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Official logo.
The Wii Channel Menu is the Wii's Operating System; this menu is what all Wii users see after pressing A at the console's "Health & Safety" screen upon start-up. It was originally announced in a press conference on September 14, 2006.
The Wii Channel Menu was created with the idea of TV channels in mind; each game and application of the Wii, known as a Channel, is stored in a Channel slot on the Wii Menu that features an animated icon. Selecting a Channel icon with the Wii Remote's A button then allows the user to open it by clicking the "Start" button. The Wii Channel Menu features 48 Channel slots spanning four screens, with each screen having 12 Channel slots. Therefore, a single Wii can have a total of 48 Channels. With the exception of the Disc Channel, all Wii Channels on Wii systems with Wii Menu firmware 2.0 and beyond can be moved by grabbing a Channel icon (by pressing the A and B buttons together simultaneously), moving the icon over an open Channel slot, and releasing the buttons.
By updating the Wii console's firmware, connecting one's Wii to the Internet, and downloading additional Channels/software and updates, one can gain access to new Channels and features, all of which are selectable from the Wii Channel Menu.
The Wii Channel Menu background color is white. However, when the user enter the settings option located on the bottom left corner, or enter the SD Card Menu, the background will change to black.
Built-In Channels[]
Each of the following Channels is built into the Wii hardware, and so all Wii users have access to their diverse features. These Channels cannot be deleted and some channels (like the Forecast and News Channels) require a Homebrew mod called RiiConnect24 to be installed onto the system due to the discontinuation of WC24.
Note: The Forecast Channel, News Channel, and Wii Shop Channel require an Internet connection to function, as well as the latest Wii Menu firmware (currently 4.3).
Disc Channel[]
The only Channel that cannot be positioned wherever the user likes, the Disc Channel allows users to play Wii disc-based titles and Nintendo GameCube software that is inserted into the Wii console's front-loading disc drive.
Mii Channel[]
The Mii Channel allows Wii users to create caricatures in the likeness of whoever their desire called Miis. Each Wii console can hold up to 100 Miis, and up to 10 can be saved on individual Wii Remotes for out-of-the-house use. Mii caricatures can be used and/or seen in certain Wii titles, including the Wii pack-in game, Wii Sports.
Photo Channel[]
Supporting SD Cards (which can be inserted into the Wii console through a slot behind a plastic flap on its front side), the Photo Channel allows users to view and play with images and videos on both their personal SD cards and those posted on their Wii console's Wii Message Board.
Wii Shop Channel[]
The Wii Shop Channel was a channel that allowed users to download and/or purchase additional software for their Wii consoles, which appeared as new Channels on the user's Wii Channel Menu after a download is completed. This Channel was home to Virtual Console and WiiWare. It has been discontinued as of January 30th, 2019, and although it can still be opened, it now only houses two channels: "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Save Data Update Channel", and the "Wii U Transfer Tool".
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
Forecast Channel[]
Courtesy of WNI (in North America), the Forecast Channel allows Wii users to view the current and upcoming weather in their area, as well as areas around the world with an interactive, 3D globe. After clicking on the Channel's icon, the user can see the current temperature and conditions of his or her area, as well as the last time this information was updated. As of Wii Menu 3.0, the Forecast Channel displays the current conditions of the user's area on the Channel's Wii Menu icon.
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
News Channel[]
Courtesy of the Associated Press (in North America), the News Channel is constantly updated with new news articles. Users may browse the news by category, by territory (on an interactive, 3D globe), or via a slide-show, which quickly buzzes through news headlines. As of Wii Menu 3.0, the News Channel displays two scrolling headlines at one time on the Channel's Wii Menu icon, and three scrolling headlines after the user click's on the Channel's Wii Menu icon.
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
Supplementary Wii Channels[]
There are a variety of additional Channels that Wii users may enjoy other than those included on the Wii hardware. New Channels are generally available for download on the Wii Shop Channel. These Channels may be backed up to an SD Card if necessary.
Virtual Console Channels[]
Virtual Console Channels are Channels that allow users to play their downloaded Virtual Console games obtained from the Wii Shop Channel. Each game downloaded has its own Channel slot, with the Wii Menu icon's animation alternating between the game's title screen and the logo of the video game console it originated from.
Please see Virtual Console and Wii Shop Channel for more information.
Internet Channel[]
Available in the Wii Channels section of Wii Shop Channel for free (originally 500 Wii Points) before the Wii Shop Channel shut down on January 30, 2019, the Internet Channel allows users to browse the Internet with the Wii Remote and a USB keyboard. The Channel was developed by Opera and Nintendo, and it is a variant of the Opera 9 browser designed specifically for Wii. The Internet Channel supports Flash, Java, Ajax, and more. Users can save up to 56 favorites, which, in addition to non-favorited web-pages, can be shared with Wii friends registered in the Wii console's Address Book.
In addition, messages or memos on a user's Wii Message Board that contain links to web-pages can be opened with the Internet Channel by clicking on the link contained in the message (which will be colored blue if typed correctly).
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
Everybody Votes Channel[]
Currently available in the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop Channel for free, the Everybody Votes Channel utilizes the Mii caricatures created in the Mii Channel to allow users to vote in and predict the results of several two-response National and Worldwide polls, register and view voting history for up to six Miis, view poll results by gender and territory, and suggest poll questions and responses that may or may not be used by Nintendo in the future. The Channel's Wii Menu icon scrolls the question and responses for the latest National poll on the Channel.
Everybody Votes Channel is updated every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in North America.
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use and WiiConnect24 turned on.
Metroid Prime 3 Preview Channel[]
Formerly available on the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop Channel in 2007 for free in North America and Europe, the Metroid Prime 3 Preview Channel is a promotional Channel that allows users to stream several videos from the Wii title "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, as well as look at a few pieces of promotional art from the aforementioned game.
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
Note: This channel is no longer available for download.
Check Mii Out Channel[]
The Check Mii Out Channel allows users to enter their Miis created on the Mii Channel in contests, as well as share their Miis with the rest of the world.
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use and WiiConnect24 turned on.
Photo Channel 1.1[]
Photo Channel 1.1 is an update to the Photo Channel. Downloading it grants Wii users the ability to customize the Photo Channel icon with a personal picture and replaces the Channel's MP3 compatibility with AAC compatibility, amongst other things.
Note: Those who have purchased a Wii console within the month of December 2007 or later have Photo Channel 1.1 already installed on their Wii unit and do not need to download this update.
Wii Fit Channel[]
The Wii Fit Channel is a Channel that added to the Wii Menu from the Wii Fit disc. It allows users to use the Wii Balance Board to measure their BMI, as well as check stats on a graph that records years worth of data for several people, which is kept track of through the Wii console's Miis created in the Mii Channel.
The Wii Fit Channel is included on the Wii Fit game disc.
Mario Kart Channel[]
The Mario Kart Channel allows the player to view personal and world records without having the Mario Kart Wii game disc inserted. To get the Mario Kart Channel on the Wii Menu, the player must visit the Mario Kart Channel through the game and choose to install it on the Wii Menu.
The Mario Kart Channel is included on the Mario Kart Wii game disc and requires an Internet connection to access its many features.
Rabbids Channel[]
The Rabbids Channel is a channel where owners of Rabbids Go Home can receive updates on contests and post Rabbids for contests.
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
Nintendo Channel[]
The Nintendo Channel allows Wii users to stream videos of upcoming and currently available Wii, Nintendo DS, and later Nintendo 3DS titles, view game information and statistics for various Nintendo titles, search for games based on one's interests, take surveys on Nintendo games that one owns, share with Nintendo one's Play History, and use one's Nintendo DS and DS Download Play to download demos for upcoming and currently available Nintendo DS titles.
The Nintendo Channel is called Everybody's Nintendo Channel in Japan.
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use and WiiConnect24 turned on.
Terebi no Tomo Channel (unofficially nicknamed TV Guide Channel)[]
Courtesy of G-Guide (in Japan), the Terebi no Tomo Channel (unofficially nicknamed TV Guide Channel) allows Wii users to search for and see what programs are currently being shown and/or will be shown on television.
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
Wii no Ma[]
Wii no Ma broadcasted family-oriented entertainment via the Wii console, such as cartoons, brain-training quizzes, cookery, educational shows, and other programs produced for Nintendo exclusively. It shut down on April 30th, 2012. There was also a DSiWare app titled Dokudemo Wii no Ma, where owners of both a Wii and a Nintendo DSi could download broadcasts from Wii no Ma on to their DSi, to watch them at any time, anywhere.
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
Demae Channel[]
The Demae Channel allowed its users to order food using their Wii console from a variety of restaurants and then order what they wanted to eat. Following this, the restaurant closest to the user would send their order out after preparing it. If the user didn't know what they were in the mood for, then they could use the roulette mode which would have chosen something for them.
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
The Homebrew Channel[]
A freeware channel that allows the user to use their Wii to run homebrew apps, alternate Wi-Fi servers for online games, other programs, and mods of several Wii titles (including Super Mario Galaxy 2, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, etc.).
This channel is not offered or licensed by Nintendo. It is a freeware program from a website.
Netflix[]
This channel allows Netflix subscribers to watch streaming movies and television shows through their Wii console. The channel itself is 0 Wii points to download, but also requires a paid Netflix subscription to function. This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
Hulu Plus[]
This channel, like Netflix will allow subscribers to watch all of Hulu's TV shows and programs through the Wii console.
The channel itself is 0 Wii points to download, but also requires a paid subscription to Hulu Plus to function. This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
Due to jurisdiction issues, this channel is available in the United States and Japan only.
BBC iPlayer Channel[]
The BBC announced in 2009 that their official VOD service, known as the BBC iPlayer, would be available on the Wii system. Due to major infrastructure changes and limited resources, this channel was discontinued on January 30th, 2019, along with the Wii Shop Channel.
This Channel requires an Internet connection to use.
WiiWare Channels[]
Functioning similarly to Virtual Console Channels, WiiWare Channels allow users to use their WiiWare games obtained from the Wii Shop Channel.
Please see WiiWare and Wii Shop Channel for more information.
Note: WiiWare Channels differ from Wii Channels found in the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop Channel in that they are games and are not necessarily created by Nintendo.
The Today and Tomorrow Channel[]
Released on December 2, 2008 and on September 9, 2009 in Europe, Australia, and South Korea, it is a horoscope channel where you can view fortunes, lucky colors, and compatibility of two to six Miis. Unlike most other channels, this one requires your Mii's birthday, including the year. It also includes "lucky words" that must be interpreted by the user(s). Downloadable for 0 Nintendo Points.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Save Data Update Channel[]
This channel was released to fix a game breaking bug in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.
Additional Built-In Features of the Wii Channel Menu[]
Clock[]
As of Wii Menu firmware 3.0, the Wii Channel Menu displays the current time in the form of a digital clock. This time corresponds to the time entered in the "Date" section of the Wii Settings menu.
Parental Controls[]
Found within the Wii Settings menu, Wii's built-in Parental Controls allow parents to limit the types of games and Channels that their children play with and use.
Those who have Parental Controls turned on utilize a four-digit security code. Once this code is entered, the highest ESRB rating (in North America) that is allowed in order for a game to play on Wii may be selected. In addition, Wii Shop Channel, Internet Channel, and News Channel use may be switched on or off.
Wii Message Board[]
The Wii Message Board is accessible by clicking on the envelope icon in the lower right-hand corner of the Wii Channel Menu. It allows users to post memos and send messages (with a picture attached, if desired) to other Wii users that are registered in the user's Address Book. A calendar, the Wii console's Address Book and Wii Number, and the user's Wii History can be also be found here. Users may also receive messages from Wii games, including the pack-in title Wii Sports, for various reasons, as well as Nintendo, who may inform users of new offers and/or important notifications.
The Wii Message Board is supported by Wii software titles, Channels such as the Photo Channel, and more.
This feature requires an Internet connection and WiiConnect24 turned on in order to use its messaging function.
Play History[]
Taking the form of a white envelope on the Wii Message Board, Play History documents the Wii disk titles and Channels that users use each day and the amount of time spent using them. In addition, Play History keeps track of the messages that have been sent to Wii friends each day. Play History does not keep track of the use of Nintendo GameCube software. There is no way to delete Play History besides formatting the Wii's internal memory in the Wii Settings menu.
Nintendo Channel, with the permission of the user, allows Nintendo to access Wii consoles' Play History for research purposes.