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More Calls for Antitrust Review of Ticketmaster/TicketsNow Deal
Wed, Jan 23rd 2008 1:03 pm EST
By Alfred Branch, Jr.
A week after the announcement, the pending acquisition of TicketsNow by primary ticketing giant Ticketmaster continues to spark an avalanche of opinions concerning the merits of the deal.
A group of anonymous brokers has threatened to remove its ticket inventory listing from TicketsNow, based on comments recently posted on TicketNews, and Steven Pearlstein, the business columnist for the Washington Post, is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal regulators to consider turning down the proposed deal on antitrust grounds.
“And you can be sure it won't be long before the venues give the newly combined firm the ‘exclusive’ rights to offer a secondary market for their tickets and threaten legal action against competing resellers that deal in their wares,” Pearlstein wrote in the Post. “Call me cynical, but this doesn't exactly sound like a deal that's likely to increase competition, lower prices or expand consumer choice. The antitrust police ought to take a careful look at this one.”
Brokers who are against the proposed purchase are being urged to write in to the U.S. Department of Justice with their opposition to the $265 million deal. StubHub!, in an angry email to brokers, condemned the proposed deal, and TicketNetwork, owner of TicketNews, also wrote to brokers that the company was planning to oppose the deal.
At the same time, there are brokers and fans who believe the deal will be a positive for the market by forcing brokers to be more transparent in their pricing. “I just see this as making our lives that much easier,” wrote one broker to TicketNews. “Most of my tickets are sold through TicketsNow, so the more people who buy through that site, means more of my tickets selling. Before I started using them, there was no way I could have sold tickets effectively [with] my own web site, or sell tickets to events not in my area very [easily], for example, because I didn't have a lot of exposure. TicketsNow takes care of all of that, and I can move a lot more inventory. I don't see what the problem is here?”
The National Association of Ticket Brokers, which has invited Ticketmaster CEO Sean Moriarty to keynote its upcoming broker conference, does not have an official opinion about the proposed merger, but NATB President Tom Patania, owner of the ticket brokerage Select-A-Ticket, told TicketNews that he sees it as an “obvious endorsement” of the viability of the secondary market.
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Comments represent the opinions of users and do not necessarily reflect the views of TicketNews.The ticketbroker community needs to become it's own entitiy, united and divide ticketmasters monopoly once and for all.
The promoters, ticketmaster and venues all have learned from the brokers over the last 30 years and that is the absolute truth in the matter.
I appreciate your platform and what your intentions are, as i am sure 95% of other brokers do or will as well.
The only way to survive this is to show the bands, venues and promoters who their real deal is to take them to the promised land (more money, more opportunity, more sales)
The buyers will also realise an ease of convenience charges and a broader range of choice seating.
Ticketmaster needs to go...they just bought Park Place, however the brokers own The Boardwalk, always have and if played right, always will.
Everyone needs to realize that it's a bit premature to take a stance one way or another on this proposed deal. I for one am curious to hear what Moriarity has to say at the convention this summer. Like was mentioned in an earlier comment, it's a great opportunity to hear directly from the "horses mouth". It's not fair to attack the NATB and or Gary Adler. As a member of the NATB, I have no doubt they have always acted in the best interests of their membership and the industry as a whole.
I find it interesting that no one blames Tickets Now. This is business, and you are all a big part of this "legitimate" ticketing business. The business is changing and continues to change. The only thing you are accomplishing here is laying blame on organizations and individuals within the same industry for possible injustices. You are upset with Ticketmaster for possibly taking your inventory...the very same inventory they failed to secure from all of you in the Secondary Ticketing Market years ago. You should be upset with yourselves, Tickets Now, because none of you had the vision to see this coming, just like the "800 Pound Gorilla" Ticketmaster didn't believe you were able to accomplish what you have today those many years ago.
So act like businessmen from a multi billion dollar industry and figure out where you want this industry to be in the future. Or continue sucking your thumbs and crying and hope it all works out. Realize Ticketmaster has accomplished nothing yet with this acquisition. Start by defending your businesses from future acquisitions. Do you think Ticketmaster will be the last to attempt this move? They can't take your inventory or your customers if you aren't selling.
Well said.... but here is another way to look at it. TicketsNow is profitable. They run a successful exchange (Event Inventory) and have the largest POS in the industry (eiBox Office). Ticketmaster saw Ebay buy Stubhub and instantly become the #1 player in the secondary market. Ticketmaster saw how profitable TicketsNow was and was seeking to become more of a player themselves in the secondary market. Buy purchasing Ticketsnow they are making their move. Ticketmaster bought TicketsNow for many reasons, including their successful exchange and POS. Ticketmaster will want to continue this success and of course augment it to be even more successful. Why would Ticketmaster buy TicketsNow, an exchange built by broker inventory, simply to shut the brokers down? It's illogical. They want to continue what TicketsNow has been successful with and build on it. Ticketmaster also knows that all the brokers who list their inventory on EventInventory and thru eiBox Office are watching this situation very carefully. They know that if they start to alienate those brokers, they are running a very high risk of those same brokers removing their inventory from TicketsNow/EventInventory/eiBox Office. This would cripple TicketsNow and leave Ticketmaster with a worthless $265 million dollar secondary market company with little or no inventory.
All of us brokers should withdraw all of our event inventories from ticketsnow ASAP and move to ticketnetwork. This would make ticketsnow unprofitable for ticketmaster, but then if ticketmaster decides to buy ticketnetwork, then it's the same story all over again.
I have been reading the comments in this forum as well as in others and as an NATB member feel compelled to speak up on behalf of the NATB and Gary Adler. To all of you out there condeming this deal and questioning Gary Adler's and the NATB's leadership & commitment to the industry, you are out of line. 1) I guarantee that Gary Adler and the board of the NATB have done far more for the well being of the secondary market than any of you have. 2) At this early stage, I would not expect the NATB to take any position on this deal. It is too early. Any reaction at this point would be nothing more than a knee jerk reaction based in emotion. 3) Insinuations that the NATB is "in bed with Ticketmaster" are completely ridiculous. 4) Take a deep breath, step back and see how this develops. NOBODY knows what this deal will mean for the industry. Anyone that claims to is wrong. 5) Having Sean Moriarity speak at the NATB convention this summer is a no-brainer. Why would we not want to hear what he has to say and have the opportunity to question him? It makes no sense not to. 6) Finally, as an NATB member, I have had the opportunity to deal with Gary Adler and discuss several legislative issues with him over the last few years. He is a tremendous asset to the NATB and we are fortunate to have him on our side. 7) The companies with the most to lose in this deal are the ones that own their own exchange and/or point of sale. They will be facing tremendous competition from this new entity, thus that is why they are reacting so quickly and negatively. They are not out for the well being of the industry but rather for the well being of their own bottom line. Ticket News is run by Ticket Network, which owns it's own exchange and point of sale. What shoch then that Ticket News continues to hammer away at this deal (so much for unbiased journalism). 8) If you don't like the NATB, why don't you go join the Better Ticketing Association? (joke)
NATB President Tom Patania looks to us that he going to bed with TicketMaster. The NATB just screwed the Brokers! NATB will not get my money this year. I fill that I have been screwed by Tom Patania and NATB. Mr. Patania has a lot of explaining to do in Vegas this year. Members need to get together this year in Vegas and get him out. Something does not smell right about NATB and Ticketmaster.
Unlike the person that wrote this comment anonymously, I will not hide who is writing this. I am Gary Adler of the NATB. The NATB , as an association of approximately 200 different brokers, is not in any position to in a knee herk fashion condemn or approve of the Ticketmaster/TiketsNow deal. It certainly would be doing its Members a disservice if it rushed to judgment as the unknown writer of this comment seems to think it should. Quite frankly, I do not understand how anyone could blame the NATB for not immediately condemning or approving the deal. On the other hand it obviously serves to further legitimize the industry and thus Tom's comment makes perfect sense. Now I understand the NATB's position may upset some Members as does some of the many many other decisions the Board (whose members volunteer an enormous amount of time and money) handles. That is fair game and a Member has every right to object in any manner it sees fit including withdrawal. What is completely unacceptable is to direct that blame at any one individual let alone Tom Patania. Tom has devoted too much to have a comment like this go unanswered. Tom has exhibited the utmost in honesty, integrity and dedication in his role as President. And I am sure he will be glad to do the "explaining" the anonymous writer demands at this year's Vegas meeting.
Gary thanks for the reply. I understand what you a saying but I am still going to remain anonymous because I smell something funny. I just don't trust anyone any more in the business. This business is starting to get very funny. Brokers will be starting to get pushed out as TicketMaster starts to get bigger in the secondary market. And if you don't see that Gary, then you are with them (ticketmaster) or you are just blind. The statement you made about "I do not understand how anyone could blame the NATB for not immediately condemning or approving the deal". How can you say that?? You don't remember over the last five year want TicketMaster has been doing to Broker?? The NATB I thought was to support the Brokers? Is that what the dues are for? And yes Mr. Patania has work hard and your right he is not the only one to blame. The Broad of the NATB should be blamed for letting the TicketMaster CEO even to walk into the trade show.
Let me ask you another question, but before I asked, I want to give you a little background on myself. 1) My tickets business is my main form of income. I have 2 fulltime and 2 part-time (on game days for phones) employees. So I am not a part-timer or a employee of TicketNetwork (like most people on the broad that posts). 2)I have a BS in Business Mangement from UT at Austin. So I am not dumb. Well some Aggies my defer on that. Anyway here is the question, What would TicketMaster gain from buying TicketsNow? Think about Gary? What will they gain? What type of control with they have on the Secondary Market? And if any of your or NATB answers are "well, Ticketmaster will make the secondary market a better place or more visiable or more trusting" well, something is not right.
Gary, I have no problems with you or Mr. Patania personally. I know that Mr. Patania and the NATB Broad has work over and beyond the call of duty for Ticket Brokers over the last 5 years. But it is odd that a week or so after the TicketMaster and TicketNow deal Announcement that the CEO of Ticketmaster is going to be speaking at the show this year. It is just bizarre to me.
Gary, you've changed your tune, right?:
"They had braced themselves to spend more. Ticketmaster's goal, Moriarty acknowledged, is to shrink the secondary market. Them's fightin' words to the brokers. "They have vowed to take over the secondary market like they have the primary market," Adler said. "We believe this is a serious threat."
http://www.natb.org/news/index.cfm?pg=newsdetail.cfm&newsID=54
What makes YOU think they've changed their intent and they are no longer "a serious threat"?
First, neither the NATB nor I ( and of course my personal views are of no import and have never been the issue )have taken any position so how can you say we now think everything is rosy? Second, everyone has to admit that the news of the TicketsNow purchase put everything into a major flux. What it means, and how it changes or doesn't change previous views, is the question. Doesn't it make sense to everyone, whether your reaction is in favor or against the aquisition, to hear from "the horse's mouth"? And to ask questions? That is why the NATB is having Sean Moriarty speak.
While you're at it, why don't you see if Bush is interested in having Bin Laden come and give the State of the Union this year, you never know, he could have something interesting to say because he wants to be our friend now.
Here is a link to show you the history of ticketmasters legal history in the US Justice Dept
http://searchjustice.usdoj.gov/search?q=ticketmaster&entqr=0&output=xml_...
........
It's a great thing...email this guy to put in your compaint with the antitrust board of America.
AskDOJ@usd-
oj.gov
This needs to be done guys. The more submissions, the better chance brokers have to keep on going.
If the deal goes thru it will only help all of the Professional Ticket brokers in the USA. Selling tickets to the consumer is only part of the business. Since 2001 I have purchased over a Million dollars worth of tickets from Ticketmaster. There have been some hassles over the years with Ticketmaster but they have accepted my money with a smile on their face. Over the last 20 years their has been a tremendous amount of changes in the ticket industry. Unfortunately, in business Companies that are successful get bought out & this will only make the market place better for all consumers along with the whole Ticket Industry. It's better to join them then to fight against it because all it is going to do is to increase the legitimacy of the Ticket
Industry. If it weeds out some of the companies that don't care about Professionalism so be it. Who really knows what effect it is going to have until all the T's are crossed & the I's are dotted!
I think you idiots need to go pick up a text book. The g**damn purpose of antitrust is to make sure the costumer doesn't get blasted in the a**. This deal brings noting good for the consumer. Removing competitors is one step towards a monopoly, AKA monopolistic actions. Ticketmaster has been shafting customers for a long time now, why the hell would you want to make it easier for them to raise their service charges. Less competition isn't good for the consumer, and if you brokers and businessmen thought about someone besides your greedy selves you would realize this isn't about you, this is about the consumer. so shut the hell up or give some reasons how this won't hurt consumers.