Earn Free Movies Legally...Here's How


HitBliss ScreenshotConsumers are always looking for free content---apps, movies, songs and the like. But the people and companies who produce and own the rights to media of all kinds deserve the right to get paid properly. If they don't, why would they continue to develop new videos, music, and apps for us to enjoy. Is there a way for us get more free content, without depriving content developers of what's rightfully theirs?  This is a problem that Sharon Peyer and her husband decided to tackle just over four years ago. Their solution... HitBliss.

Currently, you have two basic options when it comes to watching TV shows and movies - you can watch free with ads or pay to watch on demand.  But is there anyone who actually likes watching ads?  

HitBliss provides ads that you're likely to be interested in and lets you choose which you want to engage with.  It then lets you watch when you want. While doing so, you earn credit for the ads you watch. Once you've earned enough credit, you can use your credits as cash to purchase content like you do in the iTunes or Amazon stores.  It's a win-win, since you learn about brands you're interested in and advertisers have more engaged consumers. 

For a TV show, I'm told you have to watch about 2 to 3 minutes worth of ads and to rent rented movies, roughly 6 to 8 minutes. The "ads" include movie trailers and polls, as well as traditional commercials. Not everyone receives the same amount of money for the same ads. For instance, you get more money if you provide demographic and psychographic information such as your location, age, gender, income, retail spending history, etc. If you see this as an invasion of privacy, you can opt not to share this information. You also get more credit for being an engaged user; Throughout the ads there are cues that pop up to make sure you're still engaged, like "Are you still watching?" and the ad will be paused if you cover the window or navigate away.

HitBliss ScreenshotThere are some caveats to this service: Currently there's limited content and a cap on earning and watching.  While the store has lots of new, premium content, it's not nearly as robust as the iTunes and Amazon stores yet. You can only earn in $5 increments before a purchase is required, so you can't get all of your ad watching over in one session.  And currently you can only watch 7 earned titles in a single day - though you always have the option of purchasing the content the old fashioned way if you'd like.  The service is still in beta though, so these limitations may not be a constraint when it's live.

HitBliss is currently only available on PCs, but will soon go mobile and be available on other devices. While you're waiting for it to be available on set-top boxes, you'll find the quality's good enough to connect your PC to your big screen TV. You have to download two applications, HitBliss Earn which has all of the ads for viewing and HitBliss Store, which has the premium video content.  As it's still in private beta, you have to sign up and receive an invitation.  It's slowly allowing more and more consumers in, but as a Good Housekeeping reader you can download immediately with this link.  

I've just started using the service, and so far, I love it!  I hated having my free entertainment interrupted with ads, and of course hated spending money as the alternative.  What do you think of this service?