Wikia launches Fandom, the Destination for Entertainment Fans
New site to Provide One-Stop-Shop for the Hottest Stories, Supported by Original, Curated and Fan-Created Content
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Wikia, the largest entertainment fan site in the world with 190 million global monthly uniques*, today announced the launch of Fandom (fandom.com), a media property that will give entertainment fans a new, comprehensive destination for the most timely and important entertainment and pop culture stories. Fandom is launching with a new, expanded editorial staff led by Eric Moro, VP, Programming, publishing daily original videos, as well as written and multi-media entertainment features. The new site offers fans comprehensive coverage on their favorite entertainment franchises including original Fandom features, in-depth content submitted from Fandom's "fan contributors", as well as curated content from "the best of the web" and social media; and highlights from Wikia's 360,000 fan communities. Fandom aims to be the ultimate entertainment media destination that puts the fans first.
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Aspiring to provide fans with their one-stop-shop for today's pop culture, Fandom will cover television shows, movies, video games and much more. As consumer behavior shifts and binge watching and marathon gaming becomes more common than not, the desire to immerse and engage in content discussions has grown, and intense fandom has blossomed around entertainment properties, such as Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, and Call of Duty to name a few. Moreover, these fans are hungrier for information and entertainment more than ever before.
"When I started Wikia 10 years ago people were hungry for a platform to celebrate their passions," said Jimmy Wales, founder and Chairman of Wikia (and Wikipedia). "But even the casual fan is a bigger fan than they once were, and the volume and sharpness of their knowledge is evidence of this. These fans, yesterday's nerds, are being sought after more and more by the public and even brands, for their opinions, their analysis and perspective, as true subject matter experts."
At launch, Fandom's homepage will include original editorial from its vast team of experts, along with curated "best of the web" content streams, with a focus on curated social media posts, showcasing only the most relevant content. Available for both desktop and mobile web at launch, Fandom will also offer a variety of high impact and customized advertising formats, including branded entertainment and a new native ad placement for marketers looking to reach passionate audiences. A Fan Feed will be an endless feed of top stories for fans who can't get enough pop culture news. New Topic Cards pull in the most timely and relevant links on the fandoms of the moment. And, of course, fans will be able to easily navigate to trending Wikia fan communities and topics, to explore and learn about new things.
"What we have learned, is that previous to this, no media outlet has adequately served these fans, giving them a central place to find everything they want about a TV show, game, movie or fandom," said Craig Palmer, CEO of Wikia. "With Fandom, we are now a complete entertainment destination that appeals to every type of fan, from the casual TV viewer to the marathon gamer, and everything in between."
Fandom will also see the launch of a Fan Contributor program, where aspiring journalists and knowledgeable fans on Wikia will be engaged to cover specific topics from the fan perspective. This will include video and written reporting. Currently, Wikia has over 125,000 active fan contributors each month in its communities. This product will give many of them a much needed media platform to share their knowledge more broadly.
"The definition of a fan has evolved," added Wales. "It doesn't have the stigma that it once had. Now it's aspirational. People want to be the expert in the room on any given topic. Frankly, what we have seen change most since the earliest days of the web is the democratization of knowledge, and Fandom is the latest proof."
*According to Quantcast (https://www.quantcast.com/p-8bG6eLqkH6Avk)
About Wikia Inc.:
Launched in 2006 by founder Jimmy Wales, Wikia Inc. is the home of Fandom and the largest entertainment fan site in the world. With more than 360,000 Wikia communities and a global audience of over 190 million monthly uniques, Wikia is the only complete destination for entertainment fans. Fandom.com
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