Netflix on the Wii? Maybe, Maybe Not

Update: Netflix has made it official. It’ll bring instant streaming to the Wii this spring. Details here.

We’ve already heard rumors that streaming Netflix will come to the Wii, following its inclusion on the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, but now Netflix chief executive Reed Hastings is weighing in, coy as ever. In a public interview with All Things Digital’s Peter Kafka at the Consumer Electronics Show last week, reported by Engadget, Hastings fielded a question about the prospects of Netflix working with Nintendo. “What about getting on Nintendo? What are your chances?” Kafka asked, to which Hastings replied, “Our chances are excellent.”

Now, as 1UP notes, “Nintendo” could be the key term. Per the earlier rumors, Netflix could be waiting for a new Nintendo console before jumping on board with instant streaming, instead of supporting the Wii. However, the word “Nintendo” was Kafka’s, not Hastings’, so this could be a case of mixed up terminology. My feeling is that an offering of Netflix on the Wii would look a bit awkward, as the console doesn’t support any other multimedia. You can’t play DVDs, and there are no other streaming media channels available. That’s not to say it wouldn’t be useful. If you can’t wait to see if Hastings’ chatter becomes reality, check out PlayOn as an alternative. [Engadget via 1UP]