MEDIA 2.0 [VARIETY]

LiveNation uses Blockbuster to retail

Three-year deal will enable sales in 500 outlets

By PHIL GALLO

Blockbuster will be the exclusive physical retail ticket outlet for Live Nation Ticketing.

The homevideo and game retailer has inked a three-year agreement with concert promoter Live Nation to sell tickets in about 500 outlets. The stores will be in markets that mirror Live Nation's concert venue platform footprint.

Live Nation will launch its full-scale inhouse ticketing agency at the beginning of 2009. The company currently sells about 1 million tickets at physical locations.

Blockbuster and Live Nation expect to offer exclusive concert products and promotions to Blockbuster customers.

Nathan Hubbard, CEO of Live Nation Ticketing, said the company will look "to develop other product lines centered around music for Blockbuster customers."

Blockbuster chairman-CEO Jim Keyes said the move "represents another step in the transformation" of the company.

SOURCE:VARIETY