Participating in television programs

A computer storage medium encoded with a computer program, the program comprising instructions that when executed by data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, through a communication network, a plurality of electronic messages each including a viewer response from a respective user device, wherein the electronic messages are received in response to a request included in a linear television program;
• deducting payments from one or more accounts, wherein each payment is associated with the viewer response from the respective user device and the viewer response provides information from which a source of the payment can be determined, and wherein the payment includes, at least in part, credits stored in association with an identifier of the user;
• allocating one or more credits to one or more of the users in response to at least receiving the viewer response from the respective user device;
• storing a record of the one or more credits in association with an identifier of the one or more users, wherein the credits are redeemable in exchange for goods or services.

A system comprising:

• a user device;
• and
• one or more servers operable to interact with the user device and to:
• transmit data for use in presenting a user interface on the user device, wherein the user interface is adapted to receive user input for submitting a response to a request for viewer responses included in a linear television program;
• receive an electronic message, wherein the electronic message includes a response to the request, with the response received through the user device;
• deduct a payment from an account based on the response received through the user device and the response provides information from which a source of the payment can be determined, and wherein the payment includes, at least in part, credits stored in association with an identifier of the user;
• allocate one or more credits to the user in response to receiving the electronic message;
• and
• store a record of the one or more credits in association with a user account.

A method comprising:

• transmitting a linear television program, wherein the linear television program includes a request for viewer responses to be submitted using a user device;
• receiving, through a communication network, a plurality of electronic messages from a plurality of users, with each electronic message including a viewer response to the request from a respective user;
• receiving a payment associated with the viewer response received from each respective user;
• allocating one or more credits to each user in response to receiving the viewer response from the respective user and receiving the payment associated with the viewer response;
• storing a record of the one or more credits in association with an identifier of the respective user;
• receiving at least one electronic message from an additional user including a viewer response to the request without receiving a payment associated with the viewer response from the additional user;
• and
• allocating one or more credits to the additional user in response to receiving the viewer response from the additional user, wherein a quantity of credits allocated to the additional user differs from a quantity of credits allocated to users submitting viewer responses with an associated payment, wherein the credits are redeemable in exchange for goods or services.

A method comprising:

• transmitting a linear television program, wherein the linear television program includes a request for viewer responses to be submitted using a user device;
• receiving, through a communication network, a plurality of electronic messages from a plurality of users, with each electronic message including a viewer response to the request from a respective user;
• receiving a payment associated with the viewer response received from each respective user;
• allocating one or more credits to each user in response to receiving the viewer response from the respective user and receiving the payment associated with the viewer response;
• receiving at least one electronic message from an additional user including a viewer response to the request without receiving a payment associated with the viewer response from the additional user;
• allocating one or more credits to the additional user in response to receiving the viewer response from the additional user, wherein a quantity of credits allocated to the additional user differs from a quantity of credits allocated to the respective users submitting viewer responses with an associated payment;
• and
• storing a record of the one or more credits in association with an identifier of the respective user and in association with an identifier of the additional user.

A method comprising:

• transmitting a linear television program, wherein the linear television program includes a request for viewer responses to be submitted using a user device;
• receiving, through a communication network, an electronic message including a viewer response to the request from a user;
• receiving a payment, wherein the viewer response is associated with the payment;
• allocating one or more credits to the user in response to receiving the viewer response and receiving the payment associated with the viewer response;
• storing a record of the one or more credits in association with an identifier of the user;
• and
• redeeming credits associated with the identifier of the user in exchange for goods or services, wherein the goods or services include an opportunity to submit at least one of a video, an audio message, or a textual message to be included in linear television programming.