Amazon has announced today that its video streaming service, Instant Video, has launched today for Wii consoles across the US. The app can be found in the Wii Shop Channel, and subscribers of the service will gain access to over 145,000 movies, TV shows and documentaries. Prime customers are able to watch over 30,000 of these videos at no extra cost.
Similar to popular service Netflix, Amazon's offering provides simple navigation with Recently Watched, Watchlist and Genre Recommendations. The Parental Controls feature allows you to manage age appropriate content, as well as searching specific kids categories by age.
Duncan Orrell-Jones, Senior Vice President of Network Business at Nintendo of America, said:
Since it arrived in November of 2006, Wii has been a cultural phenomenon. With more than 40 million units purchased in the U.S. alone, the addition of Amazon Instant Video means more choice across a significant portion of the American entertainment landscape.
The application launched for the Wii U in November, so it's good to see Amazon bring it to its predecessor. Will you download this app for the Wii? Let us know in the comment section below.
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[source nintendoeverything.com, via amazon.com]
Comments 21
Awesome! Now I can... not watch the videos I bought on Amazon Instant on my Wii because I moved to a country that Amazon doesn't want me to watch them in. If it weren't for that little problem, I'd be downloading this as soon as possible.
Don't ya think its a little late for that?
I already have it on my Wii U, so no thanks..
Unfortunately we don't have this in Europe.
You could DL it for the extra CN coins
Maybe now is the time to transfer my Wii VC & Wiiware to the Wii U...
This would free up my Wii to be a dedicated Netflix, You Tube & Amazon Prime box for my bedroom. Very tough call still though.
Yay, more playing catchup for the Wii. This service, just like YouTube, has already been on the PS3.
@bezerker99 Of course. Sony needs to do everything they can to distract people from the games they make.
@Gamesake Sony has by far had the best exclusives of this gen.
@Svengoolie - Don't mind Gamesake he hates anything and everything Sony.
@Svengoolie Clone games are never the best.
@Splat I don't hate Sony. I hate mediocre games, DRM, and $600 consoles. I guess that's kind of the same thing as hating Sony though.
@Gamesake I dunno about all that. I've seen (and own) some pretty great games on my PS3 and I purchased it brand new for $199 from Best Buy. I also purchased the Move controllers and the Sharpshooter with Killzone 3 and Resistance 3 for next-to-nothing as well. I might have $325 tied up in the whole "bundle". I can't really address your DRM issue as I'm not entirely sure what you're issue is there.
Finally, I've been waiting for this!
is this free service?
I'd watch Amazon Instant more, but it seems like every time I look at their selection, there's a ton of overlap with Netflix Instant.
Orla, why is your article about Amazon Instant when the topic is Sony's PS3 exclusives? Wait I'm confused.
(For my money, the PSN store seems like the best part of Sony's console; I'm bummed I've missed out on Journey, Everyday Shooter, Pixeljunk, and more...)
@dustin_g No. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can watch quite a bit for no additional cost. For everything else, you can pay by the episode/series/movie to watch.
@RevolverLink
Umm, their titles come out before Netflix or Redbox.
Wont be downloading this myself for one thing I dont have this service and another thing my Wii is not hooked up to a TV now.
@Magi Not many console gamers are conscious about DRM. I'm talking about things like SecuROM, PSN, and Sony's latest endeavor. It's seems like anything that keeps you from playing your games--Sony has a hand in it. And $199 certainly wasn't PS3's starting price. A console should be affordable right from the start, not years later. Overpricing consoles is something Sony is still doing with the PS Vita (it costs more than you paid for your discounted PS3 and that's before you add a proprietary memory card into the mix). Maybe in a few more years when they cut the price it will start selling. That is, if anyone wants one at all.
@Gamesake I have a PSP that collects dust. Sometimes I use it as a doorstop........(not Really) just being funny LOL I'm not kidding about the big dust bunnies though.
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