Nintendo are to launch a television channel that will be exclusive to Wii console users.
The game maker is eager to capitalise on the worldwide success of their family-friendly device, which has sold 34.6million copies since its launch in 2006.
The Wiinoma channel will deliver video-on-demand to households that have the console and an internet connection.
Cartoons, quizzes and educational shows will be produced exclusively for the channel by the Japanese advertising agency Dentsu.
Although most programmes will be offered for free and accompanied by Dentsu adverts, some of the content will be pay-per-view.
Customers would be able to pay through the existing Wii Point payment system used to currently pay for some games.
The service will first be offered in Japan next year and if a success a global roll-out if expected to follow.
TV executives fear the new channel will help the Wii become the 'centrepiece of the living room'.
This would be 'the stuff of television producers' nightmares', an executive at Fuji Television, Japan's biggest commercial broadcaster, told The Times.
Promoted as a console for all the family, the Wii uses infrared sensors and a unique special remote that picks up physical gestures. It is used to simulate active games such as Wii Ski and Wii Tennis.
The Wii TV will join a small collection of 'channels' already offered on the console. These include the News channel with headlines and current events taken from the internet and the Everybody Votes channel, where uses can pose questions of answer one of the opinion polls.
The Wii console can already be used to watch BBC iPlayer shows but this will be the first time that programmes have been created exclusively for a games console channel.
Source : http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/
