The Wii internet channel, help?

Question

I really want the Wii internet channel, and my friend said he got it without needing to have Wii points..

But whenever I try and get it, it says it costs 500 points.

Is he being serious, or lying, and can I get it without points, like some other channels?

(This isn't just generally the internet on the Wii, I have that. It's the actual internet channel.)

Answer 1

As a thanks to early wii owners and internet channel trial users, the internet channel was given free until June of 2007. Now it is 500 points. Your friend is not lying, he/she just got it mid last year.

Answer 2

Well, he is lying about that. However, you can get Wii Points from a Wii Points card, but you have to pay for that at a store. You buy the Wii Points card from a retail store, enter the Points into your Wii Shop Channel, and then you have the number of points that is shown on your Points card. So in a way, the points are free, but the card is not.

Answer 3

I'd heard you had to pay for it now.  When I got the Wii it was free and so I didn't have to pay for it.  I guess nintendo changed their (greedy) minds and decided to cash in on it.  Now that they have a deal with Iplayer from the BBC I guess its a bit more lucrative.

Answer 4

For a limited amount of time (about 2 weeks) when the internet channel first came out it was available for free before the 500 point price tag was added on.  But this was almost a year ago, so depending one when he got his wii he could be telling the truth.

Answer 5

It was free for a limited time trial period however after that it became 500 points to download.

Answer 6

It was free up until April 2007 i think, now its 500 wii points

Answer 7

I think he is lieing You Need Star Points

Answer 8

It was free while it was in beta but now costs 500 points.

Answer 9

Nintendo said that for the first few months of the internet channel being out, it would be free. Then from a certian point on it would be 500 points.