RPT-UPDATE 1-Best Buy to sell treadmills as well as TVs

(Repeats without changes to text or headline)

* To sell health & fitness equipment in select markets

* Analyst sees move as a "stretch" (Adds company executive's, analyst's comments, byline)

By Dhanya Skariachan

NEW YORK, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Best Buy Co (BBY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) began offering fitness equipment in select markets on Wednesday as the retailer tries to expand its wares beyond electronics.

"At first glance, it seems like a real stretch," Anthony Chukumba at FTN Equity Capital Markets said by phone.

Now that music distribution has gone digital, Best Buy is looking to find ways to fill "the center of the store," Chukumba said, adding that he did not see a synergy between electronics and exercise equipment.

"I suspect a lot of fitness equipment you plug in, but to me that's pretty much the only real connection I can see to consumer electronics," he said, adding Best Buy's healthy balance sheet gave it the liberty to experiment.

But Best Buy spokesman Steve Trier said the fitness equipment was a natural for its customers who were trying to workout.