Check-in apps were all the rage with the emergence of location-based Foursquare, Gowalla, and Loopt among others. But now the check-in craze is turning towards media. Described as apps that let “couch potatoes and bookworms” also check in, apps like GetGlue, Miso and PHILO—which let users check in to TV shows, movies, and more—have been picking up momentum in the last few months, and naturally so. According to New Media Measure™, almost half (42%) of social networkers that regularly update their status have mentioned topics like movies, TV shows, video games, or music.
Miso and PHILO allow users to check in to a TV show (and movies, in Miso’s case) that they are currently watching. GetGlue not only allows users to check in to TV shows and movies, but also books, music albums, video games, and even topics they’re discussing. Like in Foursquare, you can win badges or stickers, points, and even awards with every check in (I recently won a sticker on GetGlue for watching Catfish on its opening weekend). Naturally, all three give users the option of posting the check-ins as status updates to their Twitter or Facebook accounts.
In recent weeks content owners and distributors have been increasing incentives for checking in. On Monday PHILO announced it would be holding a live, virtual viewing party for this week’s episode of Chuck, where every check-in and comment would enter users into a sweepstakes to win the DVD of the show’s first season. Last week it was announced that HBO is offering a 10% discount at the True Blood store for those who checked into the show via GetGlue, 15% off to those who earned the Fan sticker, 20% off to those who earned the Superfan sticker, and Gurus—the equivalent of mayors in Foursquare—would earn a $50 gift card.
As someone who regularly checks in (or at least tries) to my favorite TV shows, this is great incentive to get consumers to both buy their products as well as watch the episodes on live TV given that the stickers can only be earned during the episode’s live airing. These apps are also something more distributors should be tapping into, as they could interact with varying degrees of fans and further enhance the relationships viewers have with their favorite shows. I will definitely be on the lookout for any further HBO—or other network—promotions and, with the proper incentive, might start watching shows I do not normally follow.