Calling all couch potatoes! Viggle is a new app for iPhone and iPod touch that actually pays you to watch television. The app determines what you are watching when you put your iOS device up to the TV and then gives you points to accumulate and unlock rewards.
Viggle works similarly to IntoNow, an app acquired by Yahoo last year that uses the microphone on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to listen in on the TV show or movie and share what you are watching with friends. Viggle utilizes similar technology and does have basic integration with Facebook and Twitter but it instead of focusing on social aspects. Telling Viggle what you’re watching is for your own personal gain.
Once Viggle knows what you’re watching, it rewards you with a certain number of points for each minute you watch. When you get enough points over time, you can redeem them in the Rewards section of the app. Some of the prizes include a $5 gift card to Burger King, Best Buy, or iTunes, a $10 gift card to places like Sephora, or a movie ticket courtesy of Fandango.
Does this all sound too good to be true? Well, there is a bit of a catch. The minimum amount of points needed to redeem a reward on Viggle is 7,500 and it apparently takes a very long time to get there — think 60 hours of television-watching. Bonus points can be acquired by tagging live TV shows, special events, or watching ads within the app, but I have to wonder if all this work is worth it for a measly $5 gift card.
That said, Viggle is a dream come true for ultimate television enthusiasts. The app is free in the iOS App Store.