The U.K.’s largest ticket selling sites have "hit back at claims they court touts at the expense of fans after MPs agreed to tackle ticket 'bots' and called for an investigation into the industry," according to Hannah Murphy of the FINANCIAL TIMES. The government said on Monday night that "it was prepared to bring forward legislation in the Digital Economy bill to curb the use of automated software that harvests tickets in bulk so they can be resold online at vastly inflated prices -- a move supported by the ticketing industry." MPs will meet music industry representatives on Wednesday to discuss the details. The Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee heard evidence earlier this month from music industry experts who "accused ticketing platforms of 'courting' large-scale touts, and in some instances giving them preferential treatment." The committee "recommended a 'fuller' investigation" into music, sport and entertainment sites such as StubHub, GetMeIn and Viagogo. StubHub said that "it worked with 'business sellers' who shift large volumes of tickets, but regularly ran criminal checks on sellers' passports." Beyond that, the company said that "it did not have the capability to police every listing on its site," as is the case with other companies in the sharing economy such as Airbnb (FT, 11/29).
MINOR DISCOUNT: The PA reported MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston Justin Madders said that Premier League clubs "should be required by law to offer 10 percent of tickets at discounted rates to fans aged 22 and under." Madders also "wants a levy placed on transfer fees involving clubs from the top division" which would raise cash for grassroots facilities. Madders added that "councils should have to assess transport arrangements and the difficulties fans might encounter by early or late fixtures" -- usually moved from 3pm to be broadcast on TV -- when approving kickoff times. Madders is proposing the three measures in his Football Supporters (Access) Bill, which "he will seek to introduce to the House of Commons on Wednesday" (PA, 11/29).
