Wii Video Service

[ramuji]

First, I should correct something I said in my previous post:

ramuji said:
What we have been discussing in this thread up until now is the Minna no Theater Wii application ...

After re-reading some of the posts above, I see now that although the OP started as a discussion of the Minna no Theater Wii WiiWare application, the conversation did evolve to include some information about the Wii no Ma channel as well, and I probably only confused the issue by saying otherwise.

Wii_Master said:
So you are saying that Wii No Ma Channel is free but basically doesn't have any movies, right? Then what is Minna no Theater? What are the differences and when Paramount andother companies added movies like mentioned above where do they come? in Minna no Theatre or Minna no Channel???

Yes, the Wii no Ma channel from Nintendo is free (as with all Wii channels), and at this time offers only original programming. The content is also completely free of charge, and consists mostly of 10- to 20-minute documentary-style films. Nintendo has yet to announce any partnerships with Paramount, etc. to offer theatrical movies, etc., although Nintendo have indicated more than once that they intend to move in that direction.

The Minna no Theater Wii WiiWare application from Fujisoft is not free (as with most WiiWare games/applications). Fujisoft has current partnerships (such as with Paramount), and has indicated that they are pursuing partnerships with other companies, to provide content that includes mostly theatrical movies, past television programs (lots of Kamen Rider and Ultraman), and Anime. A "rental fee" is required to stream this content.

There is no connection between Wii no Ma and Minna no Theater Wii. If a user wants to rent one of the Paramount movies offered in Minna no Theater Wii, the entire transaction (including movie selection, payment with Wii points, and viewing) takes place within the Minna no Theater Wii application. If at some point in the future Nintendo also establishes a partnership with Paramount to stream that company's movies in Wii no Ma, that service would become a direct competitor to Fujisoft's Minna no Theater Wii.

I'm sorry that I caused confusion in my previous post, and hope this helps to clear things up a bit.