News
Nintendo TVii Launches December 20
REDMOND, Wash.--(December
19, in the year of our Lord 2012)-- The company that
changed how we play is about to change how we watch. On Dec. 20,
Nintendo will introduce Nintendo TVii, a free, integrated
service for the recently launched Wii U console that combines
what you watch and how you watch into one seamless,
second-screen experience on the revolutionary new Wii U GamePad
controller.
The rapid increase in both the quality and availability of video
entertainment content – hundreds of satellite and cable
channels, a seemingly endless amount of video-on-demand options
– has made finding something to watch a complex and occasionally
frustrating process. The solution to this problem is coming from
perhaps an unexpected place: a video game console.
“After Dec. 20, you’ll never look at your TV the same way
again,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie
Fils-Aime. “Wii U owners have already experienced the
transformative effect that the GamePad has on game play and
social interaction. Nintendo TVii shows how the integrated
second screen of the GamePad can also transform and enhance the
TV viewing experience. Welcome to the new world of TVii.”
Nintendo TVii maximizes Wii U owners’ current cable, satellite
and video-on-demand services by pulling all of their available
content sources – such as a Comcast cable package or Hulu Plus
subscription – into one place. This empowers Wii U owners to
focus on what they want to watch and not how they want to watch.
And once users find the show, sporting event or movie they want,
they press an icon and Nintendo TVii does the rest.
In addition to greatly simplifying finding and watching video
content, Nintendo TVii also includes a series of social features
that enable Wii U owners to share experiences and exciting
moments with friends as they are happening on live TV. People
can engage with others by commenting and sharing on Miiverse,
Facebook and Twitter. Or they can comment, post or tweet about
an incredible touchdown, a remarkable performance or a shocking
plot twist, all using the personal screen of the Wii U GamePad.
Nintendo TVii requires no additional equipment and can be
enjoyed with very little setup, demonstrating what’s possible
when the second screen is truly integrated with the TV. Wii U
owners can also discover more information about what they’re
watching by easily accessing information on the GamePad via an
Internet connection, including cast details, movie reviews from
Rotten Tomatoes and sports data such as live stats and scores.
Nintendo TVii launches in the United States and Canada on Dec.
20. At launch, the service will support cable and satellite
providers in both regions, as well as direct integration with
Amazon Instant Video and Hulu Plus subscriptions in the United
States. Further integration with Netflix subscriptions and TiVo
are expected in early 2013 in the United States. Wii U owners
with a Netflix subscription can still access the Netflix
application from the Wii U system’s main menu and enjoy their
favorite content accordingly.
All elements of the Nintendo TVii service are included in the
purchase price of the Wii U system. Users will define which
services they currently subscribe to – including the channel
lineup in their cable package and video-on-demand service
subscriptions – as part of the setup process.
Nintendo TVii observes the Wii U system parental controls, and
additional options specific to the Nintendo TVii features can be
chosen in the Nintendo TVii settings. Every member of the family
can create a different viewing profile. For more information
about this and other features, visit
http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu.
NOTE: Additional costs for the cable, satellite, and other
services are not covered by Nintendo or the Wii U. Families have
to pay for those services for TVii to be of any use.