Movies, TV Episodes Streamed Instantly from Netflix Headed to Nintendos Wii Console This Spring

January 13, 2010

Movies, TV Episodes Streamed
Instantly from Netflix Headed to Nintendo’s Wii Console This Spring

Millions of U.S. Wii Owners Will
Have the Opportunity to Access the World’s Largest Online Movie Rental Service

Nintendo of America Inc. and Netflix,
Inc. today announced an agreement that will allow Netflix members who are also
owners of Nintendo’s Wii home console to instantly watch thousands of movies and
TV episodes streamed from Netflix directly to their TVs. Netflix is scheduled to
go live on the Wii console this spring in the United States at no additional
cost to Netflix members who have a plan starting at $8.99 a month, a Wii console
and a broadband Internet connection.

The partnership between the two
companies will extend the reach of content streamed from Netflix farther than
ever before, thanks to the mainstream popularity of the Wii console. Wii remains
the fastest-selling home console in history, and reaches more consumers than any
other device that currently supports streaming movies from Netflix. In December
2009, Nintendo sold well in excess of 3 million Wii consoles in the United
States. Wii is the top-selling home video game system of this generation, and as
such brings the Netflix experience to a broad and diverse mass market.

“Our research shows that 86 percent
of all U.S. Wii consoles are located in the living room,” said Nintendo of
America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “The Wii console is the social hub around
which friends and family members gather to play games and have fun. Soon both
new and longtime Wii owners will enjoy the benefits of Netflix – and a variety
of informational and entertainment options – by being Netflix members and
connecting their consoles to the Internet.”

“Our goal is to offer Netflix
members as many ways as possible to watch movies and TV episodes streamed from
Netflix right to their TVs and to give non-members more and compelling reasons
to consider the service,” said Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings.
“Joining forces with Nintendo, which has been so immensely popular with
consumers since its introduction, is a very meaningful step in that direction.”

With 11.1 million U.S. subscribers
as of Sept. 30, 2009, Netflix continues to expand the ways in which its members
can watch movies and TV shows streamed directly to TVs via a range of Netflix-ready
devices such as the Wii console. Netflix memberships start as low as $8.99 a
month, and members also can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their
homes. At the same time, consumers continue to demonstrate a preference for Wii
consoles, which offer tremendous value, whether measured in fun games, shared
experiences or the suggested retail price of just $199.99.

To enable their systems to stream
content from Netflix, Wii owners will need a Netflix instant-streaming disc for
the Wii console, which will be available at no additional cost to Netflix
subscribers. The free disc looks and operates the same as a disc-based Wii game,
and the entire user experience will feel natural and intuitive to Wii console
owners. Netflix members and Wii console owners can now reserve a free
instant-streaming disc by going to
www.netflix.com/Wii.
Once available in the spring, the discs will be delivered for free by
first-class mail.

When the instant-streaming disc is
inserted into a member’s Wii system, an array of movie and TV choices will be
displayed right on their TV screen. These titles will be conveniently organized
into a variety of categories based on members’ personal preferences and will
include popular genres, new arrivals and members’ individual instant Queues.
Using the Wii Remote controller, members will be able to choose a movie or TV
episode to watch from their instant Queues or pick one directly from any of the
lists. They will also have the ability to read synopses and rate movies, and
will have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding their selection.

Netflix adds another dimension to
the Wii console’s diverse online features, which range from downloadable new and
classic games in the Wii Shop Channel, to online multiplayer gaming with games
like Mario Kart Wii, to video highlights and information about titles for the
Wii and Nintendo DS systems via the Nintendo Channel.