NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Jul 15, 2014) - Hearst Corporation today introduced CosmoBody , its first premium subscription video on-demand service created by the newly formed Hearst Digital Studios, a group dedicated to developing all-new digital products and video channels from brands across the company. CosmoBody is a fitness and lifestyle channel conceived and designed in conjunction with the Cosmopolitan editorial team to capture the unique voice and sensibility of the iconic brand.
Available today at $9.95 a month, CosmoBody membership provides access (via Web, iOS and Android) to streaming on-demand workout and lifestyle videos, produced by Mark Burnett's VIMBY studios, and original editorial content that is updated daily -- all through the fun, fearless lens of Cosmopolitan and designed to get users hot and fit fast. A 10-day free trial of the service can be activated at CosmoBody.com .
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"Basically, it's Netflix for fitness and lifestyle content... Cosmo -style... with workout videos with names like 'Get in the Mood Yoga,' dating advice that takes you into the mind of a man, food and fashion tips and even healthy(ish) cocktail recipes," said Neeraj Khemlani, head of Hearst Digital Studios and co-president of Hearst Entertainment & Syndication. "It's our first channel and we look forward to developing more brands -- both inside Hearst and with outside partners -- into new over-the-top video networks that can be accessed by subscribers on any platform or device, at any time, anywhere in the world."
"We want to empower our Cosmo audience to feel sexy and strong, without sacrificing any of the fun," said Joanna Coles, editor in chief of Cosmopolitan . "There's an inextricable link between looking good and feeling good, and CosmoBody inspires women to create that connection whenever they need it, wherever they are."
The CosmoBody channel features eight celebrity trainers with big personalities, including dance cardio trainer Jennifer Johnson, boot camp specialists Astrid Swan McGuire and Adam Rosante, martial arts expert Ary Nunez, strength trainer Don Saladino, yoga specialist Tara Stiles, dance instructor Katia Pryce and basic fitness instructor Rique Uresti, as well as celebrated food blogger Camille Becerra, in highly stylized and seductive videos. Shot in fresh and vibrant locations ranging from New York rooftops to the beaches of Santa Monica, Calif., the videos offer a glimpse into trainers' personal lives, while giving viewers the food and fitness tools -- as well as life coaching advice -- to power through their own lives. Members can browse a growing selection of videos that are organized by trainer and workout type. Some of the key features of the CosmoBody channel include:
- CHALLENGES: Editors and trainers create structured 1-4 week programs to get women ready for their key reveal moments: whether it's helping a bride get a "Wowza Wedding Body," "Sexier by Saturday" for the big date, or "Revenge Body" to help recover from a breakup.
- AIRPLAY: On iOS, users can stream workouts from their phones and tablets to their big screens via Apple TV -- a first step in a series of screen integrations debuting in the coming months.
- STATS: Users can track approximate calories burned from workouts and soon will be able to link CosmoBody with key fitness trackers and wearable devices. This is a first step in an increasingly personalized experience.
"The CosmoBody channel is part of a larger umbrella strategy around the Cosmo brand, and an excellent template for how Hearst Magazines and the Studios will work together going forward," said David Carey, president of Hearst Magazines.
Hearst Digital Studios works alongside various brands and content creators across the company, as well as outside of Hearst, in order to further connect with audiences in innovative and exciting ways. Executive Creative Director David Vogler is the Studios' chief designer. Chris Grosso, former head of AOL's front page, is senior vice president and general manager of the platform team. Liz Plosser, senior editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, is also CosmoBody's editorial director.
About Hearst Corporation Hearst Corporation ( www.hearst.com ) is one of the nation's largest diversified media and information companies. Its major interests include ownership of 15 daily and 34 weekly newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle , San Francisco Chronicle , San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union ; hundreds of magazines around the world, including Good Housekeeping , Cosmopolitan , ELLE and O, The Oprah Magazine ; 29 television stations, which reach a combined 18 percent of U.S. viewers; ownership in leading cable networks, including Lifetime, A&E, HISTORY and ESPN; significant holdings in automotive, electronic and medical/pharmaceutical business information companies; a 50 percent stake in global ratings agency Fitch Group; Internet and marketing services businesses; television production; newspaper features distribution; and real estate. Follow us on Twitter @HearstCorp and subscribe to Hearstlink .
Contacts: Paul Luthringer pluthringer@hearst.com 212-649-2540 Lisa Bagley lbagley@hearst.com 212-649-2337 Nada Arnot Hearst Digital Studios narnot@hearst.com 212-969-7580
