Netflix users will no longer need a disc to stream "Watch Instantly" content through their Nintendo Wii game consoles, Netflix announced Monday.

Starting today, Wii streaming access is available as a free download from the Wii Shop Channel. The option will install on the Wii Menu for easier access to Netflix's streaming library. Users will need a Netflix subscription, broadband Internet connection, and a Wii console to take advantage of the offer.

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

Netflix made its debut on the Wii in the U.S. in April 2010. At the time, users had to request a special disc for the Wii in order to access Netflix. The company started shipping the discs to a limited number of subscribers in late March, and expanded the program a month later.

Last week, Netflix also announced that it would no longer require a disc for the Sony PlayStation 3. Starting today, PS3 users will also be able to download a Netflix app and access streaming content.

The news comes as Netflix is growing its "Watch Instantly" library. In September, Netflix expanded its licensing deal with NBC Universal to stream shows like "Saturday Night Live," "30 Rock," and "Battlestar Galactica." Netflix has also brokered similar deals this year with film companies, including Nu Image/Millennium Films, Epix, and Relativity Media.

Netflix chief executive Reed Hastings said recently the company was thinking about offering a streaming-only service in the U.S., an option that is already available in Canada for $7.99 per month.