Lose Weight Watching Reality TV? NetPulse Scores $15M For Entertaining Gym Equipment

Would you get off the couch and into the gym if you could watch Desperate Housewives on the treadmill? If so, you’re not alone: Netpulse, makers of an interactive entertainment kiosk for gym equipment, has just scored a $15 million C round from August Capital and co-founder, David Marquardt, has joined the board. Netpulse is betting that gym-goers, especially those who need some motivation, will be happier with gyms that allow them to have a custom set of on-demand TV, music, and data tracking to make their 20 minutes of cardio less painful.

For city-dwellers who don’t have the time or inclination for real-life nature, Netpulse offers a virtual trek through pristine landscapes, complete with treadmills that adjust the incline in real-time (video below)

If gyms could somehow combine TV with the new trend in “binge” viewership (watching whole seasons at a time), that could be a recipe for some seriously entertaining weight loss. But, don’t get too thin, or you might get booted from gyms that are banning overly-fit patrons who make their heftier clients feel inadequate.