Video demo of Wiimote and TV playing nice

by David Hinkle { Mar 4th 2008 at 4:00PM }

With the TV Guide Channel releasing in Japan today, many wondered exactly how the Wiimote would be used as a remote for the television, as well. Thanks to the video above, this important new features needs not reside only in the darkest corners of your imagination. And ... uh, it works just like you would expect. It changes channels and works the volume. It even looks really fun.

Gallery: Wii TV Guide Channel

Tags: remote-control, tv, tv-guide, tv-no-tomo, tv-schedule, wiimote

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kyle @ Mar 4th 2008 4:07PM

how exactly does the wiimote communicate with the tv? is it like a software thing on the remote that makes it work with the tv's remote sensor? and does this work with satellite?

Jonathan Tran @ Mar 4th 2008 4:12PM

It makes the sensor bar shoot the commands, which bounce off your head/shirt/wall into the TV.

Neat, huh?

jsa3mm @ Mar 4th 2008 4:09PM

I want!!!

mgroves @ Mar 4th 2008 4:16PM

Okay, great, except that I already do this with my cable box (which also functions as a DVR). So what's the big deal?

It's not a DVR, it's not a media center, it's not IPTV, it's literally just a TV Guide. Big whoop.

James @ Mar 4th 2008 4:23PM

I for one do not have a cable box with a built-in TV guide. If I used my Wii more already (sadly, it's relegated to GC-emulation duty until next week...), or especially if I didn't already have a PC in the room, it might be worth my while to use the Wii to see what's coming on. My big thing is: will the remote emitter "learn" (e.g. using the Wiimote CCD to capture signals) or are we limited to a preset database of manufacturer codes? I would love to be able to use a TV guide like this, but I'd have to be able to switch pretty efficiently between my cable input and my Wii input, which requires a special button on my TV remote. If the Wii can't emulate that button-press, I'll have to have my TV remote at my side anyway, which sort of defeats the purpose.

motang @ Mar 4th 2008 4:26PM

That actually looks better than I thought.

clif @ Mar 4th 2008 4:39PM

I think part of the reason is that companies like comcast, directv, dish network and other cables companies, wouldn't be that happy that there's another company trying to out service their services or some other complication.

Although I wonder how tv service works in Japan, since it seems this doesn't require you paying a fee for using your wii as another tv service. Because with tivo you have to pay a monthly fee in America.

Lastly i think this channelis cool. But my question how would it interact with my directv box, I mean think about it, would directv let the wii share it's information for the tv guide channel? I bet that's one of the motives as to why the Big N also hasn't put it out here yet.

Alan Friesen @ Mar 4th 2008 5:17PM

zap2it.com, for starters, is free for people to use to check your TV listings. Put in your postal code, select your provider, and it provides you with a list of shows currently on. I use it right now, as a matter of fact, with the Opera browser on the Wii. It's ad supported, which is how the service remains free (even though it's dog-slow).