GENERALLY, every gym workout you do is somewhere near a screen. The problem is, it might not always be the same screen.
This is an issue that Gateshead's HealthClubTV is keen to address with its adapted health and fitness creation, which enables users to download professional workout videos to an account and play them on pretty much every device, whether it’s a computer, a tablet, a mobile or a TV.
HealthClubTV recently received investment from the Finance for Business North East Growth Fund, and has ambitions to offer the service all around the world.
Former Royal Marine Chris Cooke launched HealthClubTV at the start of 2008, and says it is suited to a range of sectors from hotels to gyms and even the NHS.
He said: “People usually either go to the gym or work out at home or go to a class. HealthClubTV allows them to construct a workout and take their workout wherever they go. You might have someone that builds their workout on their laptop at work and goes home to do it, loads it up in a hotel TV or plays it on their phone. It allows them to retrieve their workout anywhere, and to try new things as well.”
Personal trainer Cooke initially launched the idea to allow fitness fans to download clips direct to their home PC or mobile from a website.
He said: “I’ve put the brakes on that a bit. I didn’t want to miss out on tapping into the new technology that was emerging by ploughing everything into a website.”
Fitness programmes are already established on the internet and on DVD, and there are also apps for mobile and tablet devices such as iMuscle, JEFIT and iFitness. Cooke’s plan is to allow users to create an online account and pay to download clips created by the company itself in collaboration with trainers, dancers, yoga instructors and physiotherapists.
HealthClubTV has also signed a deal with Samsung which will see the service become available on Samsung Smart TVs globally in the next month or two.
He said: “People are buying DVDs and apps and they’re just so fixed in their workouts. For example, I might want to try a bit of yoga. I can download a clip for something like 39p and incorporate that into my regular workout.”
The adaptability of the product is also handy for breaking into other markets, such as Germany and the United Arab Emirates.
Cooke said: “The biggest market in the UK is NHS and health clubs, whereas in the USA it’s things like Smart TV. In the UAE it’s mobile download. Because we’re on all platforms we can cater for that.”
The product itself isn’t just for those who are interested in gaining muscle or losing a few pounds. Cooke is also targeting the NHS, and is looking to offer videos of physiotherapy exercises. HealthClubTV already has some contracts with the NHS in place.
He said: “There’s an interesting market with the NHS, especially with issues such as obesity. But it’s also good for physiotherapy. Rather than receive a photocopy of a photocopy showing you your exercises, we have a library of physio exercises people can access on their mobile or TV.”
HealthClubTV’s investment came from the £125m investment fund managed by NEL Fund Managers, which is looking to make around 130 investments during the five-year period the fund is running.
Jane Siddle, investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, adds: “Chris has married his expertise in the health and fitness arena with the explosion in the use of multimedia mobile devices, and has created a concept that presented a strong investment opportunity for us.
“His single-minded focus on making this product as successful as possible has already led to an impressive range of contracts, and we’re confident he will now go on to fully realise his ambitions.”
