Millions of U.S. Wii Owners Will Have the Opportunity to Access the World’s Largest Online Movie Rental Service

REDMOND, Wash. & LOS GATOS, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nintendo of America Inc. and Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq:NFLX] today announced an agreement that will allow Netflix members who are also owners of Nintendo’s Wii™ home console to instantly watch thousands of movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix directly to their TVs. Netflix is scheduled to go live on the Wii console this spring in the United States at no additional cost to Netflix members who have a plan starting at $8.99 a month, a Wii console and a broadband Internet connection.

The partnership between the two companies will extend the reach of content streamed from Netflix farther than ever before, thanks to the mainstream popularity of the Wii console. Wii remains the fastest-selling home console in history, and reaches more consumers than any other device that currently supports streaming movies from Netflix. In December 2009, Nintendo sold well in excess of 3 million Wii consoles in the United States. Wii is the top-selling home video game system of this generation, and as such brings the Netflix experience to a broad and diverse mass market.

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Updates to the Everybody Votes Channel
Beginning in early 2010, new Wii consoles will come pre-loaded with a short cut channel that provides details about the Everybody Votes Channel and the ability to go directly to the channel’s download page in the Wii Shop. If you last updated this channel after October 10, 2007, you will not see any changes if you update now. However, to ensure you always have the most current version of your channels, we recommend that you perform any available updates.

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The Wii no Ma Channel (Wii Family Room Channel) is getting an upgrade that allows for videos to be downloaded to the Wii such as TV shows and movies. The new ‘Theater Room’ allows users to rent any video content they want and is already backed by several companies in Japan, such as Disney, Warner, Sesame Workshop, Toei, NHK, TV Asahi, Pokemon, Asmik Ace Entertainment, and Warp Star.

Nintendo hasn’t announced plans for the rest of the world, but they’ve already mentioned that they plan to take this channel to other regions so this is definitely something to look forward to next year.  Although it could be interesting to see if Nintendo and Netflix sign some agreement, in which case this Channel may be replaced by a Netflix Channel in the US.  Would you guys be interested in this channel or a Netflix channel if it came to the US?

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DS Demos

• Madagascar Kartz Demo (distribution ends 11/15/09)
• Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games – Bobsleigh Race (distribution ends 11/15/09)
• Bakugan Battle Brawlers (distribution ends 11/15/09)
• James Patterson Women’s Murder Club: Games of Passion (distribution ends 11/15/09)

Videos

• Nintendo Week 11/9
• New Super Mario Bros interview with Shigeru Miyamoto
• The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks – trailer
• Excitebike: World Rally – info video
• New Super Mario Bros Wii – video 3
• New Super Mario Bros. Wii – TV spots
• Style Savvy – Interview with a professional stylist
• Bakugan: Battle Brawlers – “Roll oN” TV spot
• Band Hero – Taylor Swift vignette
• Need for Speed: Nitro – Cairo trailer
• Tony Hawk: Ride – tutorial #3 – Manuals
• Nostalgia – Developer voice video
• Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing – teaser video
• New Super Mario Bros Wii – video 2
• Spongebob’s Truth or Squared – info video
• Planet 51 – video 3
• Bomberman Blitz – info video
• Frogger Returns – info video
• Dragon Master Spell Caster – info video
• Style Lab Jewelry Design – info video
• Touchmaster 3 – info video
• Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks – launch video
• Where the Wild Things Are – launch video
• What’s new at Animal Crossing: City Folk – November

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Greek mythology, grid-based strategy, high-speed racing, classic arcade action and a hand-held art course – this week’s additions to the Wii™ Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi™ Shop deliver a wildly entertaining mix. With new WiiWare™, Nintendo DSiWare™ and Virtual Console™ games debuting each week, Nintendo offers downloadable games to please everyone under the sun, and the list keeps on growing. For Nintendo DSi users looking to grow their own game library, here’s a valuable tip-off: Consumers can still receive 1,000 bonus Nintendo DSi Points™ by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com.

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We mentioned this earlier, but here is the official press release.

The Wii™ console’s Nintendo Channel is getting a makeover. On Sept. 14, the channel, which provides users with videos and information about current and upcoming Nintendo products, re-launches with a new look and feel. Some of the upgrades include higher-quality streaming videos, lists of top games that other viewers recommend and a new ability to rate and recommend Nintendo DS™ games.

Current features of the Nintendo Channel will remain, including Nintendo DS demo downloads and an extensive lineup of videos about Wii and Nintendo DS games.

As part of the update, Nintendo Channel will also premiere Nintendo Week, a weekly, hosted series about what’s happening in the world of Nintendo. The premiere episode includes an in-depth look at Mario and Luigi™: Bowser’s Inside Story, an interview with the developers behind the Wii version of Guitar Hero 5, plus coverage of the new Nintendo DSi colors, Nintendo DSiWare games and other surprises.

Nintendo Channel is available free of charge to Wii owners, and can be downloaded by going to the Wii Shop Channel and following the on-screen instructions. For more information about the Nintendo Channel, please visit www.NintendoChannel.com

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A while back this same update hit Japanese Wii’s and all was left wondering if Nintendo cared enough to bring this update to the NA? Well it has finally happened; this update bring a new design and the ability to choose between HQ videos and standard ones. Also allows you to view records of games that you have played, and also have a favorite software list.

8 September 2009 – Check your daily fortune and get hints on relationships, activities and even the types of food that your horoscope recommends with the free Today & Tomorrow Channel, launching on Wii in Europe on 9 September.

Your friends and family can join in the fun, as up to six people can take part by registering their Mii character and date of birth. You will all then receive a detailed daily fortune in five categories: love, work, study, communications and money. The next day’s fortune is displayed every evening, so you can check ahead of time before a big day.

As well as providing your fortune, the Today & Tomorrow Channel can also give you lifestyle tips, including activities that can improve your daily life and suggestions about what to eat, all based on your horoscope. You can even check the compatibility of different Mii characters for the day. Use this feature to see how you will get along with your friends and family – could be useful if you are planning a long car journey!

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