Wii News, Forecast channels shutting down

A handful of original Wii channels and some network services are soon to be no more. Nintendo announced today that due to a "very low participation rate," the company has decided to discontinue the following applications beginning June 28, 2013.

· Forecast Channel
· News Channel
· Everybody Votes Channel
· Nintendo Channel
· Check Mii Out Channel
· Data exchange between Wii friends on WiiConnect24

Concerning the last point, Wii message exchanges through Wii Message Board, Mii exchange via Mii channel, and exchanges of messages or data in "some" games will no longer be possible come June.

Nintendo apologized to gamers using the services and said the move was necessary so the company could focus on an "even higher level of service" for the Wii U.

"We apologize to those of you currently using these services, and ask for your understanding," Nintendo said in a statement.

"In order to focus on the development of an even higher level of service for Wii U and other products, a portion of the network services offered through the Wii console will be discontinued."