Hulu Plus Finally Arrives On Nintendo Wii

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TV-focused Hulu Plus is now available on the Nintendo Wii console, complementing Netflix's focus on movies.

Here's another reason to purchase the Nintendo Wii for uses other than playing games: Hulu Plus. Nintendo said on Thursday that the service is available now, costing the typical $7.99 USD per month. Hulu Plus compliments Netflix by focusing on current TV episodes which typically appear on Hulu the day after their original showing on networks. Netflix provides seasons of TV episodes as well, but it's primary focus is delivering a plethora of movies.

"Wii offers the most entertainment fun for everyone in the family, with an impressive selection of streaming movies and TV shows in addition to an unparalleled lineup of games that can’t be played anywhere else," said Tony Elison, Nintendo of America’s senior director and general manager of Network Business. "The Wii console is the hub of the living room, and with the addition of Hulu Plus, millions of households now have even more options for streaming premium TV shows and movies."

Consumers looking for a family entertainment center may find this addition a great deal. Unlike the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii owners won't have to shell out extra money for network access on top of their Hulu Plus subscription. And unlike the PlayStation 3, the Nintendo Wii allows users to easily scroll through the Hulu Plus library by using the Wii remote. The console also doesn't rely on an HD connection, making it compatible with older composite-based televisions.

What's unfortunate is that it took this long to bring Hulu Plus to the Nintendo Wii, literally ten or less months away from the launch of Nintendo's next console, the Wii U. Hulu Plus will likely be a launch service for the next-generation console, and it's already slated to arrive on the Nintendo 3DS later this year.

Users who have a broadband Internet connection can visit the Wii Shop Channel now to download the Hulu Plus application at no extra charge. For the first month of launch, users who download Hulu Plus for Wii and do not already have an existing Hulu Plus account will get a two-week free trial.

Kevin Parrish

Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then, he’s loved all things PC-related and cool gadgets ranging from the New Nintendo 3DS to Android tablets. He is currently a contributor at Digital Trends, writing about everything from computers to how-to content on Windows and Macs to reviews of the latest laptops from HP, Dell, Lenovo, and more. 

7 Comments Comment from the forums
  • beardguy
    Nice. Curious on peoples opinion of Hulu Plus vs. Netflix?

    I've been running Netflix on my Wii for a few years and love it. Is Hulu Plus better for anything? I probably won't pay for both services, but I would consider switching.

    cheers
    Reply
  • pollom
    sux, not abatible in my country !!
    Reply
  • Beardguy,

    Like the article states I think Hulu Plus and Netflix are complementary to each other. Hulu Plus has current shows whereas Netflix offers previous seasons of shows and of course movies but the tv shows it offers are what I'm interested in. I don't really see them as a one or the other kind of thing. But of course your mileage may vary and all of that.
    Reply
  • knowom
    A reason to buy a Wii over a Raspberry Pi that's less than a third of the cost of a Wii and has superior resolution and graphics power?

    It's a nice little addition for the Wii, but it's in no way shape or form a reason to buy a Wii and it's in general not even a reason to turn your Wii back on for a lot of people. I've actually been contemplating unplugging the thing to prevent vampire energy.
    Reply
  • kingssman
    As a long time Netflix user watching re-runs on my Wii of seasons, I haven't jumped the whole Hulu+ bandwagon due to my lack of Hulu capable devices. Current TV doesn't show up on Netflix until the season is over. While I've solved some Hulu problems with hooking my laptop up through HDMI cable, I may seriously consider the Hulu+ library if they truly offer different content than Netflix.

    So far I've been successful in cutting the cable/DVR and watching all online, but these subscriptions will eventually add up. lol

    Reply
  • virtualban
    There is a difference between Hulu articles and Firefox articles.
    Nuf said.
    Reply
  • hoofhearted
    Doesn't Hulu+ still have commercials even though you are paying?
    Reply