Modern technologies have made it possible to buy up tickets moments after their release and instantly put them up for resale, often at an egregious mark-up. But the industry argues a ban will fuel the black
UK plans ban on ticket resale touts in bot-buying era
Modern technologies have made it possible to buy up tickets moments after their release and instantly put them up for resale, often at an egregious mark-up. But the industry argues a ban will fuel the black market.
Resale ticket prices symbolic image. File photo dated 31/08/24 person in a queue to access the Ticketmaster website on their phone, with the StubHub website in the background, detailing information about Oasis concert tickets for sale, in London.
Ticket reselling and touting is a practice far older than the internet and automated software, but modern technology has turned it into a much more codified and lucrative business, arguably at fans’ expenseImage: Yui Mok/empics/picture alliance
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The British government will ban the resale of tickets for music concerts, shows and sports events at inflated prices, targeting ticket touts using modern technologies to turn a profit, a government minister said on Tuesday.
“We are committed to ending the scandal of ticket touts,” Housing Minister Steven Reed told BBC News, saying that ministers would set out the plans in more detail in the coming days.
He said the government was targeting modern ticket touting that often forced fans to pay “through the nose” to attend popular events. The government first voiced concern about so-called “dynamic pricing” practices last year.
Investors had already taken note of the plan, with shares in the US company StubHub, which owns the ticket reselling giant Viagogo, falling by 14% on Monday amid the first reports of a ban in British media.
BusinessUnited Kingdom
UK plans ban on ticket resale touts in bot-buying era
Mark Hallam with Reuters, open source material
60 minutes ago60 minutes ago
Modern technologies have made it possible to buy up tickets moments after their release and instantly put them up for resale, often at an egregious mark-up. But the industry argues a ban will fuel the black market.
Resale ticket prices symbolic image. File photo dated 31/08/24 person in a queue to access the Ticketmaster website on their phone, with the StubHub website in the background, detailing information about Oasis concert tickets for sale, in London.
Ticket reselling and touting is a practice far older than the internet and automated software, but modern technology has turned it into a much more codified and lucrative business, arguably at fans’ Expensive:
The British government will ban the resale of tickets for music concerts, shows and sports events at inflated prices, targeting ticket touts using modern technologies to turn a profit, a government minister said on Tuesday.
“We are committed to ending the scandal of ticket touts,” Housing Minister Steven Reed told BBC News, saying that ministers would set out the plans in more detail in the coming days.
He said the government was targeting modern ticket touting that often forced fans to pay “through the nose” to attend popular events. The government first voiced concern about so-called “dynamic pricing” practices last year.
Investors had already taken note of the plan, with shares in the US company StubHub, which owns the ticket reselling giant Viagogo, falling by 14% on Monday amid the first reports of a ban in British media.
Automated purchase and resale for predictable sell-out events
Tickets for popular music festivals like Glastonbury or tours by artists like Taylor Swift, Oasis or Radiohead tend to sell out online in a matter of minutes rather than hours, appearing online at inflated resale prices almost immediately.
Touts use automated programs or “bots” to beat online queues for tickets.
Radiohead’s upcoming tour in London is one of the most expensive on resale sites. Standing tickets for its show on Friday, originally priced at 85 pounds (roughly $112 or €96), were on Viagogo from 682 pounds on Tuesday.
