Nintendo Wii Gets Video Downloads, but Only in Japan (for now)

A new partnership between Fujisoft and Sonic Solutions will see video downloads now available for the console. Check it out:

Sonic Solutions’ Roxio CinemaNow announced today a partnership with Japan’s Fujisoft Inc. to deliver Hollywood movies through the Wii in the Japanese market. Instant-streaming downloads will be available through Fujisoft’s video-on-demand service “Minna no Theater Wii” (Everyone’s Theater Wii), which debuted earlier this year in Japan.

Sonic has signed Paramount Pictures as the first major studio to sell new release and catalog downloads through the service.

Sonic and Fujisoft said they plan to continue to work together to make more content available through the Wii, but didn’t give details on when or where.

That might give some of the people who criticize the Wii as a gimmick more than a console something to chew on. Thanks VidBiz.

[Update] – Also, NetFlix is currently polling their users as to how high demand for their video steaming is for the Nintendo console. Check it out:

A reader participated in one of Netflix’s many customer surveys, and one of the questions asked “…how likely would you or someone in your household be to a Netflix Instant Streaming Disc for the Nintendo Wii (available for free) in order to instantly watch movies & TV episodes on your TV?“

Thanks to HackingNetflix for that one.