Broadcaster Sky has announced the return of the second series of “Fit in 5,” a video-on-demand (VOD) fitness series produced in partnership with wearable health and fitness company Fitbit.
The first series, created by fitness trainer Marvin Ambrosius, featured presenters Kirsty Gallacher and Melanie Sykes leading viewers through short, focused workouts across 18 episodes. The new series will introduce presenters Sarah-Jane Mee and Lisa Snowden, who will guide additional five-minute routines designed for busy schedules.
Sky and Fitbit describe the program as a way to deliver efficient, heart-pumping sessions that combine fat-burning, cardio and heart rate zone training in compact five-minute segments. These quick workouts are intended to make consistent activity more accessible for viewers and to showcase how wearable devices can help monitor and improve fitness during brief exercise bursts.
Rachel Bristow, director of partnerships at Sky Media, said the collaboration with Fitbit reflects Sky’s strategy to work more closely with brands to create engaging, relevant content. She emphasized that the partnership demonstrates Sky’s commitment to developing original programming that connects with audiences in meaningful ways.
Lucy Sheehan, marketing director at Fitbit, added that the company is pleased to sponsor Sky’s “Fit in 5” and support efforts to encourage Sky viewers to become more active.
The launch of a branded VOD fitness series comes as over-the-top (OTT) streaming and on-demand viewing continue to grow. A recent industry study suggests that viewing hours for streamed OTT content could overtake traditional linear television within a few years, reinforcing the appeal of short-form, on-demand fitness programming for audience segments increasingly choosing digital platforms.
On the wearable-device front, Fitbit faces a challenging market. Recently, industry data indicated that Apple overtook Fitbit as the leading wearables vendor in the first quarter of the year. Analysts have noted mixed financial results for Fitbit, with some commentators describing recent sales as underwhelming despite the company beating earnings expectations. Fitbit’s acquisitions of assets such as Pebble, Vector and Coin have been highlighted as moves that could strengthen its product lineup and support future growth, though opinions vary on the company’s near-term outlook.
Sky’s “Fit in 5” series aims to combine the convenience of short, on-demand workouts with the motivational and tracking benefits of wearable technology, offering viewers an easy way to fit effective exercise into a busy day while showcasing how brands and broadcasters can collaborate to produce focused, audience-led content.
Picture credit: Sky