Netflix on Nintendo Wii is Now Available to Everyone

From: http://mashable.com/


Do you have a Nintendo Wii and a Netflix account? If so, you can now stream Netflix Watch Instantly’s entire library of TV and film content to your TV using your console’s Wi-Fi connection. You’ll need to order a disc from Netflix to do it, but that disc is shipping to anyone who wants it now; previously it was available to only a select few.

Log into your account and go to Netflix.com/Wii, then tap the “Send the FREE Disc!” button and your disc will be on its way, just like any other Netflix disc. You’ll get to keep this one because you’ll need to put it into the console any time you want to watch movies online.

Sony’s PlayStation 3 uses a similar method, but Netflix is integrated into the software of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console — no disc required. Also note that unlike those machines the Wii is only capable of standard definition video, so you won’t be able to enjoy Netflix in high definition.

That won’t matter to millions of Netflix users, however. The Wii is more popular than either the PlayStation 3 or the Xbox 360 despite its lack of high definition; some people just don’t care that much about HD. Netflix’s web player doesn’t do HD either, so it’s not like Wii owners are missing out on something essential to the Netflix experience.

Update: We’ll note as some of our readers have that Netflix streaming on the Wii is not available to users outside the U.S. We didn’t mention this initially because Netflix does not offer any service at all outside the U.S., but clarification never hurts. Netflix has announced that it plans to launch streaming service in one other country later this year, but further details haven’t been revealed yet.