Time Inc’s FanSided announces inaugural “Fandom 250”

Announcing the FanSided Fandom 250; the fan-powered network’s inaugural ranking of the world’s 250 best fandoms.

(NEW YORK, NY/CHICAGO, IL — November 1st, 20016 — Time Inc.’s (NYSE: TIME) FanSided today announced that on December 6, 2016, it will release a ranking of what it considers the best 250 fandoms in the world. The ranking will appear on FanSided.com, the flagship destination of the FanSided Network of more than 300 mobile-first sites and apps centered around sports and entertainment fandoms that was acquired by Time Inc. in May of 2015 for the Sports Illustrated Group. FanSided will begin announcing which fandoms have made the top 250 in batches of ten beginning on November 1st.

“As our network of fandom-powered communities has grown in diversity, we’ve been continuously inspired by the dedication and passion our readers bring to their favorite sports teams, TV shows, movies, athletes, superheroes….the list goes on and on. As such, we decided to shine a spotlight on those passionate fans by taking on the impossible task of ranking the best 250 fandoms in the world,” said FanSided co-founder and CEO, Adam Best.

The list will contain not only sports fandoms but also fandoms supporting entertainment, celebrities and more.

“We’ve all had the debates. Are Red Sox fans better than Yankees fans? Are Ohio State fans more passionate than Alabama fans? But what happens when you introduce Game of Thrones fans into the equation? What about Batman lovers vs. Beyonce fans? How do you compare? It’s a tall order but we’re going to have fun trying,” said FanSided VP of Content, Patrick Allen.

FanSided began as a network of sports blogs but later expanded the network to feature sites dedicated to such topics as popular TV shows, movies, gaming, streaming services and more.

“We not only try to launch new sites to accommodate already established fandoms but we study trends trying to anticipate the next big thing,” said Best. “A prime example is our site BeyondWestworld.com which we launched two years before HBO’s new hit show Westworld premiered. We want to do our best to anticipate our audience’s next obsession so we’re not afraid to take some chances. That is one of the reasons why we’re so excited about the Fandom 250. It will enable us to invest more time into studying what our readers love and give us the opportunity to recognize the very best fans.”

“The list will be a yearly endeavor,” added Allen. “We’re giving weight to what is hot now so what has happened in 2016 is very important. That said, fandoms get points for longevity, size and worth as well. Finally, we consider the great equalizer to be what we call the passion barometer. The quality of a fandom is just as important to us as size and longevity. “

ABOUT FanSided

The FanSided network is part of Time Inc.’s Sports Illustrated Group and features more than 300 websites covering a variety of sports, entertainment and lifestyle topics. Launched in 2009 and acquired by Time Inc. in May 2015, FanSided is one of the industry’s fastest growing digital content networks and includes sites dedicated to every major professional sports team, all of the nation’s top college athletic programs, popular TV shows, movies and other celebrated sports, culture, tech and entertainment categories. Boasting a roster of more than 1,500 writers, FanSided’s unique fan-focused editorial content reaches millions of dedicated readers every month online and via its stable of highly customizable apps and newsletters.

ABOUT TIME INC.

Time Inc. (NYSE: TIME) is one of the world’s leading media companies, with a monthly global print audience of over 120 million and worldwide digital properties that attract more than 150 million visitors each month, including over 60 websites. Our influential brands include People, Sports Illustrated, InStyle, Time, Real Simple and Southern Living, as well as more than 50 diverse titles in the United Kingdom.