Ringier's Ticketcorner Holding and the CTS Eventim Group are joining forces with Starticket owner Tamedia: The partners have signed the contracts for the Swiss ticketing group (persoenlich.com reported). "This group will grow and develop new offers. The merger may certainly lead to overlaps in functions in some areas, while others will be expanded," says Ringier spokesperson Edi Estermann when asked by persoenlich.com.
Consolidation on the one hand, expansion on the other: however, this will not be a zero-sum game for staff. "Despite all caution on this topic, job cuts are still to be expected," says Estermann. The Ringier spokesperson does not want to give a concrete figure or at least an order of magnitude. Ticketcorner currently employs around 100 people, Starticket 62.
The locations of the two companies - Ticketcorner in Rümlang and Starticket in Zollikon - are also likely to be merged. "The plan is that there will be a joint main site, which of course makes sense from an organisational point of view," says Estermann. According to Estermann, this is planned for Ticketcorner in Rümlang. Ringier will not provide detailed information on this either until the Competition Commission has completed its review.
Opportunity for the competition
It was foreseeable that there would be a merger between the ticket providers. "Because the sector is very dynamic, particularly due to the enormous technological changes," says Estermann. For example, Starticket took over the St. Gallen ticket portal at the beginning of the year. Regarding the merger of Starticket and Ticketcorner, Estermann says: "Swiss providers also have to position themselves against international competition." The tussle is likely to continue: US giant Ticketmaster only founded a Swiss branch in mid-June, as reported by the "Handelszeitung" newspaper. The new Swiss ticketing group is therefore positioning itself.
TICKETINO sees advantages
The competition is trying to see these manoeuvres in a positive light. Following this merger, TICKETINO will become the new number two on the Swiss market. "Our opportunity is that more and more event organisers no longer feel comfortable with this large organisation and are longing for a low-cost, self-service and simple platform where their concerns are taken seriously and personal cooperation is a priority," says TICKETINO CEO Franz Wyss to persoenlich.com. For TICKETINO, it is an advantage to only have to assert itself against one and not two dominant companies in future.
TICKETINO has no objections to the merger. "We will not make representations to the Competition Commission," says Wyss. Because: "It's good if the market keeps moving, then the best offer is sure to prevail." Ultimately, this is the only way for the consumer to benefit.
Persistent criticism from consumer protection
The Foundation for Consumer Protection SKS is less relaxed. Such a merger would be detrimental to competition in this sector, SKS Managing Director Sara Stalder told Radio 1, to which Ringier spokesperson Edi Estermann replied: "The two companies operate at market prices. This will remain the case after the merger." The high competitive pressure from other providers and the technological upheavals will ensure that prices remain competitive in the future.
"Market prices come into play for international groups and large gigs," Stalder agrees with persoenlich.com. But there would be no competition for Swiss or regional events. "What's more, the ticket prices are nowhere near the actual price paid. Miraculously, all kinds of fees are added on and this is completely non-transparent - these are not visible anywhere and appear during the ordering process," says Stalder.
This means that an originally competitive market price becomes "a price with monopoly rents" in the end.
Original article on persoenlich.com.
