The much ballyhooed Nintendo TVii service will finally be available to Wii U owners in North America starting Thursday.

Nintendo's free TVii service will provide a whole new way to enjoy television programming through the Wii U console. TVii takes all the available media content from cable providers like Comcast and streaming services like Hulu Plus, and combines them into one central location for easier browsing. Consumers will merely have to locate what they want to watch, press a button, and the Wii U will take care of all the details.

Even more interesting, the Wii U will also allow users to interact with other players and viewers through the GamePad. TVii incorporates the same MiiVerse functionality many of the Wii U's games feature, allowing people to stay connected even while watching the latest episodes of their favorite shows. Facebook and Twitter are also compatible, which allows people to keep in touch with social networks without any extra devices.

More compatibility is coming in 2013, with Netflix and TiVo upgrades planned. "Nintendo TVii shows how the integrated second screen of the GamePad can also transform and enhance the TV viewing experience. Welcome to the new world of TVii," said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime.

Check out the video below to see just what kind of connectivity is possible with TVii.

More From GuySpeed