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If you've been following the Wii Netflix saga, you're probably familiar with Nintendo's stance on HD movie streaming. The company's Reggie Fils-Aimé recently went on record saying that the average Wii user won't care about the Wii's inability to push HD Netflix. That's expected though, right? He works for Nintendo, after all. But get this, now Netflix itself is deemphasizing its own HD streaming service.

Speaking to TheWiire.com, Netflix VP of Corporate Communications Steve Swasey recognized that the Wii can't handle HD streaming, but stated that Netflix doesn't believe that to be a problem for Wii households. Swasey noted that only 1 in 17 titles are available in HD, adding that HD content is only 720p -- not 1080p -- and that it's not available with 5.1 surround sound. "The HD experience at Netflix Instant Watching isn't that overwhelming," said Swasey, adding, "It's a little bit underwhelming."

So there you have it. There's absolutely no reason for anyone to even want HD streaming. Ever. Now go order your Wii Netflix disc.

Our buddy Leo LaPorte interviewed Jay Tannenbaum of Sling Media the other week on his Tech Guy Labs podcast live at CES, and reader Jason spotted a little bit of news that will be of interest to PS3 owners. The interview starts at about 33 minutes into episode 629, and in his chat with Leo at 33:35, Tannenbaum mentions that the Slingbox software allows you to stream DVR content to anywhere in the world, including "your phone, your laptop, and soon to even the PlayS -- uh, PS3." Leo responds the same way we would, with an incredulous, "Really?" And Tannenbaum answers in the affirmative.

So, wow, there you go. Presumably, you'll still need a Slingbox to actually sling the media out to your console, and obviously there's no word yet of how the software would be delivered to the PS3 (on a disk like the Netflix app, or via a purchased program like the $30 iPhone app), but eventually you'll be able to watch your Slingbox media, even in 1080i, as Tannenbaum says later in the interview, on your PlayStation 3. Interested?

Update: DustoMan in our comments says that Tannenbaum meant streaming Slingbox through the PS3's browser, as shown in these photos at CES. Still works, we guess, but not quite as groovy.

Look, we know how your mind works. One day, you were sitting around, thinking about how you could lay your hands on the God of War III demo. Then, all of a sudden, it hit you. You figured out how to game the system. "Easy," you thought, "I'll just order the District 9 Blu-ray from Netflix, grab the demo, and send the disc back. Bam, free demo." Alas, it looks like Netflix has seen through your paper-thin ploy, as tipster Caleb tells Joystiq that the demo isn't included with the Netflix version of the film. A quick look at the God of War community forums reveals the same story.

Sorry to spoil things. Maybe your next evil plan will work out better.

Netflix may not have a home on the PS3's XMB, but that hasn't hindered Netflix's success on Sony's console. Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter told Industry Gamers that "the recent PS3 partnership is driving significant subscriber growth" to Netflix's subscription services. Netflix will likely benefit even further when the service becomes a standalone app on the OS. Pachter reiterated that the Netflix disc will no longer be necessary by the end of this year. "Netflix's exclusive relationship with Microsoft on the Xbox 360 will end in November (after two years), allowing the service to be accessed via the PS3 dashboard later this year."

Twelve million members currently use Netflix, and the service is likely to expand even more once it transitions to the Wii. Sure, a smaller percentage of Wii owners are likely to be interested in the service, but with Wii's billion-strong user base, there's bound to be some traction.

As spotted by Siliconera, Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aimé recently told CNBC that users streaming Netflix through the Wii aren't going to miss the HD content they won't be able to access -- free content that's available through other devices. He justified that claim with a simple argument: "over 26 million consumers have bought a Wii. The consumer is saying, for them, the quality of the visual is not nearly as important as the overall entertainment."

It may irritate 360 and PS3 proponents to no end to hear him lay it out that plainly, but we're having a hard time finding a flaw in Reggie's logic.

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter doesn't think the announcement of Netflix streaming on Wii is that big of a deal in growing the rental service's customer base. Pachter's perspective is that "fewer than 20 percent" of the US's 26 million Wii owners are connected to the internet, which is a necessary component to stream movies through the service. In comparison, he believes over 75 percent of Xbox 360 and PS3 users are caught up in the internets.

IndustryGamers reports that Pachter expects "some traction" from the Wii announcement, but that it won't "jump start Netflix activations." He believes the Nintendo console's installed base will "embrace the Netflix service only gradually." With so many consumer electronics receiving the Netflix streaming service, Pachter does believe it'll "allow Netflix to maintain its prior pace of subscriber additions as new customer additions from the Xbox 360 installed base begin to slow."

Netflix's Wii disc sign-up page (remember, you need the disc to access the movie streaming service) is now live. All you need to do is sign in to your account and press the big blue button on the page. Yup, it's really that simple.

We're currently trying to find out from Netflix if the launch and service on the Wii will be relatively similar to that offered on the PS3 -- beyond requiring a disc. We're also trying to narrow down that "spring" release window, if possible.

Update: "Spring is as specific as we can get," a Netflix representative tells Joystiq. We've also been told, "The Wii will have the same titles as all Netflix ready devices and a similar, easy and fast disc-based experience as the PS3."

After years of rumors and an encouraging statement from Netflix's CEO, it appears to be official: the Nintendo Wii will gain the ability to stream content from Netflix's "Watch Instantly" selections. The New York Times reports that the companies will announce the deal later today.

Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aime called the addition of Netflix functionality "a continuation of an effort to bring more and more entertainment to consumers who interact with the Wii." The AP notes (via Engadget) that, like the PS3's implementation of the service, Netflix on Wii will require an "instant streaming disc."

[Thanks, Ridgecity]

The eventuality of Netflix becoming available on a Nintendo console has left the world of "if" and seems headed for "when." According to Engadget, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings described chances of the company's movie streaming service "getting on Nintendo" as "excellent." Netflix has been singing the same song since last October, when PS3's Netflix streaming was announced. We've contacted Netflix and asked whether it would like to announce any firm commitments about its plans for the Wii.

If there is anything "iffy" about Netflix streaming for a Nintendo console, it revolves around whether the service will be available for the current Wii console, or any possibly far-fetched followups.