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Get Paid To Watch Your Favorite TV Shows

DENVER (CBS4)  - Couch potatoes sit up and take note -- you can now be paid for watching television.

Sean Luxton and his 11-year-old son, Charlie, sit together on the couch and watch a favorite program, but they're also working. Charlie volunteered to explain the new Viggle application available on iPhones and iPads.

"It's cool to earn rewards for watching TV," Charlie said.

You've heard of pay-per-view. This is more like "get paid to view."

Here's how Viggle works -- download the free Viggle app, you hold up your smartphone or iPad and Viggle registers whatever program you're watching.

Viggle is able to identify the show you're watching and it logs you in and you get points for that," Jason Reindorp with Viggle said.

The points then earn you gift cards to Starbucks, fast food restaurants, department stores, movie tickets; or you can elect to donate to a favorite charity.

Reindorp says it's a very simple reward program.

"You have loyalty programs for flying on planes or renting cars, but think of all the time you spend watching TV. Why shouldn't you get rewarded for that?" Reindorp said.

Recently Viggle users earned points for watching the Super Bowl. Sunday night they accrued more points for tuning into the Grammies. The list of shows which reward you for your couch potato status seems endless.

"What we are able to see is patterns in the way people are checking into shows. All of this really helps advertisers target to specific individuals," Reindorp said.

The obvious question -- is this a violation of viewers' privacy? Viggle executives say no.

"We are super, super focused that no personal information is gathered in anyway," Reindorp said.

Charlie is hoping Viggle lets him wiggle into getting to watch more television. His father doesn't seem to be buying that idea when 4 On Your Side Money Saver Suzanne McCarroll asked him that question.

"What will you say when your 11-year-old says, 'Dad, I want to watch TV and make some money?' " Luxton was quick to reply, "I'll say, 'Why don't you go shovel snow and make money instead.' "

The Viggle app is available at the app store free of charge.

LINK: Viggle.com

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