North American Wii to gain video distribution in 2010?
updated 01:00 pm EDT, Mon September 28, 2009
May compete with offerings from Sony, Microsoft
Nintendo is planning to expand its Wii-based video distribution service to reach outside of Japan, according to a regional business publication. The suggested expansion (subscription required) would begin as soon as Nintendo's next fiscal year, and likely involve places such as North America and South Korea. Content is expected to parallel offerings in Japan, in the sense of providing inoffensive cartoons, educational programs and general entertainment. Also present may be ads, possibly including full-length infomercials.
It is unknown if Nintendo will offer paid videos internationally, as it is planning to do in Japan starting in November. Such a move would put the company in direct competition with Sony and Microsoft, which sell downloads through the PlayStation Network and the Xbox Live Marketplace, respectively. The Wii is much less video-centric however, being unable to play HD media or even load DVDs. An HD-capable Wii could be released in 2011.
