Acquisition offers consumers greater security, reliability and convenience in ticket resale
 London 29 January 2008 - Ticketmaster, the world’s leading ticketing company, today announced it has acquired GET ME IN! (www.getmein.com), a leading independent web-based marketplace for music, sport, theatre and other live entertainment event tickets in Europe. The acquisition represents a major expansion of Ticketmaster’s European ticket resale business.
Ticketmaster will create an integrated platform on which consumers will be able to simultaneously review and compare ticket availability and pricing in the primary and resale categories. Ticketmaster plans to build upon its existing TicketExchange offering, working closely with clients to offer ticket validation and electronic ticket delivery to fans purchasing in the exchange and resale marketplace. The acquisition of GET ME IN! by Ticketmaster follows the recent All Party Select Committee’s recommendation for a “middle way” in which the live entertainment industry works with the resale sector to provide added consumer protection.
Over the next few months, Ticketmaster will also work closely with its venue, promoter and other clients to look for innovative ways of allowing all parties involved in bringing live entertainment to an audience to share in the economic value of the exchange and resale market.
”We believe that the best we can do for our consumers, clients and the UK live entertainment ticketing industry is to actively engage the exchange and resale sector of the market. We look forward to working with GET ME IN! to provide consumers with the highest levels of choice, protection and service and to keep the value of a ticket as much as possible where it belongs, within the live entertainment industry,” said Chris Edmonds, Managing Director of Ticketmaster UK.
Tommy Higgins, Executive Vice President of Ticketmaster Europe added, “This is a significant development of Ticketmaster’s services to our clients and consumers in the UK, and it is the first step in our commitment to deliver secure exchange and resale services across Europe.”
“GET ME IN! is one of the most popular resale websites in Europe,” said Andrew Blachman, Chief Executive of GET ME IN! “Combining with Ticketmaster will enable us to extend our services to a wider base and provide even higher levels of service and security to fans of live entertainment.”
Launched in September 2003 by James Gray, Paul Montagne and Don Hughes and based in London, GET ME IN! operates one of the largest open marketplaces dedicated to live event tickets in the UK and Europe. Since launching, GET ME IN! has served over 50,000 customers by providing a safe and trusted environment for ticket resale, and guaranteeing each and every transaction that occurs.
GET ME IN! will continue to operate from its London location and Andrew Blachman will continue as General Manager. James Gray and Paul Montagne will continue as Senior Directors.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. |