Turning Off Politics: A New TV Trend in Gyms & Fitness Centers

Gyms and fitness centers across the country are reconsidering what’s on their TVs. In the midst of a hostile and tense political climate TV channels are being scrutinized. Gym-goers are there to get fit, work through stress, and feel good about themselves. The TV programs get in the way.

The Effect of News and Politics in Gyms

It’s not hard to see why managers are banning news and politics in gyms across the country. Tensions are at an all-time high on both sides to the point where some gyms have hung signs asking visitors to check politics at the door. Networks like CNN, FOX, MSNBC, and CNBC broadcast political news, controversial stories, and coverage that creates a negative workout environment.

Gyms and fitness centers strive to provide visitors with a comfortable enviroment, while accommodating as many people as possible. This is hard to maintain when the TV content is generating fights between visitors! Business owners want to avoid fostering bad impressions, and violent situations.

Cutting Out the Negative Content

In an effort to combat the all the negative content streaming through their locations, gym and fitness center owners across the country are opting to remove cable news channels from their TVs. Life Time Fitness and the YMCA are just two examples of well known locations taking part in the crack down.

This news story from Fox 5 DC details their recent efforts:

“We made the decision to remove cable news channels from the large TV screens in the cardio and fitness floor areas at the start of 2018. This was based on many member requests received over time across the country, and in keeping with our overall healthy way of life philosophy and commitment to provide family oriented environments free of consistently negative or politically charged content.”

-Life Time Fitness

The decision to cut out these networks has often been in response to actual members speaking up. Requesting about removing news and political commentaries are becoming more common.

Life Time Fitness isn’t alone in this trend – for similar reasons, the YMCA pulled their 24-hour cable news programs off their TVs after visitors got into fights over politics that disrupted an otherwise peaceful community. But as tensions in politics remain what they are, and news coverage consists of negative stories, more and more gyms and fitness centers are breaking away from cable news channels and exploring new TV solutions.

It’s Relevant TV Removes the Bad, While Keeping the Good

It’s Relevant TV is a living network that features content from a vast library of over half a million videos.  With 40+ categories of content, the TV is easily catered to who’s watching. All programs are screened, and certified as family-friendly. This ensures that the content is safe for all audiences. Beyond the active reviewing, IRTV allows each business to place further filters on the TV shows they show. This allows each location to block out content types and even keywords.

It’s Relevant is fully customizable. Clients have the ability to upload their own videos, pictures, and messages.  Easy to use – the service also allows you to connect to your social media accounts. This lets you showcase recent Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts for visitors and members to see. In the end, It’s Relevant is a platform that gives you control over what’s on your TV, and gets people exited about your brand.

For more information on IRTV please visit: www.itsrelevant.com.