Video Distribution Service Comes to Wii

Last week, Dentsu Inc announced that it has teamed up with Nintendo to launch a video distribution service for the Wii console.

Dentsu Inc., the largest advertisement agency in Japan, said that the two companies plan to offer specific programs for the upcoming service rather than copy existing services currently provided by Microsoft (Xbox 360) and Sony (PlayStation 3). But while Wii owners won't see blockbuster movies and episodes of their favorite television series, there will be premium, ad-free content to suck up valuable Wii Points along with free programs accompanied by advertisements.

So if the Wii will not offer TV shows and movies, then what will the service provide? Strangely enough, neither Nintendo or Dentsu Inc. have decided just what exactly will be available, however there was mention that cartoons and "other entertainment content" will be distributed when the service launches. According to Dentsu Inc., the new video distribution service will kick off next year in Japan, however there was no mention of the video service finding its way overseas.

"Nintendo and Dentsu shall use the environment surrounding the Wii so that living rooms with Wii-ready TVs would become more of a fun area for communication among families and friends," both companies said in a joint statement.

Currently the Nintendo Wii offers exclusive, video content via the Nintendo Channel, offering game trailers, in-game footage, gaming tips, interviews, and other cool Nintendo-based shows. And while the Nintendo Wii currently outsells Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3, both competitors provide mainstream content including movies, television episodes that consumers can rent or even purchase and download for keeps. Recently Microsoft integrated Netflix software into the new Xbox 360 interface (aka NXE), allowing members to access the rental service through the console and stream the content.

Although Sony and Microsoft offers mainstream content, they don't offer a means to order food through the console (thanks Kotaku). In addition to the upcoming video service, Nintendo has teamed up with online food ordering service Demae-Can to provide Wii owners means of ordering pizza (Domino's in fact), burgers, sushi and more through a Food Delivery Channel. For consumers who can't choose, the channel will even offer a roulette mode and picks a random meal. Orders will also be delivered in 30 minutes or less.

According to Nintendo, the channel launches in Spring 2009 in Japan. There's no mention that anything of this nature will hit North American shores.