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More on Nintendo's New TV Service for Wii U

By Jorge Ba-oh (jb)

9105 on 13.09.2012 at 17:00

Amongst all the games shown during Nintendo's North American presentation today, the company revealed a new TV service.

In a bid to continue a shift towards digital entertainment, Nintendo confirmed a service that combines various providers into a nifty television app christened TVii.

Players will be able to scroll through programme listings, view tailored-made suggestions and see what other folk are into - which could lead to some interesting revelations, ooh-er! For certain live shows and sporting events, Wii U users will be able to post commentary, engage with fellow viewers and look up detailed stats in a single unified interface.

The service and functionality will be free, but it will likely depend on the individual providers for certain features, which currently are Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon.

Currently a US-only feature, it's likely that similar, localised services will eventually become available in other regions.

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Stulaw on 13.09.2012 at 17:12#1

I hope TVii comes over to the UK, looks pretty nifty and I think I'd end up using it.

Stuart Lawrence
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Sonic_13 on 13.09.2012 at 17:12#2

I am really excited for Nintendo TVii.
The integrated service really took me by surprise. We obviously knew from E3 that it was going to stream Netflix/Hulu/Amazon, but the way they have packaged it all together is impressive.

IkeFE on 13.09.2012 at 17:34#3

Sounds cool! The image pops in my head... a tennis match and on the Upad, comments are scrolling up like a stream feed. The option to limit the comments to friends only is there, as well as the option to switch to a game on Upad or another channel(though that would be kind of asking for too much in my head).

Sonic_13 on 13.09.2012 at 17:35#4

IkeFE said:
Sounds cool! The image pops in my head... a tennis match and on the Upad, comments are scrolling up like a stream feed. The option to limit the comments to friends only is there, as well as the option to switch to a game on Upad or another channel(though that would be kind of asking for too much in my head).

Live TV isn't played through the Wii U, so you could switch to a game on the Game Pad (or change channels with the Game Pad.

TAG on 13.09.2012 at 21:36#5

Seems interesting. Just to make sure I understand it, the WiiU itself is not providing you with TV channels. TV channels still come from you cable company or whatever. The WiiU adds a layer to that, though, so that you can you have some kind of interaction between friends who also have a WiiU. Right?

I wonder how this will work if we don't have cable. Probably not at all, I'd guess. I think the WiiU uses the universal TV remote feature to "tune in" to TV shows, so no TV subscription means no TV show. I'm speculating a little, though.

Less and less people are subscribing to cable TV, especially younger folks. Money is tight and cable TV isn't at all necessary when there's so much available on demand over the internet. I assume this is an attempt to keep and gain cable subscribers. It's a nice feature, but I'd rather stream TV channels through my WiiU using my internet connection. It doesn't even have to be on demand.

*Edit*
I read a little bit more about it. Apparently you have to enter in your cable subscriber information on the WiiU. Does that mean it's streaming through WiiU via internet?

( Edited 13.09.2012 22:39 by TAG )

TAG: That American Guy

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18

Sonic_13 on 15.09.2012 at 04:11#6

TAG said:
I read a little bit more about it. Apparently you have to enter in your cable subscriber information on the WiiU. Does that mean it's streaming through WiiU via internet?

No. The Game Pad merely acts as a universal remote. Television works as normal with your cable box.
When you press the button to watch a show on Live TV it sends an IR signal to your TV to change the input and channel.

TAG on 15.09.2012 at 07:58#7

Sonic_13 said:
TAG said:
I read a little bit more about it. Apparently you have to enter in your cable subscriber information on the WiiU. Does that mean it's streaming through WiiU via internet?

No. The Game Pad merely acts as a universal remote. Television works as normal with your cable box.
When you press the button to watch a show on Live TV it sends an IR signal to your TV to change the input and channel.

OK. That's what I was thinking originally, but entering your TV subscription information confused me. I guess it's there so the WiiU knows what TV channels you have access to and what shows are playing. It all makes sense now.