Nintendo Wii to get video channel in '09
- December 26, 2008 11:13 AM PST
- Email this!
Nintendo plans to launch a video channel for its Wii console in 2009, it said Thursday.
Nintendo's video channel coming in 2009
The service, which will be launched in collaboration with advertising agency Dentsu, will initially be available in Japan only where it is expected to launch in the "spring" and be available at no charge. A premium service for which users will be required to pay for content is likely to launch in the middle of the year, Nintendo said. Launch plans for other markets are still under consideration, it said.
The service will focus on family-orientated content as another pillar of Nintendo's drive to encourage interaction between family members around its console. The majority of the 34.6 million Wii consoles sold -- around 80 percent according to company figures -- are hooked-up to living room TVs. However, only 40 percent are connected to the Internet.
In offering video, Nintendo is mirroring Sony and Microsoft, both of which have already started video services. But unlike its rivals, Nintendo's channel differs in its original-content focus. The Sony and Microsoft channels offer programming from TV and Internet sites and motion pictures.
Few other details were offered about the channel and its content although a single screenshot provided by Nintendo shows four family members depicted by their "Mii" avatars sitting around a living room table drinking tea while a TV set in the background shows Wii Fit.
Programming on the service will consist of entirely new shows including cartoons, the Nikkei business daily reported on Thursday. The newspaper pegged an overseas launch for later in 2009.
Read more at OMG Nintendo
More Top GamePro Stories
Comments [11]
-
- Jump To Page:
- [ 1 ]
- 2
-
- Dec 26 2008 at 03:25:51:PM PST
-
Good idea. We already know the Wii is video capable...I happen to have video on my memory stick that plays great on the Wii. Needless to say, it's not exactly family friendly, but there are no kids in my house anyway. LOL.
Anyway, the video service sounds cool, I can't wait to see it.
- Vote:
- Down
- Up
- +1
- report user
"The service will focus on family-orientated content"
saw that coming from a mile away
- Vote:
- Down
- Up
- +0
- report user
iamkid wrote:
"The service will focus on family-orientated content"
saw that coming from a mile away
No surprise huh
- Vote:
- Down
- Up
- +0
- report user
this does not sound appealing at all. I could just turn on the tv to teletoon or something instead of tunring on my wii. why no movies or anything? that would have made it worthwhile. Instead, we get a bunch of pokemon and shit.
- Vote:
- Down
- Up
- +0
- report user
But unlike its rivals, Nintendo's channel differs in its original-content focus.
Totally a bad idea......Anyone remember the Super Mario Bros. movie?
- Vote:
- Down
- Up
- +0
- report user
ESRB_Hater wrote:
But unlike its rivals, Nintendo's channel differs in its original-content focus.Totally a bad idea......Anyone remember the Super Mario Bros. movie?
that thing from the 80's? ive heard about it, but never seen it. i dont think i want to, either
- Vote:
- Down
- Up
- +0
- report user
when i first saw this i was like "OH MY FUCKIN LORD" but then i sed "OH... THAT SUCKS FUCKIN MONKEY BALLS!!!!!!!!
- Vote:
- Down
- Up
- +1
- report user
How about plans to release some good games in 2009!! Hardcore gamers don't need this crap, and casual gamers, basically young kids, won't be allowed to go on it by their parents. Waist of time.
- Vote:
- Down
- Up
- +2
- report user
What you guys expect? You bought a nintedo gaming system. When was the last time a nintendo gaming system had anything but franchise games? Mario party, mario racing, mario adventures, mario basketball, mario speak and spell, mario golf, mario let's clean the house, mario let's run around and do pointless things, mario save luigi, luigi save mario .... You get the point.
- Vote:
- Down
- Up
- +0
- report user
-
- Jump To Page:
- [ 1 ]
- 2
