wii

Netflix is set to announce today that its streaming video service will launch on the Nintendo Wii games console this spring, providing it with distribution in a potential 26 million additional US homes (note: the Wii is currently the most popular games console in the US). The company has previously secured distribution deals for the service through the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 games consoles, as well as through Roku OTT set-tops, TiVo DVR's and a number of other devices and platforms. "The launch of the Wii is a huge step forward for Netflix," Netflix founder and CEO, Reed Hastings, said in a prepared statement. "With the installed base of over 26 million, all WiFi equipped, that's almost one in four American homes.

The BBC announced last week the line-up of content that will be available through its red-button interactive TV service for the next two weeks and beyond:

Sonic Solutions announced Thursday that it is partnering with Fujisoft to deliver content from its Roxio CinemaNow broadband video-on-demand service to the Nintendo Wii game console (note: Sonic acquired the CinemaNow service last November and subsequently added the name "Roxio" to its branding). The content--initially comprised of new releases and library titles from Paramount Pictures--will be offered under the auspices of Minna no Theater Wii ("Everyone's Theater Wii"), a Fujisoft VOD service for the Japanese Wii market. Sonic and Fujisoft say that they will continue to work together to expand the line-up of content available for the service, which they claim provides "virtually instant" streaming to the television set.

--Launches Reference Kit, Secures Deal with Kodak

A roundtable comprised of some of the most high-profile designers and
design experts in the interactive TV industry--Patrick Donoghue, SVP
of strategic product development at Cablevision; John Gilles, VP of
media and entertainment at Method; Terry Green, principal of
twenty2product; Dale Herigstad, chief creative officer at Schematic;
Stephanie Otto, CEO of Brainstorm Communications; David Preisman,
VP of interactive television at Showtime Networks; and Suzanne
Stefanac, director of the American Film Institute Digital Content
Lab--provide our listeners with an overview of the current state of the

In this recorded episode of [itvt]'s talk radio show, "The TV of
Tomorrow Show with Tracy Swedlow," a panel of interactive TV
experts--Steve Borelli, VP of marketing and business development at
Integra5; industry analyst, Leslie Ellis (author of the popular
Multichannel News column, "Translation Please"); Will Kreth, director

of product management for interactive TV at Time Warner Cable; Alex

The BBC has formed a partnership with Nintendo UK to make its BBC
iPlayer "catch-up TV" service available via the Nintendo Wii gaming
console (note: last month, the Corporation also made the iPlayer
available via the Apple iPhone). The partnership was announced by
Erik Huggers, the BBC's group controller for future media and
technology, in a keynote speech at the MIPTV-Milia conference in
Cannes earlier this month. "Working with Nintendo marks another
exciting milestone for BBC iPlayer," he said. "It underlines our
commitment to reaching new audiences by making BBC iPlayer