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A major gym franchise has officially banned major cable news networks from its TV’s because of their “consistently negative or politically charged content.”
Gym-goers at Life Time Fitness will no longer be able to view CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, or Fox News while they jog on the treadmill before work.
Life Time Fitness, which has locations across the country, made the decision as a sort of New Year’s resolution based on a “vast majority of members’ expressed requests” 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.”
“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,” the gym said in a statement to Fox 5. 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 added that local news stations will still be viewable on its large screens and that members can use the gym’s Wi-Fi if they wish to watch CNN or Fox News on their personal devices.
“Ultimately, it always is our goal to meet the vast majority of members’ expressed requests and we believe this change is consistent with the desires of the overall membership as well as our desire to uphold a positive, family oriented, healthy way of life environment,” the gym wrote.
The decision has garnered mixed reactions online.
Some applaud the decision, saying cable news are "sensationalized" and that at the gym people should be able to focus more on their commonalities than on their political differences.
"Kudos to @lifetimefitness for doing this. These channels don’t report 'news' they report sensationalized headlines. You’ll live for an hour without it. That’s what Twitter is for," wrote Heidi on Twitter.
“I think in D.C. going to the gym and the gym being a respite away from political conversation, I think that’s absolutely alright,” said Cortland Bradford, a member of Crunch Fitness. “I think that’s good. I think we should focus more on the commonalities in that space of working out and fitness and health versus a political discussion.”
“As a gym-goer and somebody who likes to focus on my workouts, and I’m not very political, that appeals to me,” said Skyler Nordstrom, assistant general manager at Crunch Fitness in the Friendship Heights neighborhood of D.C. “As somebody who works in a gym and kind of knows the pulse of a gym, it’s not a decision I would make personally for our club just because of how important politics are in D.C.”
Others disagree, saying that the fitness company has no business censoring content.
"My health club for nearly a decade has banned any and all news and news channels from all its clubs. Food network with 1000 calories dishes ok, drama filled reality tv ok. Stock tickers, real world news/events/crisis all banned. Stunning failure. Shame on you," tweeted Life Time Fitness member Michael D.
“I just want to say that I do not support your ban on news programs,” said Irene Kistler, speaking directly to Life Time in a video posted on Twitter. “I wore my Clinton-Kaine shirt to the club today and no one cared … Don’t be afraid of democracy, put the news back on. Banning the news is really kind of un-American. And if you have a political shirt and you’re a Life Time member, I encourage you to wear it. If you’re a Trump fan, let that freak flag fly. If you’re a Bernie fan, feel the Bern. Put it on. If you’re a Clinton fan, wear that shirt. Dig it out, dust it off, wear it proudly. Don’t be afraid of democracy Life Time. Democracy is what makes America great.”
“I hate football and all my #lifetimefitness had on the other day was sports news,” said Life Time Fitness member Susan O’Gorman on Twitter. “@lifetimefitness can you do something about that too since you're now in the censorship business?”
"You've lost our business today--permanently. #Freedomofchoice #nocensorship," tweeted former gym member HendrixCG.
Life Time Fitness issued a statement on Twitter after receiving backlash for its decision to turn off cable news at its clubs.
The company again stressed that its decision was based on "significant member feedback."
What do you think of the ban? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
For more, check out the Fox 5 news report here:
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