Updates to the iTunes Package Film Specification.

September 22, 2017

The iTunes Package Film Specification has been updated. Version 5.2.16 includes the following updates:

ISAN Updates for Switzerland
Due to a recent change in policy by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture, ISAN values are now only required for certain movies sold in Switzerland. Because of this change, the previously strict requirements on ISAN have been relaxed.

You will need to provide an ISAN or V-ISAN for movies that meet these requirements. If the film is over 60 minutes long and meets one of the following:

  • The film was released on iTunes (EST or VOD) after 1 January 2017
  • Or the film has been registered with the ISAN organization and assigned an ISAN or V-ISAN

Japanese Phonetic Title
The phonetic title tag is now required when a Japanese title is provided.

Japanese Timed Text Clarification
When delimiting parts of foreign words, use a full-width KATAKANA MIDDLE DOT: 30FB (・), for example: エンターテイメント・センター.

Note that non-Japanese content must use the standard iTunes Timed Text profile. The information provided in the Japanese iTunes Timed Text Profile chapter relates only to Japanese content.

Preview Images in Defined Previews Reminder
As a reminder, if you provide defined previews (clips from the feature), you are now required to also provide a preview image time using the image_time attribute.

5.1 Audio Description in iTunes Connect
As a reminder, we now support Audio Description (AD) files in 5.1 surround audio. If you deliver 5.1 AD to us, you’ll now be able to see the component listed as 5.1 in iTunes Connect under the Component Status tab.

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