Nintendo has confirmed (via their official website) that the TVii service for Wii U is expected to roll out "in selected regions" in Europe throughout 2013.
The service will allow users to use the Wii U's Gamepad to "engage with TV shows and movies in entirely new ways" whilst allowing for browsing/searching "for programming from sources you subscribe to, including cable and satellite channels and video-on-demand services."
Users will be able to access services like Netflix and Youtube, and of course take advantage of the Gamepad's second screen to chat with friends and look up the names of obscure, yet familiar actors on IMDB.