Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2009/01/05/wiinoma/

Wiinoma: TV for your Wii

Gamers to get more entertainment

By James Sherwood

Posted in Personal Tech, 5th January 2009 10:19 GMT

Gamers growing tired of the Wii’s videogame selection will soon be able to shun gaming altogether, because more details about Nintendo’s upcoming Wii TV service have emerged.

Rumoured to be called Wiinoma, according to a report by The Times, the free and on-demand service will allow Wii owners to access TV programmes through the console’s web connection.

Initially, content will be focused around cartoons, brain-training quizzes, cookery shows, educational telly and lifestyle shows, according to the report. So, for the time being, raunchy late-night films and football coverage may be out of the question.

Nintendo announced plans to create the service late last year, but has said very little about how the console's telly scheme will work.

It’s thought that Wiinoma will be launched in Japan later this year. Nintendo will partner with Japanese advertising firm Dentsu to fund Wiinoma through in-programme advertising.

A Japanese rollout may just be a test bed for the service, though. Because several additional online news sources have reported that the TV service will be expanded into other regions by the end of 2009. ®