Pepsi Max has partnered with Houseparty with a video chat-based trivia game designed to get fans excited for the restart of the Champions League. As people use e-video channels to keep in touch during the pandemic, digital closeness and fandom are emerging as the new normal.

Television is in the midst of a seismic shift as people break away from watching shows via traditional channels and embrace cross-platform conversations, niche programming, and appointment-first TV. Where, and how, can brands and producers most effectively speak to modern audiences?

2020 rewrote the rules on what it means to be a fan as many of the IRL focal points of shared passions – such as live events – were put on an indefinite hiatus. In this Spotlight on Fandom, we explore what it means to be a fan in 2021 and how brands can connect fans to the things they love.

With most live games cancelled and major international tournaments postponed, many sports fans sought out digital alternatives while COVID-19 kept them in their homes. As lockdown measures end and play resumes, which elements of virtual fandom are likely to stick around post-pandemic?