REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Beginning today, Netflix members in the United States and Canada can stream content through their Wii™ consoles with Netflix installed on their Wii Menu. The Netflix disc that was used for instant streaming on the Wii console will no longer be required. Netflix members who have a plan starting at $8.99 a month ($7.99 in Canada), a Wii console and a broadband Internet connection can now instantly watch movies and TV shows streamed directly to their TVs by simply downloading Netflix from the Wii Shop Channel. This new channel is available at no extra cost.The new disc-free option installs Netflix on the Wii Menu, making it convenient for Wii owners to quickly access streaming movies and TV shows.
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“At this time of year, consumers have a near-insatiable demand for family entertainment,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “And this simplified Netflix access will help bring families together more quickly, more easily and in more ways than ever before. More than 3 million Wii systems have already connected to Netflix, demonstrating how easy the service is to set up and use.”
“Wii is a consummate home entertainment platform and has quickly become one of the best and most popular ways to enjoy movies streamed from Netflix,” said Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Netflix. “The availability of Netflix right on the Wii Menu adds significantly to the ease and convenience that attracts our members to the Netflix streaming experience and is an important step in our efforts to continuously improve the service.”
Wii offers consumers the most fun right out of the box. Precision motion controls, online access and great games are all included at no extra charge. For a suggested retail price of just $199.99 ($209.99 in Canada), Wii owners get:
- The Wii console, Wii Sports™, Wii Sports Resort™, a Wii Remote™ controller, a Wii MotionPlus™ accessory and a Nunchuk™ controller
- Access* to hundreds of downloadable games in the Wii Shop Channel, including original games like World of Goo and classic games from the NES™, Super NES™ and Nintendo 64™ eras
- Access* to a variety of entertainment and informational channels, including the Nintendo® Channel, which provides information about current and upcoming Wii and Nintendo DS™ games
- Access* to streaming Netflix movies and TV shows
The Netflix service has been available on the Wii console in the United States since April 12, 2010, and in Canada since Sept. 22, 2010. For more information about how to stream Netflix through a Wii console, visit http://www.netflix.com/wii or http://www.netflix.ca/wii.
Remember that Wii and Netflix feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://wii.com and http://www.netflix.com.
* Broadband Internet connection required. Netflix streaming requires Netflix subscription.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.4 billion video games and more than 565 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.
Note to editors: Nintendo press materials are available at press.nintendo.com, a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please contact Deanna Talamantez at 213-438-8742 or dtalamantez@golinharris.com. Users can receive instant Nintendo information by subscribing to the site’s RSS feed.
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With the Nintendo Switch recently getting a YouTube app and people curious about when the console will get Netflix, it’s easy to forget that a previous Nintendo console included the ability to watch Netflix. That console? The original Wii.
In 2012, the PlayStation 3 became the device most used to watch Netflix. In spring 2010, Netflix service became available on the Wii. The service allows the console to stream content in a user's Instant. Netflix originally offered a Wii Instant Streaming Disc free of charge to all Netflix members. In October 2010, they announced a new version downloadable from the Wii Shop Channel and made the discs obsolete. The announcement on Netflix's website states: 'Unfortunately, Nintendo will suspend all video streaming services on Wii - including the Netflix Channel - after January 30, 2019 ' It looks like.
Sadly, it looks like Nintendo is ending that functionality in the coming months.
According to emails sent out to some Netflix subscribers that stream through the Nintendo Wii, the service will come to an end in January 2019.
Unfortunately, Nintendo will suspend all video streaming services on Wii—including the Netflix Channel—after January 31, 2019. We hope you’ll soon enjoy an even better Netflix experience with additional features on a supported device. Please visit netflix.com/wii for our device list.
What does Netflix mean by an “an even better experience?”
Watch Netflix Via Wii Bundle
While some people think that line is some sort of obscure hint to an upcoming Nintendo Switch Netflix app, that is most likely not the case. Instead, it is probably referring to the resolution that the 12-year-old console can provide.
With the Wii, the best streaming resolution you can get is 480p. On newer TVs, this resolution can be extremely off-putting and with streaming devices like Roku available for less than $100, upgrading your streaming device shouldn’t put too much of a strain on the wallet.
Watch Netflix Via Wii Switch
That being said, hopefully, Nintendo is still entertaining a Netflix app on its console, but time will tell on that.
How To Download Netflix On Wii
Are you upset to hear about the Wii support being ended? Let us know in the comments below.