TiVo Debuts App to Help You Stop TV-Show Cheating

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By Samantha Murphy Kelly2013-11-04 02:00:17 UTC

For couples who watch television together, there's no betrayal like sneaking in an episode ahead of time when the other person isn't around.

A new app called Roamio or Else from digital video recorder company TiVo lets you send playful e-postcards that warn your significant other to not watch an episode without you. The app can be accessed on Facebook or via its microsite, Tivo: Everybody Cheats.

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About 79% of DVR owners watch at least one show with their partner, while 51% have secretly viewed episodes alone, according to a TiVo study. Although 35% said they would fess up if caught in the act, their partners would likely have a hard time forgiving them, with 70% saying they would not exonerate their show-cheating loved ones.

Within the app, TV watchers can create and customize playful postcard threats that promise retribution should their partner cheat, such as "If you watch The Voice without me, I won't turn around my chair, EVER" (referencing how judges on the reality-TV signing competition reject hopefuls).

Most of the cards reference popular shows, including Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, Scandal and Homeland.

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Image: Michael Yarish/AMC

Topics: apps, Apps and Software, Tech, tivo, Television