BBC joins forces with Nintendo

Wednesday 9th April 2008 - 17:30

iPlayer to be made available via Wii, GTA IV UK stock running out and The Incredible Hulk Wii screens

In a keynote speech at a major TV conference in Cannes, Erik Huggers from the BBC has revealed that as of today Nintendo Wii users can stream BBC programmes direct to their TVs via the console.

Once the iPlayer service for Wii is live, a message will be sent to all Wii consoles in the UK currently connected to the internet to notify them of the availability of the iPlayer service. Existing Wii owners will then be able to access BBC iPlayer via the Internet Channel on the Wii main menu. New users may be required to download the Wii Internet Channel. Once installed, users simply click through to iplayer website, and search for the programme they want to watch. It all sounds remarkably easy.

David Yarnton, General Manager, Nintendo UK, was keen to talk-up the new offering: "BBC iPlayer on Wii will offer Wii owners another reason to turn their console on everyday and adds to the already established non gaming content on Wii that includes news and weather channels and an internet browser."

Meanwhile one product that certainly doesn't need talking up is Grand Theft Auto IV. The latest episode in the free-roaming crime caper is set to be released on Xbox 360 and PS3 at the end of the month. The trouble rests with pre-orders selling out at record speed leaving a potential High Street drought come release day.

Play.com is one of the web's biggest online retailers. The company's Head of Games, Gian Luzio told trade magazine MCV: "This is the biggest ever title for PS3 by a long way - and probably 360 as well. I've been really blown away by how quickly it's sold on PS3. Sales have gone crazy and have proven to be a real hardware driver already. We've sold out now, but will be getting in more stock as soon as it becomes available."

Finally, we end this bulletin with some gigantic new screens from the forthcoming Incredible Hulk game on Wii. The latest movie crossover is set to reach us across more formats than you can wave a big green fist at in June.

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