Wii Internet Channel free from now on, the way it should be
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted September 1st 2009 4:29PM
posted September 1st 2009 4:29PM
Hey man, you don't owe us an explanation. Times are tough, so maybe you just don't have the 500 Wii points (that is, five bucks) to get in on the Wii Internet Channel, and you missed the free launch event way back in 2006. Well, you're in for a treat: effective immediately, Wii owners can download the thing, free of charge, in perpetuity. And if you already shelled out the bones? Don't worry -- starting at the end of October, consumers who have previously exchanged 500 Wii Points to download the Internet Channel will get one NES game of their choice (of the same value) from Virtual Console. But that ain't all -- the Internet Channel has got a little upgrade in the form of Adobe Flash Lite 3.1, just the thing for all your YouTube needs. Hit the read link to get started.
iPhone killer.
Killer Iphone?
Phone iKiller!
err... call Steve Jobs' hitman.
iKiller Phone.
pKiller iHone o_O
Killer phone I.
Pinhole Liker o.o
>.>
Ccccombo killer
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Seriously, WTF?
lame attempts to get a highest rank comment killer
lolwut
Killer Instinct?
LOL
Thank you for the smiles oh threaders
You all suck.
Sweet mother of pearl!
Typing this from my Wii. Can report that hulu does NOT work. DAMMIT.
Hulu works for me, though it is through Playon.
Now i can dig out my wii from the dust ...
exactly...
mines been in the dust....
btw hasnt the internet channel always been free i downloaded it free.... o.0
Mine went unused for a while but then recently I started playing smash bros with my fiancee again. Don't know why... one day we just decided to start playing it again. Quite fun to come back to.
@brr404
People who downloaded the browser before the end of June 2007 got it free as part of the launch promo.
ah now i understand. thanks for clearing it up
My wii will wait forever in darkness with only the hope of a rumored new Zelda game.
I'm pissed Nintendo's marketing convinced me that their controller would bring a game revolution and graphics weren't important. Without graphics, no one will make games for it. =(
It should have always been free so when I set it up for my friends and cousins, I didn't have to ask for their credit cards.
It amazes me that after the show Sony and Microsoft are putting on that this is the only 'innovation' Nintendo is adding to it's console. What a tragedy of a console from a company I've had so much respect for in the past.
Um...did you not notice that they introduced a completely new interface that both the companies you mentioned have lifted?
at least the wii has a browser *cough* xbox 360...
I forgot that they even started charging for this! I haven't even played my Wii in over a year.
You and 99% of all other people on this planet who own one.
Geez, how the heck do you guys unwind?!?!!!
@ Lectronsect
With a PS3.
However, since PS3 ditched hulu support, I'll be downloading this on my Wii tonight and trying it out after the kids are in bed.
Colbert, how I've missed you.
@Smart People Play Tuba:
Colbert's on holiday. Won't be back for another week and a half :(
www.freebejeebies.co.uk
I tried hulu, does not work :/
Maybe Nintendo is taking a page from PlayOn and planning on bringing some net-based streaming content service so they want everyone to have the internet channel. Just a guess.
Actually, PlayOn has a beta for Wii out right now. I'm going to download the 14 day trial today. ($39.99 for the full software). You install it on your computer and use the internet channel to link them up. That means Hulu and Netflix on my TV through the Wii! I know it's only 420p through the Wii, but I don't have an HDTV yet, so that's fine by me.
Yeah I know but, so far, I have been very unimpressed by the PlayOn beta. Content rarely streams properly if at all.
420p? Dam that sux
I think you mean 480p?
Ya I tried using PlayOn with my Wii and it was terribly choppy.
Yeah, I meant 480. I got 420 on the brain. ;D
I've always used the internet channel, and have never paid or even had Wii points on my account...?
They used to offer it for free during a trial period.
does nobody READ the articles?
oh why wont someone please read the articles.
I like the gesture of the free NES game. It makes me feel like less of a sucker for having shelled out for it back in the day. It's just too bad VC releases have been the only thing of remote interest on the system since Brawl came out. :(
Man, you sure hate the Wii. Don't worry, it doesn't care for it's just machine.
Sports resort with the motion plus controller aint bad...
Can anyone confirm if PlayOn still works? I can't imagine why they would break it, but companies sometimes do stupid things.