Fitness Flash Report

Daily Fitness News Roundup - Updated: 2025-12-12

Peak Performance, Peak Speed

FITNESS FLASH - December 12, 2025

Apple Fitness+ global expansion and AI-powered dubbing push personalized training content to a new scale

TOP 3 STORIES:

1. Apple Fitness+ expands to 28 new markets with AI dubbing and deeper device integration
Apple announced its largest Fitness+ expansion yet, adding 28 new countries/regions (including India, Singapore, the Netherlands, Chile, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and more) and rolling out digitally dubbed workouts in Spanish, German, and Japanese, plus new K‑Pop programming and enhanced Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 3 metric integration.[1] For athletes and coaches, this means more accessible, language-localized guided training, tighter live feedback loops (heart rate, calories, Burn Bar) during sessions, and scalable Custom Plans that can be used as a structured base for periodized home and hybrid programs.[1]

2. Planet Fitness franchise growth continues as Ohana Growth Partners enters Wisconsin with athlete-focused partnership
Ohana Growth Partners announced its first Planet Fitness club in Wisconsin, pairing the new location with a dedicated athlete partnership aimed at “enriching” local communities through accessible training environments.[7] For performance-minded recreational athletes, this signals continued big-box expansion with low-cost access to strength and cardio equipment, and more opportunities to blend community-focused training (group sessions, basic coaching) with individualized programming done outside the club.[7]

3. Crunch Fitness rolls out “Crunch 3.0” high-tech gym model in California and accelerates expansion in the U.S.
Crunch is opening a state-of-the-art “Crunch 3.0” gym in Madera, California, emphasizing upgraded equipment, tech-enabled experiences, and expanded group training options.[4] Combined with a new $5M, 42,000 sq ft Crunch facility planned for Fenton, Missouri, this reflects a continued shift toward larger, tech-rich training spaces where athletes can access diverse modalities (strength, HIIT, functional training) under one roof, ideal for concurrent training and in-season maintenance work.[6]

Flash Insight:
Today’s moves by Apple Fitness+, Planet Fitness, and Crunch show a clear convergence: scale + tech + accessibility are now the default expectations for training environments.[1][4][6][7] For athletes and fitness professionals, the winning strategy is to combine low-friction access (large chains and digital platforms) with high-friction quality (evidence-based programming, load management, and individualized progression layered on top of mass-market tools). Expect the most successful coaches, gyms, and hybrid programs to use big-platform infrastructure (Apple Fitness+, large franchises) as the delivery channel, while differentiating on data-informed coaching, sport-specific prep, and smarter integration of recovery, movement quality, and conditioning.

---

Sources & Links:

[1] Apple Fitness+ expands to 28 new markets – Apple Newsroom
URL: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/12/apple-fitness-plus-expands-to-28-new-markets/

[4] Crunch Franchise Brings State-of-the-Art Crunch 3.0 Gym to Madera, California – The Malaysian Reserve / PRNewswire
URL: https://www.themalaysianreserve.com/2025/12/12/crunch-franchise-brings-state-of-the-art-crunch-3-0-gym-to-madera-california/

[6] Crunch Fitness franchisee to open $5M Fenton gym in 2026 – St. Louis Business Journal
URL: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/12/11/crunch-fitness-franchisee-4th-st-louis-area-gym.html

[7] Ohana Growth Partners Expands into Wisconsin with it

Fitness Flash Report

Training Science

Gear Releases

Athletic Performance

Nutrition Studies

Recovery Technology

Sports Medicine

Equipment Reviews

Trending Now

Get Daily Fitness News Delivered To Your Inbox