How to get paid for watching television

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Could you imagine actually getting paid to watch your favorite TV programs? There's an app for that.

It's a couch potato's dream: getting free dinners at a nice restaurant, upscale merchandise at your favorite department store, or some mighty nice gadgets at a well-known big box department store. All of this can be yours just by downloading an app on your smart phone or iPad and watching TV.

Kristen Denehy is living that dream. She's having fun and making money at the same time. Denehy and her family found an app for that called "Viggle."

"A lot of my friends think it's a scam, and I have learned that it is not," she assured.

Viggle is a rewards program that allows users to rack up a point-a-minute for just watching TV, more if the show is subject to bonus points.

Denehy explained, "If you check into these shows, you will earn the one point-per-minute that you watch the show, plus the bonus points that's offered for that night from Viggle."

Subscribers can redeem the points for gift cards to fast food restaurants, department stores, or their favorite charity.

Jason Reindorp of Viggle said, "You have loyalty programs for taking trips on planes or renting cars, but think about all the time that you watch TV, so why shouldn't you get rewarded for that?"

For Sean Luxton and his 11-year-old son, Charlie, getting paid for watching TV is a no-brainer.

Luxton said, "It's cool to earn rewards for watching TV You're always watching TV, you've always got your smart phone with you, and all Viggle is doing is knitting the two together."

Once you download the Viggle app, it does all the work for you. Viggle identifies the program you are watching right through your iPhone, iPad, of Android and tallies your points. The Denehy's have already amassed $125 worth of Best Buy rewards and are saving for something big.

Denehy said, "My daughter would tell you we are going for an iPhone for her, and mama will tell you that I am going for an iPad for me, so we will see who wins in the end!"

So what is the purpose of paying people to watch TV? Officials at Viggle say it's to help advertisers find the bullseye of their target audience.

"All of this really helps the advertisers that we work with target appropriate advertising to the individuals," Reindorp explained.

Denehy told News 4 her family is not growing roots into the couch, but Viggle can be addictive.

"Definitely hooked. When I get up in the morning, it is now coffee and Viggle,," Denehy laughed.

Other ways of racking up Viggle points are answering trivia questions and even watching commercials on your smartphone. How do you get hooked up with Viggle? Just follow this link.