| The channel has teamed up with fitness expert Jake
Steinfeld. He will host new episodes of the show Body by Jake.
Discovery had acquired The Health Network from the Fox Cable Networks
Group in September 2001. An official release informs that the new
initiative re-establishes DCI's commitment to leading the industry
in the health media category. The network will launch with 30 million
subscribers with commitments to approximately 50 million subscribers
over the next few years.
Media veteran Carole Tomko will be the GM of the network. She most
recently served as VP of production and development for Animal Planet.
Discovery Networks US president Billy Campbell added, "We have talked
to a number of affiliates, and have identified a robust business
opportunity in the health category that focuses on the multi-faceted
world of fitness for the mind and body.
FitTV will be a companion network to the Discovery Health Channel,
with high-energy, visually appealing programming designed for the
millions of men and women for whom fitness is a way of life." Steinfeld
has emerged as one of the world's great motivators for physical
and emotional well-being adds the release. FitTV will showcase additional
new exercise and wellness series and specials. Steinfeld added,
"I can't tell you how pumped I am to partner with Discovery to relaunch
the network. Our goal with FitTV will be to entertain, inspire and
educate viewers in all aspects of fitness and lifestyle".
More than $81 billion is spent in the US on fitness and weight
loss-related products each year. This, coupled with extensive discussions
with operators, consumers and potential advertisers, confirmed that
FitTV would meet the needs of a large, underserved audience. The
new network will tap into their enormous and boundless appetite
for health and fitness information with series and specials about
exercise, wellness, nutrition and sports, among other health-related
topics.
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