Apple Fitness+ could be getting live sessions, but probably not

An Apple job listing appears to be suggesting that the company might be planning some live Apple Fitness+ sessions. However, my strong suspicion is that all is not quite as it seems.

The job opening is for a studio producer, and Apple is specifically seeking someone with a strong background in live production and “a genuine curiosity about where live content is headed next” …

MacRumors spotted the job listing a few weeks after it was posted, and it’s certainly true that there are plenty of mentions of the word ‘live.’

Apple Fitness+ is looking for a Producer with a strong foundation in live or live-to-tape multi-camera production and a genuine curiosity about where live content is headed next.

We’re looking for a creative collaborator who’s excited to experiment with new formats, push the boundaries of what live fitness content can be, and help build the next generation of Fitness+ experiences — all while creating and maintaining an ever-changing, fluid schedule that keeps pace with the energy of a live production environment. If you thrive in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment and want to be part of a collaborative, innovative team redefining live production at Apple, this is your chance.

A couple of the required qualifications echo this.

• Understanding of both live production and post production, and can seamlessly bounce back and forth between the two worlds
• Must be comfortable in a control room, in an office environment, and on a live set

However, it’s hard to see any benefit of live Fitness+ sessions over pre-recorded ones. Even Apple’s keynotes have used pre-recorded video segments ever since the pandemic, and while some might miss the excitement of live presentations, the majority view seems to be that this approach results in a better experience.

At most, I could envisage some kind of real-time events on special occasions, but I would still expect the actual fitness sessions to be pre-recorded. I suspect the biggest clues are the phrase “the energy of a live production environment” and acceptance of live-to-tape experience. I think Apple wants it to have that kind of exciting feel despite being recorded.

What’s your take? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Image: Apple