The BBC iPlayer was first made available on the Wii through the console’s Internet Channel back in April 2008. Now the BBC and Nintendo UK have unveiled a new version of the BBC iPlayer as a dedicated Wii Channel. It will provide Wii users with a new, richer experience of the BBC’s TV and radio on-demand catch-up service.
“We’re pleased that we’ve been able to work with Nintendo to evolve BBC iPlayer on the Wii, providing a faster, high quality and improved viewing experience,” Erik Huggers, Director, BBC Future Media & Technology, stated. “It’s important that we offer audiences more ways to access the huge range of BBC content available, and this improved version of BBC iPlayer underlines our commitment to reaching new audiences by making BBC iPlayer available on as many platforms as possible.”
Since the BBC iPlayer was first made available on the Nintendo Wii, there have been 900,000 requests for TV and radio programmes. The new version of the BBC iPlayer has been so designed to give a better quality experience, and it features a new full-screen user interface.
“Our partnership with the BBC is another way in which Nintendo is looking to broaden the market for its products by offering compelling and relevant content to families,” David Yarnton, General Manager, Nintendo UK said. “BBC iPlayer offers Wii owners another reason to turn their console on everyday and adds to the already established non-gaming content on Wii that includes Wii Channels for news, weather forecasts and an internet browser.”
In order to use the BBC iPlayer on the Nintendo Wii, owners have to download the BBC iPlayer Wii Channel from the Wii Shop Channel. In doing so Wii owners incur no charge, and will be able to simply click on the BBC iPlayer icon to launch the new full screen version of the service. The BBC iPlayer Wii Channel is only available in the UK, so if users want to access the channel, their Wii consoles must set to the UK.