NBC is presenting a new network loyalty program where social media is the star. It’s called Fan It, and it is a social media platform that is integrated with myNBC (which is NBC’s online community dedicated to the fans), Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Foursquare. Fan it rewards its users for promoting, interacting with, and discussing NBC shows.

Fan it is an effort to increase the presence of fans on social networking sites, and entice them by giving out points for things like watching shows on NBC.com, “Liking” shows, chatting and getting friends to join. The points can be traded in for things like NBC merchandise, show previews, virtual goods, entries into sweepstakes, etc.

This new platform acknowledges that TV viewers who have a social media presence are people with power, and NBC wants to keep these people close to them.

If Fan It becomes big, it could possibly serve as the forerunner for changing metrics around TV audiences. Data from social networking sites could become significant in measuring an audience’s engagement. NBC’s program could finally get the industry to officially recognize the significance of social networking.