What will Glenn Beck do after he leaves Fox News? He will launch his own subscription network and he is going social too. Glenn Beck TV (GBTV) has launched Virtual Social Rewards (Merit Awards) as part of his launch on Facebook. Read this post from LostRemote.com and don’t forget to read the part about who is powering the Merit Rewards program.

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By Cory Bergman

Even Glenn Beck admits it may be ahead of its time. After departing from Fox, Beck is launching his own subscription TV network that will cost his fans $4.95 to $9.95 a month.

“I think we might be a little early,” Beck told the NY Times. “But I’d rather be ahead of the pack than part of it.” He adds in a press release, “The confines of traditional media no longer apply.”

The confines of subscription TV have spelled disaster in the past, but Beck is banking on his cache with a rabid fan base. The network, called GBTV, will use technology from MLB Advanced Media to power the subscriptions. A deal with Clear Channel will secure promotion across its radio station network. And subscribers will be able to watch HD-quality video on their laptops, iPads, iPhones and TV sets via Roku.

But the most interesting component of GBTV is its tie to Facebook. Over on GBTV’s Facebook page, fans are encouraged to earn Merit Rewards for such actions as checking in to a show, sharing content with friends or taking a poll. The “virtual currency” can be redeemed to unlock exclusive content and discount codes for Beck’s merchandise or goods and services from sponsors. Conceivably, if you’re one of Beck’s most outspoken Facebook fans, you may be able to watch the network for free.

The community is key to Beck’s success or failure with a pay subscription model, and he seems to realize it. “It’s not about what you get out of it, but the community we’re building,” Beck explains in this video on the GBTV Facebook page. Although rewards do play a big part. At various stages, fans win merit badges, which they can display on their Facebook profiles. There’s also a leaderboard (below) of the top earners. The merit program is powered by Fan Appz and doesn’t appear to use Facebook Credits.

If you do the math, the financial upside with a subscription model could be substantial. “If he can convince just 50,000 of the 1 million-plus viewers who regularly watched his Fox News show to subscribe at the lower rate, he’ll already be earning more from GBTV than Fox was paying him,” explains Forbes’ Jeff Bercovici.

“Lots of people are talking about the digital content revolution, but few are willing to risk it all and place a huge bet on the future,” said Christopher Balfe, President & COO of Mercury Radio Arts, who will oversee GBTV. “With GBTV, Mercury is doing just that.”