly without actually being one. Its very name had become synonymous with cameras, film and nostalgia. In the 21st century, however, this consumer giant has faced turmoil as it pivoted from one business to the next. It's gone from bankruptcy, to a foray into crypto, to finally making ingredients for pharmaceuticals. How did this happen?
#TheBreakdown #BloombergQuickTake #Photography
The Breakdown showcases rise-and-fall stories from the modern business world, told through the lens of Bloomberg reporting. Episodes look at what contributed to not only the success of a business or organization, but also the turning point at which the fall began. Prior stories covered include the NRA, Hertz, WeWork, Boeing, Kodack and many more. See the full series: • The Breakdown
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[@jasminevinoya3604]

Can I just have my Portra

[@4ourty5ive]

Amen

[@Sebonelo2]

Kodak has always sold drugs according to me. I've been long addicted to film.

[@kimchikidbear]

Same

[@caldera878]

Need Kodachrome.

[@sissilu6985]

lol

[@nightsbeatswitchgood]

worth mentioning that film sales have increased over the past few years so much that Kodak is releasing new film stocks

[@cdevidal]

Kodak thought it was in the film business, but they are in the imaging business. They could have led the way with digital.

[@nightsbeatswitchgood]

@@cdevidal yeah, true. absolutely. then again, difficult how to imagine how things would look like now with film photography if Kodak didn't stay loyal to analog.

[@dmitrybelyakov]

Bit shady, yeah, but I hope it'll help them stay afloat. Fuji already did the same move, simply because they're both chemical companies to begin with. I have my selfish reasons - i just need my film.

[@HazyJ28]

Breaking news: Kodak investigates Kodak and finds Kodak did nothing wrong

[@caromac_]

Its just that Obama meme.

[@user-hi9cv1sc2i]

Like getting the Mob to investigate crime.

[@studiosnch]

Oh btw for everyone's knowledge, the Kodak discussed here is the Eastman Kodak Company. The photographic film made nowadays is still branded as Kodak, but it is financed by a different company, named Kodak Alaris. Kodak in Rochester still makes the film, they're not just the ones distributing it anymore (that's the job of Kodak Alaris). EKC after their bankrupcy diversified and concentrated their efforts mostly on inudstrial photographic applications, so the pharmaceuticals venture wasn't really a surprise for me. This is just like Fujifilm actually getting more income from cosmetics and pharmaceuticals more than their photography. Edited to correct the supply chain discussion.

[@J-1410]

Not entirely true

[@Cmoredebris]

Kodak film is made in Rochester for Alaris.

[@Peak3Visuals]

Don’t let this distract you from the fact that Kodak has once again, raised their price on film

[@TinLeadHammer]

Who cares. Film has been dead for twenty years.

[@bostonblackie9503]

The cost of film, development has always been high!

[@abraxamovic]

@@TinLeadHammer you’d be surprised to know about the millions that still shoot film in 2021

Also Fuji :C

[@jschreiber6461]

@@abraxamovic then they deserve the cost, as there are no economies of scale to lower the price, and apart from nostalgia, there is no reason to use film.

[@stevensamuel4634]

I opened the video think I was gonna see how Kodak is currently a pharmaceutical company, but instead I see that they're still in the process of becoming one

[@stellaliu7690]

Although insignificant, can we just appreciate the rise of film photography in a small group gen zers

[@colinbazzano]

far more than just gen z’ers that revitalized film!

[@harlowfitzpatrick9031]

@@colinbazzano Yes but Gen Z has made an enormous contribution to it.

[@AnyFactor]

"Picture that with a Kodak" is when Kodak died for me.

[@jenserwig1707]

Never choose comfort over quality.

[@20_percent]

Technology moves as fast as I go to the store for beer.

[@1964mcqueen]

760 million for 300 jobs. Ya, that sounds about right.

[@noah-jazz]

I suppose that if you would invest 760 million in small businesses you would create way more jobs

[@1964mcqueen]

@@noah-jazz I think just about anyone would create more than 300 jobs. Give each person 2.5m and Iet them create the jobs. Even if each one hires a house cleaner and gardener, that's twice as many jobs. If each one opened a food truck, that would be more jobs. So ya, I'm sure I could create way more than 300 jobs with 760 million.

[@split317]

But small businesses don’t have the chemical facilities

[@samfrancisco8095]

Its a LOAN, nitwit.

[@1964mcqueen]

@@samfrancisco8095 nitwit? Really? I think its pretty clear that its a loan. So what's your point?

[@uprightape100]

Kodak shouldn't feel too bad.......ALL camera companies are in decline due to smartphones and young people not caring to learn about fine photography. Nikon is truly in deep trouble. Canon is a bit better off.

[@Paul-oi2wz]

Yeah, but they could prolong this by switching to digital cameras.

[@frbe0101]

Question: who manufactures CCDs?

[@seefortyoneuk5285]

@@frbe0101 CCD is not the dominant tech anymore, it's CMOS, which almost half of all sensors are made by Sony, followed by samsung and omnivision ... the rest share the other third. Even well established brand like Canon and Panasonic only have 3% share. Some like Nikon already buy sensors from Sony.

[@frosty941]

Amazing video fellas

[@vonFisch]

Kodak should have kept the printer business and expand it.

[@buttermashpotatoes4617]

where's the "and Rise" part?

[@jankubat2694]

I mean to anyone knowing anything about film it is nothing strange. Kodak is a company operating in the field of chemistry, so it makes sense for it to, surprise, work with chemical compounds. The same way Fujifilm most valuable division is cosmetics, and mediacal division.

[@skateboarding4life]

This looks crazy like Vox. Oh, yeah - it's Gina Barton animating! ♥️

[@hojoinhisarcher]

This came on my feed after Bloomberg vid on ShenZhen.....LOL

[@SoCalFreelance]

Anything that touches Trump is shady AF

[@MyNextShotWontMiss]

SoCal huh? Seems about right

[@jacob9673]

@Wet Porridge nah bro, trump is just corrupt as fuck. I wouldn’t trust anything he touches as far as I can throw him. There’s no need to be offended about that, it’s just the way it is. To quote Trump, he’s “just a businessman doing.. business.” What he does it always going to benefit him, not America, nor our rights, nor justice. That’s who he is, it’s not inherently evil, it’s just his nature.

[@futc.photography]

If Kodak doesn’t stop raising their film prices I’m gonna lose it

[@NoviSavvy]

Buy cine for $4.5 per fresh 135 roll of 36 Learn to process which is easy and cheap if you are able to use tiny weight scale and a calculator Enjoy nice fresh Vision 3 and expired 1.5$ Fuji

[@futc.photography]

@@NoviSavvy kodak vision 3 as 135 isn't really available in germany, at least I couldn't find it

[@NoviSavvy]

@@futc.photography You have to buy a whole 400ft roll or find a group of people to buy it collectively and use a bulk loader. It is a great film actually. It's available on B&H or you have to look for it on eBay

[@futc.photography]

@@NoviSavvy If I buy it as a huge roll how can I use it in my 35mm camera?

[@NoviSavvy]

@@futc.photography It has same dimensions just a very long roll. Try searching bulk loading cine film. You load it into a standard 135 film cassette and shoot as normal. Developing process is a little bit different but I do it in my bathroom and it seems easy enough for me. Developer is made from CD3 agent which can be found on eBay or Alibaba and a few other chemicals from any local chemistry store. Remjet could be removed before developing by using a baking soda solution or it is better to follow h2407 document to make proper pre bath. Best bleach and fixer are these for automatic C41 processors but any custom recipe for C41 works as well. All recipes are available on the internet. All chemicals are completely safe if you don't drink or wash your hand in them. I got to love that process

[@djangokill65]

Fall on hard times? Make and sell drugs!

[@GlenFair]

They obviously knew that digital would eventually become a thing but I don't know what else they could have done. They were stuck between a rock and a hard place. So they milked it for as long as they could. In the early 2000s they still had the belief that people would want to keep printing out their digital photos so they made the Easy Share? system which made it simple to dock your camera in a printer. But they were wrong on that too as most people didn't want to print them out. I guess in hindsight they should have started a digital photo sharing platform and become what Instagram is today .

[@papaprint6174]

Kodak is back

[@papaalphaoscar5537]

They probably hold tons on patents for different compounds. Fujifilm is now raking it in from their patents on the different compounds.

[@rustyshackleford1069]

If you spent any time at or around kodak Park this wouldn't surprise you at all. It's a massive industrial complex the size of a town with security fences all around. They gotta do something there especially considering rochester big for medicine

[@Peak3Visuals]

I think you forgot to mention the film nenaissance that formed in the last few years

[@BobbyIronsights]

From making chemicals for photography to making chemicals for drugs, doesn't seem like a stretch to me.

[@samholland7650]

The title should be How Kodak went from photo lcon to making Pharmaceutical.

[@southpaw404]

Where can I take my Polaroids to get developed?

[@DethronerX]

There are some online services Also, would be cheaper for you to build a worshop of your own, buy the chemicals and stencils and stuff and develop and expose yourself

[@SURENITY]

A Kodak worked had invented the digital camera in 1972. Kodak hated it because it was “invasive”. It was a threat to them. That is Rochester for you. A city of dead dreams.

[@mcharrom7857]

Just lower the film price please!

[@MysteryManBob]

Hmmm new stock options introduced right BEFORE the announcement, looks like Kodak has been roleplaying as Enron while no one was looking

[@JigilJigil]

They should have shifted to more technical areas and let the large mass cosumer mind-set go, they could focus on fabricating and engineering image sensors and advanced image electronics, developing new technologies in those sectors, Sony was smart enough to do so and now they dominate smartphone image sensor global market, selling hundreds of millions of sensors each year.

[@nevarran]

"The function of management is to create wealth..." for themselves.

[@NoName-tj7uo]

Video credits for NegativeFeedback ?

[@felixt1470]

Bought a Kodak instant printer a few months ago.

[@laptopdroptop9457]

Ticking sound towards the end

[@Neojhun]

This reminds of FujiFilm & Astalift Cosmetics. But in a corrupt bankrupt version.

[@davidkachel]

Between its long-time greed (absurdly high prices) and world-record bad decision-making, Kodak doesn't stand a chance. All they had to do was stick to their ORIGINAL, primary mission and adapt to the future.

[@TheIrishfitter]

Kodak >>>>

[@skateboarding4life]

I think you forgot something at 03:26. (:

[@christian.j.stevens]

Film is not dead

[@TT-dx4ez]

Was there even a mention of motion picture film?

[@TFinSF]

More like "From Icon to ICU..."

[@quackster41]

Kushy with the layup 😁😁😁

[@chalysen]

When you have been writing historical narratives of slavery as your founding business model, moving to pharmaceuticals is a natural fit

[@alekstube_]

14:15 okay it is time for me to finally understand what to brackets mean in a quote? Is it something that isnt in the quote but that gives context to shorten it down or what is it?

[@levi1929]

It is something that was MEANT to be said, or gives the sentence context. The direct quote starts with “have concluded that”. So the words in brackets give context to WHO has concluded that...etc. The person being quoted must have mentioned the lawyers well before this particular quote started.

[@alekstube_]

@@levi1929 perfect thank you!

[@judielebuenaventura2858]

Can they just sell lenses for Video calls coz we simply need that....

[@mediolanumclassic]

Nostalgia? It's a testimonial of the moment itself like memory is

[@SURENITY]

They need to be the next and improved Polaroid.

[@sonygoup]

Well all the film guys are here...

[@jimd4632]

If you think it's ODD it's because you don't know much about kodak, or the making of film. The making of film is a high tech manufacturing process when they are experts at.

[@collodion1884]

Kodak was not founded in 1888, it was founded in 1892. Everyone confuses the sale of the Kodak camera with the founding of the Company.

[@adventure9119]

Wait this isn’t BrightSunFilms

[@chet6286]

Seems like Kodak almost accidentally invented NFTs

[@navyrotc2012]

Why doesn’t anybody mention their production print business

[@limbosvi6983]

Future Kodak commercial: "We've reinvented the blue pill, new yellow pill by Kodak."

[@bobritasue]

wooohooooooo

[@gotsm9959]

I disagree because those cameras' early digital cameras would be low quality and so expensive that it would be logical to reject it as a company making consumer products. The problem is putting your eggs in one basket. Kodak could have dipped their toes in portable cassette players or toys, it's all a game of chance.

[@ryanmay8292]

We even called a kodak moment a Kodak moment taking a photo wit a Sony CyberShot..BTW how about a iPhone Kodak

[@Kevindevin7]

There’s so many videos about the demise of Kodak. So many people know about it that I don’t understand why we keep discussing this case study in 2020. Kodak is dead, we know.

[@pawog04youtube3]

What I am sad they do not mention is that Kodak was split at the time of bankruptcy, there is a company called Kodak Alaris who still makes film. And with the small photography market, they have a big monopoly on it in North America.

[@Slickpete83]

too late.. u should made this video before the stock popped in price. all the news channels always late to the story

[@SchardtCinematic]

I'm a Canon shooter. But started with my Dads Minolta SRT-201. around 1996 I started getting my favorite photos put on to the Kodak Photo CD. (Not the picture CD) I bought a portable photo CD player for my TV. Until I finally got a PC in 1999. I knew digital was coming. I bought a used Canon Rebel G on Amazon. So now I have 3 Canon Cameras that all take the EF mount lenses and one shoots film. I miss using film. But it's so damn expensive.

[@roberts4173]

Meta is new Kodak

[@Mr.MalyaleeContemplator]

They also invented the super glue. They are not given enough credit

[@girmonsproductions]

I prefer Fujifilm 🎞

[@girmonsproductions]

@Ramen Lover Fujifilm is slowly but surely ceasing film production not Kodak. I mean I shoot Kodak a lot too

[@edwardzammiello651]

The thing that Kodak missed... was not paying attention to the digital age coming..( just as I had laughed.. when my teachers said ... computers were coming)... but they should have prepared.... as well as knowing film will still have a place in the world

[@DethronerX]

In my view, best is to go parallel by making older medium more accessible, easy and fast to use and affordable. They could upgrade their machines, anything to keep the celluloid active, because the results are real and digital has its own beautiful look but trying to emulate film on it looks fake and cheap and it shows most of the time that it's fake. I'd still use brushes and paint on paper and still keep using photoshop, just depends on the project. You can photoshop and print, or directly paint, but you know the value of the physical work as the only original piece.

[@ucsdrules]

Corrupt AF!

[@Sabundy]

The rise? .....what rise? They have not even gotten into making pharmaceuticals yet. What's worse is that it's to make generic drugs. A notoriously low profit/margin business that is already highly competitive. How exactly is Kodak going to make money or create real value with this?

[@jinghangque8916]

Is it me or is the producer a Company Man fan😂

[@adityamayekar5852]

What if this happens with apple

[@wiskasIO]

They always ruined my photos at the lab.

[@largebiff1743]

$765 million bail out. I didn't think that Kodak was a bank.

[@vedantkale1163]

This is just so sad and pitiful. I really wanted to be angry at the extreme short-sightedness and greediness of the management but seeing a company which was on top of the world reduced to playing such petty antics is disheartening. It is like seeing Tesla or Google doing something like this to just prop up the share price without having any business. I don't think Eastman had the faintest idea that his company would be reduced to the equivalent of homelessness.

[@james79ableify]

And fall

[@ericwong4213]

KFC created KFConsole that plays 4k game.

[@RAF_Ai]

Kodak Black

[@alexanderschulz5088]

Just bring Aerochrome back.

[@FitnessFrontiers09]

Kodak went breaking bad

[@user-oc9dd8pm5u]

Who is shorting Kodak?

[@johnl.7754]

Unless Kodak went into becoming a cell phone brand they would still be in trouble today.

[@johndavis929]

John L. They actually did try to launch a mobile phone, around 2016 I think 😂

[@Sabundy]

@@johndavis929 and it was terrible

[@fleetasura5224]

Oh. Uh Oh. Wrong Kodak.

[@Loftikaz]

Inventing your own gun that kills you

[@user-oi2nm2xw8y]

Figured it out in the 15 seconds 7,7 a/.. d). . . Gamers

[@KingofStreet3]

Me not working hard? Yeah, right, picture that with a Kodak Or better yet, go to Times Square Take a picture of me with a Kodak… - Pitbull

[@ioanacristina851]

Lemme just go back to my Fujicolor C200 real quick

[@jankubat2694]

Before they discontinue that too :D RIP PRO400H

[@dakotarobert7975]

Kodak Sears Walmart etc. . . I can see the GREED written all over the story. This is always what is to happen to these greedy folks. At the end, they ended up losing it all.

[@lilacdoe7945]

The amazing part is there seemed to be a bigger outrage by regulators over Gamestop than transparent insider trading. 🤔

[@chet6286]

Honestly I don’t care about Kodak because of the need to keep it’s legacy afloat. What I do care about is Pelosi’s stock portfolio having a 10,000% return.

[@ziggyplay]

And that's how the Covid was an excellent, well thought-out deal for the big boys. And the sleeping people followed like a herd.

[@user-yj4ld9mg2b]

Who uses the term "kodaks" anymore? Like if someone kept saying, "i took a couple of kodaks from him." I'd call them pictures or images. Kodak was only one of the film suppliers. It would be like someone who calls every kind of soda a Coke. *Like if someone was saying, it wasn't David. It was definitely him in the pictures i saw. I'd guess by everything I've heard and since I've personally witnessed him doing other stuff that is as bad or worse that it's very likely Johnathan David. That's the thing with me. I hardly ever believe what I hear... but if i see it and then what I hear corresponds and then there's running with that crowd then I don't need any more evidence to believe it. I don't feel any need to prove it to anyone else but I know and that's all that matters here.

[@lukessha]

Company man? 🤣

[@patrack7]

ummm...it does what now 👁 👄 👁

[@levi1929]

If it’s true that Kodak didn’t violate any SEC laws, then they’re just skating through a loophole, and we need to AMEND the law. (In my opinion) It does NOT mean that their conduct was anything less than criminal. (Allegedly)

[@nosquirrels6229]

Lol company man ripoff

[@camronme917]

portra 800 is drugs

[@elitesilverwing]

and in 2023. i own 3 vintage film slr and shooting photo on 35mm kodak film (pro image, colorplus, ektar)

[@yuentsang6903]

Another example of cronyism

[@metingokbulut837]

🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷💯💯💯👍👍👍