Wii U will have interactive TV, thanks to Utah’s i.TV

The Nintendo Wii U video game console, coming Nov. 18 for $299. Courtesy image. Wii U will have interactive TV, thanks to Utah’s i.TV Tech » Nintendo’s video game console will use company’s software to advance interactive viewing. By Vince Horiuchi | The Salt Lake Tribune First Published Oct 09 2012 12:09 pm • Updated 6 hours ago Provo • With the help of a Provo company, Nintendo’s next-generation video game console will turn TV into TVii. The Japanese gaming giant has partnered with Provo-based i.TV to develop a television service for its upcoming Nintendo Wii U console that not only will allow couch potatoes to watch television but also to interact with it.The service is called Nintendo TVii and it will be a new feature in the Wii U console, which will be released to stores Nov. 18 for $299.

Earlier this year, i.TV, which sits on the third floor of the historic Knight Block Building on Provo’s Center Street, was asked to design the television service and software for the console, allowing users to control their television with the Wii U’s controller.

Unlike the wand controller that gamers waved in front of the original Wii video game console, the new Wii U uses a game pad with a 6.2-inch touchscreen. Nintendo TVii turns that game pad and its second screen into a television remote in which users can get the television grid, organize their shows into favorites, and see instant information on what they’re watching — from real-time statistics on the football game to descriptions of important moments during a sitcom.

"We had a good sense for how people connect with TV," said i.TV chief executive, Brad Pelo, on how his company was chosen by Nintendo over dozens of competitors. "We were able to demonstrate the maturity of our thinking."

Here’s how Nintendo TVii works:

Once users connect the Wii U to a television set, they can control their cable or satellite box or TV tuner with the game pad. Netflix, Hulu and Amazon’s Prime Instant Video service are also integrated into the Wii U and can be accessed from the game pad if the user subscribes to them.

While watching TV, users can search for a program or movie they want to watch. On the game pad’s touchscreen, information is displayed about what the episode is about and whether it’s playing live or if it can be watched through Amazon, Netflix or Hulu. The service also works with TiVo digital video recorders, so users can record a program through the game pad or begin playback of a recorded program. For now, it works only with TiVo, but Pelo hopes it will eventually work with other brands of DVRs.

Displaying information on shows and movies is only half of what Nintendo TVii offers. The service also has built-in social networking features. While watching a program, one-sentence plot descriptions come up on the touchscreen during important scenes. Viewers with the Wii U can then comment about those watercooler moments, tweet something about them or even initiate a poll. They also can call up more information about an actor from the Internet Movie Database or they can go to a retailer’s website to purchase something related to the program. For example, fans of "American Idol" could push a button to go to a website and purchase songs or other merchandise from the show.