Nintendo of America and Netflix today announced that Netflix members who own Nintendo?s Wii home console can now enjoy thousands of movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix via Wii.

The two companies announced partnership plans in January and are making Netflix on the Wii console fully available as of today.

Streaming from Netflix via the Wii console is provided at no additional cost to Netflix members who have a plan starting at $8.99 a month, a Wii console and a broadband Internet connection.

The partnership between the two companies increases the reach of content streamed from Netflix. Wii now reaches more consumers than any other device that currently supports streaming movies from Netflix, which had 12.3 million members at the end of 2009.

With unlimited memberships starting as low as $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix and can also receive unlimited DVDs delivered to their homes. Nintendo's Wii console retail at a suggested retail price of just $199.99.

To enable their systems to stream TV shows and movies from Netflix, Wii owners will need a broadband Internet connection, a Netflix unlimited membership and a Netflix instant streaming disc for the Wii console. Netflix members and Wii console owners can now receive a free instant streaming disc by going to www.netflix.com/wii. The discs will be delivered for free by first-class mail, generally one business day after they are requested.

When the instant streaming disc is inserted into a member?s Wii system, an array of movie and TV choices will be displayed right on the TV screen. These titles will be organized into a variety of categories based on members? personal preferences and will include popular genres, new arrivals and members? individual instant Queues. Using the Wii Remote controller, members will be able to choose a movie or TV episode to watch from their instant Queues or pick one directly from any of the lists. They will also have the ability to read synopses, rate movies, and will have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding their selection.

With broadband Internet access, the Wii console gains access to a variety of entertainment, information and communication channels. For instance, Wii owners of all types can find great games from among hundreds of downloadable new and classic titles with Wii Points from the Wii Shop Channel. Or surf the Internet on the big screen via the Internet Channel, watch videos about new and upcoming games on the Nintendo Channel, and play specially designed games online with friends near and far.