When Nintendo announced the Wii U release date at a press event back in 2012, a key feature that was given a fair amount of time was TVii. The service works as a hub to bring together various networks and TV services into one app, utilising the GamePad and some interactive elements in a bid to be intuitive and interesting for viewers to use. Live in Japan and North America, the latter region in particular still has occasional competitions and events - normally promoted through social media - that utilise the service.
TVii has never made it to Europe, however, as the logistical challenge of dealing with different satellite / cable TV networks in each country and producing a cohesive product was clearly a challenge. Frankly, here at Nintendo Life we'd come to the stage where we assumed it would never be active in the EU; Nintendo of Europe has now put everyone in the region out of their misery by confirming that the service is cancelled.
The full statement is below.
At Nintendo of Europe, we continue to challenge ourselves to develop a range of entertaining experiences for all to enjoy. Due to the extremely complex nature of localising multiple television services across a diverse range of countries with varied licensing systems, regrettably we have taken the decision not to launch the Nintendo TVii service within the European region. Although on this occasion we did not anticipate such challenges, we will always strive to develop a range of entertaining experiences for all our users to enjoy.
With this in mind, Nintendo of Europe has launched the Nintendo Anime Channel, a new video-on-demand service on Nintendo 3DS which offers users the chance to stream anime series from the likes of Pokémon, Kirby, and Inazuma Eleven. New content will be added regularly and access to this service is granted simply by downloading a free application from Nintendo eShop.
It seems a little odd to cite the Nintendo Anime Channel as some kind of peace offering, as it's on 3DS not Wii U, and is focused on streaming specific animated TV series.
In any case, this is no real surprise - for Europeans TVii will forever be the Wii U feature that got away.
Thanks to all that sent this in.
[source nintendo.co.uk]
Comments 95
Oh, I forgot that existed.
I'm not surprised, but still disappointed. I don't know why Nintendo UK can't try and utilise it here though.
About time.
Now just remove the button from the Wii U menu. You shouldn't have non-functioning buttons on the system.
I live in America and I personally used tvii only once and that was when I got my wiiu. I wish the anime channel came over here.
@Baker1000 Honestly don't care anymore but would like iPlayer and 4od at some point.
Oh well. Wouldn't have used it anyways.
I can't say I saw the point. BBC iPlayer is coming this year and we have Crunchy Roll and Netflix and Youtube channels, etc. so I think the non-gaming entertainment is covered, though bringing the Nintendo Anime channel to Wii U seems like an obvious thing to do.
And yes, please do remove the button for it and let us customise the buttons!
Sooo why aint the anime channel on the Wii U? This is just poor form all around. Then again it is Nintendo of Europe we're dealing with so it's not really a shock.
@whodatninja Could be licensing reasons, I remember that the GBA video cartridges were not compatible with Game Boy Player for that reason alone.
Was this ever really functional? ... tried to use it a few times, but could never get it running ... but that could just be me ^^"
Put Nintendo Anime Channel on the Wii U then.
eh i was not fan of this app, imo i watch netflix if i wanted watch tv on my console.
Nothing to be missed, it has nothing to do with gaming, anyway.
I've never actually used the app, it's no real loss to Europeans.
Europe is not missing out. Nintendo said it was the most non-Nintendo thing the company has ever done when they announced it, and as you're well aware, Nintendo is good. Doing something that isn't Nintendo-y is therefore bad. The service was actually very helpful and cool when the system first launched, but a while back they released an update that supposedly made it a lot better, but in fact made it nearly unusable. I wouldn't be surprised if they shut off the service completely, it's a waste of server space.
Well at least the Wii U isn't lacking or gimped in any other...
Why on earth can't Nintendo just reach out to broadcasters and ask for them to provide catch up tv apps.
People can then pick and choose which apps they want.
You guys aren't missing out on anything. Seriously, the TVii app doesn't do anything, it's just lists schedules for TV shows, which you can already do on your TV.
^
Not missing much. The best thing about it is slow sports feed during games and the occasional contest to watching something.
All it really does it tell you what TV shows are coming up, and which services such as Netflix the TV show is available on. You can't actually watch anything on it
I am seriously miffed about this. Not unexpected that it is cancelled after all this time but TVii was one of the reasons why the Wii U appealed to me. Very disappointing news and no, i'm not going to watch some lame kiddie stuff instead.
Don't care, I have Netflix.
Not surprised, not bothered. But, please understand, you need to remove the button.
While I could not see myself using it, I think it's quite disappointing that Nintendo was unable to launch the service in Europe. Heck, in Australia of all places, many of the Australian TV networks and other services are available on Sony and Microsoft's systems. It would have been nice if the Wii U had the same, if for no other reason than to be able to boast a more diverse multimedia feature set.
I suppose that this means that the service has also been cancelled for Australia by extension.
@ALinkttPresent ''Doing something that isn't Nintendo-y is therefore bad'' That's the most faboyist thing I have read here.
What about South America!? We exist Nintendo!
Finally Now, remove the icon.
I'm gonna turn it into the "PIZZA" button. Just press-n-poof-pizza!
@Kaze_Memaryu
My thoughts exactly
I guess the idea was a bit too ambitious. But I still think it could have been something, had they put more energy and thought into the concept.
Sorry for those in Europe. Honestly though, you're really not missing much. I tried to use it in the states, and I could never get it to work properly.
Used it a couple times to try it out, hasnt worked properly since July. Meh, I just use the channel guide on my cable co. issued DVR...
Perhaps they could utilise the icon as a shortcut to iPlayer, 4od etc...
@Mk_II I kind of gave up after so long waiting. I am disappointed, it was actually one of the reasons I got a Wii U too - thinking it would be just something else you could use the console for. When they said last year, oh its definitely coming soon - and then this. Crazy
It's not a big loss to you guys,its really not that great. I wish they would take it off...
Well, I've never used this feature but my wii u is used for Netflix daily. We don't watch much regular tv to need this feature.
Not too fussed, as long as they remove that stupid icon soon.
They could've told us sooner though.
Now I hope Nintendo of Europe removes the pointless icon on the Wii U menu and home menu!
No loss - I just wish Nintendo gave their OS UI a redesign. The quick start screen is much cleaner and more modern in appearance, they need to bring the rest into line with this.
I've literally never figured out how to get this working.
Shame! I, for one, was looking forward to the TVii service. Although it wasn't a system seller, it was one reason I was looking forward to the WiiU. I find the anime channel "peace offering" (NintendoLife's words) frustrating as for the reason they cited. I don't intend on downloading it to the 3DS as it'll take up needed space and i'll never intend to watch it there. I'd want it for the WiiU. I hope they bring it to the WiiU in due course.
Nintendo TVii service? What's that again? Oh yeah... Now i remember. It's that one thing on my Wii U Menu that never actually did anything right?
Europe, you're really not missing much. TVii is little more than a channel listings guide on the gamepad. And it's kind of laggy.
@dadajo
Me too. maybe they might put it on next week in the US/NA along with Pokemon shuffle and also with donkey kong land 1 but that is hopeful thinking at best. NOA get on this now.
@BensonUii
YES in US/NA and pal regions with a option to buy a episode from there to keep for 1.99 or so.This is for 3ds and wii u in NA/US region and wii u in PAL regions.
Eh, it's not worth the fuss. I never really used it
Good. It's 'bout time! Now can you please remove that stupid icon from my system Nintendo?
Dear European Nintendo Fans.... you're not missing anything. This app literally does nothing.
The cool thing I liked about TVii was how you could annotate while you watch and make real time comments. Problem is, nobody else was ever using it here in the US aside from the occasional straggler or new Wii U owner testing the features. Idk, maybe it's more popular here but I doubt it.
I'll give em an A for effort though. Least they tried to branch out a little. All good experience for next time.
The original Nintendo TVii that was on the Wii U when it launched was actually kinda awesome. Then they went and changed everything up and I really don't use it that much anymore.
I completely forgot it existed. Then again, I live in America, so this doesn't really affect me.
Really annoyed that this takes up a spot on the coveted home menu! I mean, we could be Wii U chat-ing without ending the game if that useless icon wasn't hogging RAM!
FAILURE! I guess we will soon see a update that removes the tvii icon, lol.
I never gave a damn about the TVii app. I'd rather have the Nintendo Anime Channel in America, or at least have the shows available on Netflix.
Poor apology that's come far too late in the day. Are we honestly meant to believe that they've had significant resources committed to developing this up until very recently? Then they have the gall to say 'don't worry, you can have this other, unrelated thing, on a different product, to make up for it'.
An app that incorporated iPlayer, 4od, etc. I thought was a great idea and something to look forward to when buying the console in 2012. I'd long since given up on it ever arriving but to tell me I can have something else, that I have no interest in, if I go out and buy a 3DS, is insulting.
I want a refund!
I'm not interested in the home console doitall. I just want it to be awesome at playing games. I was never interested in tvii anyway.
@cornishlee agreed. Anime stuff that is not for everybody either, I had a look but not my thing
@heathenmagic Now heathenmagic, you should be well used to Nintendo by now. They make great software but as for 'multimedia' they do not have a clue what they are doing and when they do it's always to a lower standard compared to every other company out there.
@Henmii I hate those poorly design icons along the bottom of the UI. They appear completely out of place.
Haha yes I should have learned by now.Oh well, I still have PlayTV for TV channel on my PS3, although it messes up quite a bit now.
Good to see Nintendo finally retreating to their safe zone.
I think the nintendo anime channel is excellent. My son loves it too and it has a lot of potential. They could add all nintendo licenced animation, including captain N, mario bros, extend that to the sonic cartoons and it should also be good to use this to air Sonic Boom in this country seen as nobody has picked it up yet and it's exclusive to nintendo.
If they added NowTV, Netflix and Amazon tv apps to both wii u and 3ds this would render TVii pointless and present your gamepad/3ds as an excellent entertainment hub, so much so that I'd pit a wii u in every room over the ps3's
What a lame resolution...
I hope they remove stupid button from the menu soon now that TVii is finally put out of it's misery.
The Nintendo Anime Channel is ok start, but misses a lot of shows that should be there. Also it is highly annoying that the Japanese voice tracks are not possible to be chosen. Same for subtitles, there are none, except during Inazuma Eleven's intro song.
They need to add A) more shows B) Japanese language tracks C) English subtitles D) make the channel for Wii U also.
@Kolzig given the available content, the apps and logo's bright colours. Its aimed at younger audience so unlikely to have sub's (and by extension japanese dubs) as for more content I doubt they'll branch off out of Nintendo related content as this would annoy crunchyroll. The test would be Bayonetta's anime its Nintendo related (as much as inazuma is) and not for kids. If they can get on it on there then there's hopes for the rest
No loss for Europeans at all. I spent several hours trying to get it to work before finding out that It simply doesn't in my region, regardless of how I try to configure it. If they can't make it work in Canada's limited market I can't imagine them getting it to work across all of Europe.
Neat idea that was ultimately a failure and a waste. Having an option to remove the button would be awesome. Until then it's just another ignored "feature".
^ I got it to work in Canada after 15 mins of setting it up.
It was kinda cool to mess around with for a bit, but I already have a channel guide and whatnot on my television. I didn't need to use the gamepad to tell me what was on...
I haven't actively watched any tv in... months. Save for South Park, there hasn't been anything that could hold my attention long enough. So it's no real loss for me.
I just realised that in 2+ years of owning my Wii-U, I've never once entered the app. I just logged in and it's a mess. Just delete it already. Unnecessary app IMO.
I can see them getting in some legal trouble with this as it was a selling point for the console. similar to the online functions of the ps vita.
I tried this once and it was so laggy and buggy that I never tried it again.
I just wanted that Pokemon TV app to come to Wii U.....
@sarethums They will hardly get into any legal trouble for this. They are not removing anything, they are simply saying that it got scrapped. Truth be told they never gave any release date for Europe anyway, so good luck proving in any court that a vaguely hinted (at best) TV schedule app was the reason you bought the gaming system.
Now to remove that non-functional button and we're all good.
I really liked using to keep up on my Buffalo Bills games.
I don't even think people here in the States even used this feature.
With all the downgrade it went through since launch like no more online video streaming support (Netflix, Hulu, etc) and still no DVR remote feature, you guys and gals won't miss a thing.
Acording to BBC the iplayer for wii u is in final testing!
Lost 3rd party support, pulled completely out of Brazil, and TVii dumped in Europe because it was useless in the US and Japan. What's next on the chopping block?
I'm thinking Quality of Life after Nintendo spends all of E3 this year trying to promote it to an audience that couldn't care less because they're paying attention to E3 for games.
This was the main reason I bought a WiiU.
Glad I sold it last month. It has done nothing but disappoint me.
Who cares!
No need anyways. I'm feeling the new WII will be coming forth very soon.... letting out other options for other players like in EUrope canceling? If the console would last an other 5 years i'm sure they would put some effort to release in Europe. This says enough
@kifa im not trying to prove anything. For me this function was not relevant to me. Im only stating that Nintendo are in a similar situation as Sony was when their online capabilities were cancelled. Here is an article http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/business-blog/2014/11/game-over-ftc-challenges-sonys-claims-playstation-vita. It was worse for Sony as they focused more on this feature than Nintendo did with the tv service.
@sarethums Nintendo will not be challenged. As soon as they announce a non gaming feature their fans and every one else expect it to be rubbish and completely devoid of usability. Sony on the other hand - you expect quality.
@Alucard83 TV and multimedia in general is too much for Nintendo. I'm just greatful they are online.
Would it be too much to ask for there to be 4 on demand, demand 5 and ITV player. And I still find it unacceptable that EVERY other current gen consoles, which launched after the Wii U, get the BBC Iplayer before the Wii U. And to think the Wii was the first one to get the Iplayer in the last gen.
for you looking for the original gamecube adapter:
http://bit.ly/1DeuKkM
GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U (japan import)
Put the Anime Channel on the Wii U as well and you Europeans are better off, believe me. TVii is pointless.
Nintendo shouldn't promise things they can't deliver. Trying to cover this news up with the Anime Channel on 3DS is also insulting.
Just give us BBC Iplayer and ITV player.
Can we remove its icon please??
@Baker1000 They probably couldn't make a deal with enough TV providers in Europe... They were able to work out deals with all the major channels in the US..... shrug, I use it for searching Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime all at the same time (And I think there is one more TV service that's offered I'm not thinking about about right now)
lets be honest here people, who really used this service anyway?
@Mk_II Use netflix. Also TVii has no actual shows unless you have some streaming account like amazon prime or netflix. and both are on wii u.
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