Close on the heels of Netflix’s last week announcement of disc-free online streaming for Sony’s PlayStation 3, Netflix and Nintendo announced on Monday that Netflix users will soon be able to stream disc-free online movies and TV shows to Nintendo’s Wii gaming console.

The announcement - which comes as Netflix is growing its “Watch Instantly” library - implies that with the disc-free streaming service in place, Netflix users will no longer require to insert any disc into their Wii to stream content.

The Wii streaming access will be available as a free download from the Wii Shop Channel. The option will install on the Wii Menu; and will be accessible by users who have a Netflix subscription, a Wii console, and broadband Internet connection.

Talking about the new service, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said in a news release that the move is a significant steo in the company’s relentless efforts to improve its streaming service. Hastings also added that the availability of Netflix on the Wii menu adds notably to the “ease and convenience” which attracts Netflix users to the company’s streaming experience.

About the disc-free streaming advantage, Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America president, said in a statement: “This simplified Netflix access will help bring families together more quickly, more easily and in more ways than ever before. More than 3 million Wii systems have already connected to Netflix, demonstrating how easy the service is to set up and use.”