This week’s Wii U Preview Event saw a surprise console software addition. Zach Fountain, Nintendo of America Director of Network Business, and Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime showcased Nintendo TVii on the Wii U console at a press conference in New York. They revealed how the Wii U is set to change the way people interact with their games, their TVs and each other when it launches across the Americas and Canada on November 18 this year.
Nintendo TVii is an application that will let Wii U owners in the United States and Canada find, watch and engage with their favorite video entertainment in fun new ways. Using the touch-screen GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii lets viewers seamlessly explore available video content from a variety of sources – including live TV, their TiVo DVR and video-on-demand services such as Netflix – all in one easy-to-use interface.
Using the touch screen on the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii users will be able to browse programming from sources they subscribe to, including cable and satellite channels, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube and even their recorded TiVo shows – all from a single starting point. And as you watch, via the Wii U GamePad you can check out what else is on, find TV/Movie IMDB references and Wikipedia info, check sports stats, or share your opinion on Facebook and Twitter.
Watch the Nintendo TVii Trailer:
For more clarification on how exactly Nintendo TVii works, you can watch the Nintendo TVii presentation on that page link at 18 minutes in.
Very interesting how easy TVii makes it to browse TV and Internet sources, once setup there’s no more confusion in the household over multiple remotes lying around! 🙂 That said, for the rest of the world it’s a big bummer the Nintendo TVii application only works in America & Canada. There isn’t even Netflix in most European countries, and the Australasian region is missing the service too.