Following reports that Apple is dissatisfied with the subscriber numbers for Apple Fitness+ and is uncertain about the service’s future direction, the company has unveiled a considerable expansion of its fitness program to 28 new markets, along with the addition of dubbed episodes in three new languages. This initiative aims to enhance the service’s accessibility to a wider audience while preserving its position as one of the most innovative fitness programs available.
As stated in a press release, Apple Fitness+ will launch in Chile, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Vietnam, and 17 other countries and regions beginning December 15. Customers in Japan can expect support early next year.
“Thanks to its smooth integration with Apple devices, Fitness+ has motivated users to lead healthier lives each day,” declared Jay Blahnik, Apple’s vice president of Fitness Technologies. “From experiencing real-time, personalized metrics directly onscreen with Apple Watch or AirPods Pro 3, to being able to take the service with you wherever you are on iPhone or iPad, we’re providing unparalleled motivation to users. We couldn’t be more thrilled to extend this experience to even more users worldwide with our largest expansion to date.”
Apple Fitness+ has seen considerable enhancements over the last five years. Starting December 15, the company will roll out its most significant feature yet: dubbed workout programs. These digitally dubbed versions of workouts and meditations will be offered in Spanish and German, with Japanese dubbing to follow early next year as the service becomes available in Japan.
The dubbed workouts and meditations will feature the actual voices of each of the 28 Fitness+ trainers. While this approach enables a broader audience to engage with the workouts, it is noteworthy that Apple opted for a Workout Buddy-like method rather than hiring actual individuals for dubbing. This decision comes despite Apple’s recent focus on human-driven projects over AI, as evidenced by their new Apple TV service launch and holiday film.
Moreover, Apple is tackling one of the main challenges faced by the Fitness+ service by advancing beyond subtitles to provide dubbed programs. The company also intends to incorporate K-pop into its workout options.
