Four Screens Media

Reuters is reporting that a video distribution service will be launched on the Wii by Dentsu, a Japanese ad agency, in Japan in 2009.

Video content will be created specifically for the Wii with cartoons being cited as the first example.  There will be a mix of paid and free content.

There are a few interesting points to note:

1. I’ve been waiting.  The Wii has the most intuitive channel (as in TV channel) interface.  It’s easy enough that my kids would probably prefer watching video through the Wii than flipping through the cable remote.
2. Is this a partial story?  I’m assuming a December 25th story means either it’s bad news (not the case) or it was leaked the Reuters rushed by print it (my bet)
3. The are launching with a cable like model of paid  premium and free entertainment.
4. The article implies that Nintendo and Dentsu are matching the content to the demographic.   They are producing for the Wii so that, like the video game strategy, they are not being all things to all people, but offering a specific type of content to the Wii demographic (just as casual and easy games are specific to the Wii demographic).
5. A video distribution service by an ad agency?  Does this show a new era of monetization where you don’t create and pray for money, but create with the money?

And what are the implications?

Bandwidth providers have to change their models.  I’m betting them get out of the entertainment game and end up providing tiered bandwidth along with partner devices…similar to where wireless carriers have been heading.  So, the next generation may decide they want AT&T bandwidth with the entertainment that comes along in a Wii set top box just as today we choose AT&T Wireless with the content and services that come with an iPhone or Blackberry.