wii-150Nintendo announced on Wednesday that the Internet Channel for Wii will now be available to download for free.

Until now, the Internet Channel was available to download from the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Nintendo Points. However, as Nintendo encourages all customers and their families to enjoy browsing the internet from their sofas, the Internet Channel can now be downloaded for free.

“But hang on a second, I paid for the channel with my hard earned cash, do I get a refund of some sort?” Nintendo have a better idea.

For those who have previously purchased the Internet Channel for 500 Wii Points, a special offer will be available from late October until the end of December 2009. During this time period, users will be able to download a Virtual Console NES title worth 500 Nintendo Points for free.

When the exact time period for this offer is finalised, a notification will be sent out to all Wii owners via the Wii Message Board.

The Internet Channel has also received an update which includes a newer version of Adobe Flash, which makes even more website content available to users.

So now’s a better time than ever to blow the dust off your Wii and get downloading the Internet Channel!