Apple has defined a specific ISAN field in its video delivery packaging. ISAN is an optional value, except for content delivery in Switzerland where ISAN is required by law.
We recommend to content owners to provide systematically an ISAN even when optional.
In general the use of a Version ISAN (or V-ISAN) is preferable to the base ISAN as it identifies the specific version that is distributed (director's cut, special edition, home video edition, etc...)
When the ISAN is provided to Apple, sales forecast and financial reports contain the ISAN. Thus the use of ISAN facilitate the aggregation and consolidation of sales information from multiple platforms by content owners.
Apple is also exchanging usage information with Collective Societies for managing and redistributing the royalties to rights holders. When ISAN is available, this whole process of rights management is streamlined.
For more information refer to Apple documentation Delivering your movie content / ISAN
iTunes related specifications
- iTunes Connect
- iTunes Package Film Specification
- iTunes Connect Payments and Financial Reports Guide
- iTunes Connect Sales and Trends Guide