The startup that wants to conquer TV – Fortune Tech
FORTUNE — Television executives and advertisers alike are desperate to interact with television viewers. Media mogul Robert F.X. Sillerman wants to help them.
Viggle, his New York-based startup, hopes to become the entertainment industry’s chief loyalty-rewards program. Its app, which is available for Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG) phones, lets users check in as they watch shows. The software “listens” to a broadcast to confirm what’s on the tube. Users can then play games and trivia related to onscreen events or a program’s sponsor. The app also awards points that can be redeemed for movie tickets, gift cards, and other prizes.
Since its January launch, Viggle has amassed an impressive lineup of advertisers, including Pepsi (PEP), Kraft (KRFT), and Capital One (COF). Some 1 million people now use the app while watching shows like America’s Got Talent and Project Runway.
