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{{Short description|American media corporation based in Los Angeles, California}}
{{Redirect|Fandango (company)|the Italian company|Fandango (Italian company)|other uses|Fandango (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Fandango Media, LLC
| logo = Fandango 2014.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| image = Foxinteractivemediaheadquarters.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| image_caption = Fandango headquarters in Beverly Hills
| former_name = ticketmakers.com (2000–2007)
| type = [[Joint venture]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|2000|4|27}}
| hq_location_city = [[Beverly Hills]], [[California]]
| hq_location_country = [[United States|U.S.]]
| services = Online media
| owners = [[NBCUniversal]] (75%) [[Warner Bros. Discovery]] (25%)<ref name="revamp">{{Cite web |url= https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/fandango-vudu-streaming-pandemic-1234812244/ |title= How Fandango Leaned Into Streaming When Pandemic Theater Closures Hammered Its Ticket Biz |last= Spangler |first= Todd |date= 2020-10-22 |website= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |quote=NBCU doesn’t break out financials for Fandango (in which WarnerMedia retains about a 25% stake). |access-date= 2023-05-08 }}</ref>
| divisions = [[Fandango Latam]] [[Movies.com]] [[MovieTickets.com]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]] [[Rotten Tomatoes Movieclips]] [[Vudu]]
| website = {{URL|fandango.com}}
| footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://whois.domaintools.com/ticketmakers.com|title=TicketMakers.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools|website=[[WHOIS]]|access-date=2016-07-13|archive-date=July 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713162134/http://whois.domaintools.com/ticketmakers.com|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/fandango-acquires-rotten-tomatoes-flixster-1201704373/|title=Fandango Acquires Rotten Tomatoes & Flixster – Deadline|author=D'Alessandro, Anthony|website=Deadline|date=February 17, 2016|access-date=February 19, 2016|archive-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404023053/https://deadline.com/2016/02/fandango-acquires-rotten-tomatoes-flixster-1201704373/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/nbcuniversals-fandango-acquires-flixster-and-rotten-tomatoes|title=NBCUniversal's Fandango Acquires Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes|date=February 17, 2016|website=NBC Universal|access-date=February 21, 2016|archive-date=September 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918054955/http://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/nbcuniversals-fandango-acquires-flixster-and-rotten-tomatoes|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fandango.com/policies/privacy-policy|title=Privacy Policy|website=Fandango|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=November 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124051347/https://www.fandango.com/policies/privacy-policy|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

'''Fandango Media, LLC''' is an American [[Box office|ticketing company]] that sells [[Ticket (admission)|movie tickets]] via their website as well as through their [[mobile app]], as well as a provider of television and streaming media information through its subsidiary [[Rotten Tomatoes]].

==History==
On April 11, 2007, [[Comcast]] acquired Fandango, with plans to integrate it into a new entertainment website called "'''Fancast.com'''," set to launch the summer of 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising/comcast-adds-fandango-88613|title=Comcast Adds Fandango|author=Wallenstein, Andrew|date=April 12, 2007|work=AdWeek|access-date=April 29, 2011|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062019/http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising/comcast-adds-fandango-88613|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2008, the domain [[Movies.com]] was acquired from Disney.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/24/business/fi-movies24|title=Fandango acquires Movies.com|author=Chmielewski, Dawn C.|date=June 24, 2008|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 29, 2011|archive-date=September 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918055039/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/24/business/fi-movies24|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2012, Fandango announced a partnership with Yahoo! Movies, making Fandango the official online and mobile ticketer for registered users of the [[Yahoo!]] service.<ref>{{cite news|author=Perez, Sarah|date=March 19, 2012|title=Fandango Wins Yahoo Movies Deal Over Rival MovieTickets.com|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/03/19/fandango-wins-yahoo-movies-deal-over-rival-movietickets-com/|work=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=August 27, 2017|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411113057/https://techcrunch.com/2012/03/19/fandango-wins-yahoo-movies-deal-over-rival-movietickets-com/|url-status=live}}</ref> That October, [[Paul Yanover]] was named President of Fandango.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-et-0410-ct-how-i-made-it-20160410-story.html|title=He's led Fandango's ambitious expansion beyond movie ticket sales|last=Faughnder|first=Ryan|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-05-09|archive-date=April 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423192445/https://www.latimes.com/business/la-et-0410-ct-how-i-made-it-20160410-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fandango made its first international acquisition in September 2015 when it bought the Brazilian ticketing company Ingresso, which provides ticketing to a variety of Brazilian entertainment events, including the biannual [[Rock in Rio]] festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/global/fandango-acquires-brazil-ingresso-1201602564/|title=NBCU's Fandango Acquires Brazilian Ticketing Site Ingresso|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2015-09-25|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-07-13|archive-date=July 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713015920/https://variety.com/2015/digital/global/fandango-acquires-brazil-ingresso-1201602564/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 29, 2016, Fandango announced its acquisition of M-GO,<ref name="Ryan Faughnder">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-fandango-buys-mgo-20160129-story.html|title=Fandango buys online video retailer M-Go to boost 'super ticket' sales|author=Faughnder, Ryan|date=January 29, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 29, 2016|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411113057/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-fandango-buys-mgo-20160129-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> a joint venture between [[Technicolor SA]] and [[DreamWorks Animation]] (NBCUniversal acquired the latter company three months later),<ref name="wp-nbcdwa">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/04/28/comcast-is-buying-dreamworks-in-a-3-8-billion-acquisition/|title=Comcast is buying Dreamworks in a $3.8 billion acquisition|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=1 May 2016|archive-date=April 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429134321/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/04/28/comcast-is-buying-dreamworks-in-a-3-8-billion-acquisition/|url-status=live}}</ref> which it would later rebrand as "FandangoNOW".<ref name="thevideoink.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.thevideoink.com/news/fandango-re-branding-m-go-demand-service-fandango-now/|title=Fandango Re-Branding M-GO On-Demand Service as FandangoNOW|last1=Longwell|first1=Todd|website=Videolink|access-date=March 17, 2016|archive-date=September 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915003845/http://www.thevideoink.com/news/fandango-re-branding-m-go-demand-service-fandango-now/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Fandango ticket to Star Wars The Force Awakens 2015.jpg|thumb|Ticket to ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]'']]
In February 2016, Fandango announced its acquisition of [[Flixster]] and [[Rotten Tomatoes]] from [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]]'s [[Warner Bros.|Warner Bros. Entertainment]]. As part of the deal, Warner Bros. would become a 30% shareholder of the combined Fandango company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/02/17/fandango-buys-flixster-rotten-tomatoes/|title=Fandango Buys Flixster And Rotten Tomatoes|author=Ha, Anthony|date=February 17, 2016|work=TechCrunch|access-date=February 17, 2016|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411113056/https://techcrunch.com/2016/02/17/fandango-buys-flixster-rotten-tomatoes/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/rotten-tomatoes-fandango-flixster/|title=Rotten Tomatoes and Flixster Acquired By Fandango|website=Slashfilm|date=February 17, 2016|language=en-US|access-date=2016-02-19|archive-date=February 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218092536/http://www.slashfilm.com/rotten-tomatoes-fandango-flixster/|url-status=live}}</ref> Its stake was reduced to 25% by 2019.<ref name=revamp></ref>

In December 2016, Fandango Media purchased [[Cinepapaya]], a Peru-based website for purchasing movie tickets, for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://fortune.com/2016/12/01/comcast-fandango-cinepapaya/|title=Comcast's Fandango Buys Online Ticket-Seller Cinepapaya|date=2016-12-01|work=Fortune|access-date=2016-12-03|archive-date=December 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202112757/http://fortune.com/2016/12/01/comcast-fandango-cinepapaya/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that same month, Fandango moved to [[Fox Sports Digital Media|Fox Interactive Media's]] former headquarters in Beverly Hills.<ref name="Solomon">{{cite news |last1=Solomon |first1=Daina Beth |title=Fandango Moving to Larger Headquarters in Beverly Hills |url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2016/dec/21/fandango-moving-larger-headquarters-beverly-hills/ |access-date=15 November 2019 |work=Los Angeles Business Journal |date=21 December 2016 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119094243/https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2016/dec/21/fandango-moving-larger-headquarters-beverly-hills/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 20, 2020, [[Vudu]] announced it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Fandango Media.<ref name="Rizzo">{{cite news | last1=Rizzo | first1=Lillian | title=NBCUniversal's Fandango to Buy Walmart's Vudu Streaming Service | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/nbcuniversals-fandango-to-buy-walmarts-vudu-streaming-service-11587415960 | access-date=20 April 2020 | work=Wall Street Journal | date=20 April 2020 | archive-date=April 11, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411113056/https://www.wsj.com/articles/nbcuniversals-fandango-to-buy-walmarts-vudu-streaming-service-11587415960 | url-status=live }}</ref> The sale was completed on July 6, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.xanjero.com/news/fandangos-acquisition-of-vudu-is-complete/|title = Vudu is Now Officially Part of the Fandango Family|date = July 6, 2020|access-date = July 11, 2020|archive-date = April 19, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220419203100/https://www.xanjero.com/news/fandangos-acquisition-of-vudu-is-complete/|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Services==
Fandango's website also offers exclusive film clips, trailers, celebrity interviews, reviews by users, movie descriptions, and some web-based games to Fandango members.<ref>{{cite web|website=Fandango.com|title=Site INdex|url=https://www.fandango.com/site-index/|access-date=October 12, 2019|archive-date=April 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423135122/https://www.fandango.com/site-index|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of March 5, 2015, Fandango provides members the ability to refund or exchange their orders up to 2 hours before the showtime of their film.<ref>{{cite web|website=Fandango.com|date=October 2019|url=https://www.fandango.com/cancel-my-reservation-192910/movie-times|title=Cancel My Reservation Times|access-date=October 12, 2019|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731051505/https://www.fandango.com/cancel-my-reservation-192910/movie-times|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=Fandango.com|date=October 2019|url=https://www.fandango.com/policies/movie-ticket-policy|title=Ticket Policy|access-date=October 12, 2019|archive-date=April 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420055205/https://www.fandango.com/policies/movie-ticket-policy|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fandango's Android app was listed among Techland's 50 Best Android Applications for 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://techland.time.com/2013/07/01/50-best-android-apps-for-2013/slide/pulse-news/|title=50 Best Android Apps for 2013|last=Newman|first=Jared|work=Techland|date=July 1, 2013|access-date=March 29, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704153053/http://techland.time.com/2013/07/01/50-best-android-apps-for-2013/slide/pulse-news/|archive-date=July 4, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Competition==
Until its acquisition of its rival [[MovieTickets.com]] in 2017, Fandango was one of three major [[online]] advance movie ticket sale sites, along with MovieTickets.com and [[Atom Tickets]]. Before being acquired by Comcast in April 2007, Fandango was privately owned; its major [[stakeholder (corporate)|stakeholder]], [[Regal Entertainment Group]], which owned the [[Regal Entertainment Group#United Artists Theatres|United Artists]] and [[Hoyts]] theater chains, was the second largest movie-theater chain in the U.S. Regal and its partners founded Fandango partly to prevent the older MovieTickets.com from establishing a monopoly on phone and online ticketing services. (MovieTickets.com was publicly owned and [[trade (financial instrument)|traded]] under the [[stock symbol]] HOLL.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fandango-to-acquire-popular-online-ticketer-movieticketscom-creating-global-suite-of-movie-ticketing-properties-with-mission-of-getting-more-moviegoers-into-theaters-worldwide-300536440.html|work=PRNewswire|title=FANDANGO TO ACQUIRE POPULAR ONLINE TICKETER MOVIETICKETS.COM, CREATING GLOBAL SUITE OF MOVIE TICKETING PROPERTIES WITH MISSION OF GETTING MORE MOVIEGOERS INTO THEATERS WORLDWIDE|publisher=Fandango|date=October 13, 2017}}</ref>) The company's advertising agency reportedly chose the name "Fandango" because it sounded "fun, kinetic and smart", and "easily pronounce[d] and remember[ed]--even though it really has nothing to do with movies."<ref>{{cite web | author=Lang, Adam | url=http://www.rewindandcapture.com/why-is-it-called-fandango/ | title=Why is it called Fandango? | website=RewindandCapture.com | date=October 29, 2014 | access-date=October 29, 2014 | archive-date=June 16, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616233625/https://www.rewindandcapture.com/why-is-it-called-fandango/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Prior to 2012, Fandango did not provide online ticketing for many [[AMC Theatres]]. However, it provided online ticketing for AMC Theatres that were originally part of the [[Loews Cineplex Entertainment]] chain, due to contractual obligations in place prior to the 2005 merger of the two movie chains.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://seekingalpha.com/article/334-amc-loews-merger-could-shake-up-online-movie-ticketers-fandango-and-movietickets-com-holl-goog-msft-twx-yhoo | title=AMC-Loews merger could shake up online movie ticketers Fandango and MovieTickets.com | work=Seeking Alpha | date=June 23, 2005 | access-date=April 29, 2011 | author=Jackson, David | archive-date=April 11, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411113056/https://seekingalpha.com/article/334-amc-loews-merger-could-shake-up-online-movie-ticketers-fandango-and-movietickets-com-holl-goog-msft-twx-yhoo | url-status=live }}</ref> Loews had previously attempted to break the contract in 2002 under pressure of bankruptcy and from (then) [[AOL]] [[Moviefone]] and its partner, Loews' [[Cineplex Odeon Corporation|Cineplex]] subsidiary; Fandango successfully sued both Loews and Moviefone and retained Loews' business.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://siliconvalley.internet.com/news/article.php/1438501 |title=Fandango Heads Off An End Run |work=InternetNews.com |date=August 2, 2002 |access-date=April 29, 2011 |author=Cox, Beth |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080525193036/http://siliconvalley.internet.com/news/article.php/1438501 |archive-date=May 25, 2008 |df=mdy }}</ref> As of February 8, 2012, Fandango began providing ticketing for all AMC Theatres in the US,<ref>{{cite web|website=Fandango|title=Fandango, AMC Theatres announce newly expanded partnership|url=http://www.fandango.com/movieblog/fandangoamctheatresannouncenewlyexpandedpartnership-698047.html|access-date=February 8, 2012|archive-date=August 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829223735/https://www.fandango.com/movie-news/fandango-amc-theatres-announce-newly-expanded-partnership-698047|url-status=live}}</ref> after which MovieTickets.com's fellow shareholders sued AMC for breach of contract.<ref>{{cite web| author= Rich, Katey| url= https://www.cinemablend.com/new/MovieTickets-com-Suing-AMC-Setting-Up-Fandango-Deal-29316.html| title= MovieTickets.com suing AMC setting up Fandango deal| website= CinemaBlend.com| date= February 8, 2012| access-date= February 18, 2020| archive-date= April 11, 2022| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220411113056/https://www.cinemablend.com/new/MovieTickets-com-Suing-AMC-Setting-Up-Fandango-Deal-29316.html| url-status= live}}</ref> AMC and MovieTickets.com settled in 2013, with an agreement that the theater chain's online ticketing would be available on both Fandango and MovieTickets.com.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/amc-comes-on-board-movietickets-com-following-suit-settlement-1201066425/|title=AMC Comes on Board MovieTickets.com Following Suit Settlement|last=McNary|first=Dave|newspaper=Variety|date=January 21, 2014|access-date=May 13, 2015|archive-date=April 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419203059/https://variety.com/2014/film/news/amc-comes-on-board-movietickets-com-following-suit-settlement-1201066425/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2012, Fandango announced a partnership with [[Moviefone]], MovieTickets.com's former partner.<ref>{{cite news| author=Verrier, Richard| url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-fandango-20120523,0,812900.story| title=Fandango and Moviefone dial up new partnership| work=Los Angeles Times| date=May 23, 2012| access-date=February 18, 2020| archive-date=August 29, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829223758/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2012-may-23-la-et-ct-fandango-20120523-story.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| author=Shaw, Lucas | title= Fandango and Moviefone partner for ticket sales| url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/13767140/fandango-and-moviefone-partner-for-ticket-sales/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716080905/http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/13767140/fandango-and-moviefone-partner-for-ticket-sales/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 16, 2012 |access-date=July 16, 2012 |agency=Reuters| date= May 23, 2012}}</ref>

[[Atom Tickets]], a movie ticketing app and website launched in 2014, has been called a "serious competitor" of Fandango's.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/04/business/media/movie-ticketing-start-up-atom-tickets-hopes-to-fill-theaters.html|title=A Movie Ticketing Start-Up Hopes to Fill Empty Seats|last=Barnes|first=Brooks|date=2016-12-04|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-03-16|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=February 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209225914/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/04/business/media/movie-ticketing-start-up-atom-tickets-hopes-to-fill-theaters.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2016/04/27/atom-tickets-lobs-bomb-at-fandango-movietickets.html|title=Atom Tickets Lobs Bomb at Fandango, MovieTickets.com|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2017-03-16|archive-date=March 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316205415/http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2016/04/27/atom-tickets-lobs-bomb-at-fandango-movietickets.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Controversies==
In July 2009, it was revealed that Fandango and other websites, including [[buy.com]] and [[Orbitz]], were linked with controversial Web loyalty programs, also known as [[Post-transaction marketing|post-transaction marketers]]. Fandango reportedly gave the third party access to Fandango customers' credit cards.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10293633-93.html | title=Buy.com, Orbitz linked to controversial marketers | work=CNET | date=July 24, 2009 | access-date=April 29, 2011 | author=Sandoval, Greg | archive-date=January 27, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127210649/http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10293633-93.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2013, Fandango launched a trademark dispute when [[WWE]] tried to trademark the name for use by the [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] [[Fandango (wrestler)|Fandango (né Johnny Curtis)]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/news/another-tribute-to-the-troops-photo-fandango-wwe-issues|work=eWrestlingNews|title=Another Tribute to the Tropps: Fandango WWE Issues|access-date=August 14, 2014|archive-date=March 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315140559/https://www.ewrestlingnews.com/news/another-tribute-to-the-troops-photo-fandango-wwe-issues|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2014, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) approved final orders settling charges against Fandango for misrepresenting to the public the security of their mobile app and for failing to protect the transmission of Fandango customers' sensitive personal information.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Harris|first1=Meena|title=FTC Settlement Requires Fandango and Credit Karma to Establish Comprehensive Security Programs to Protect Consumers' Sensitive Personal Information|url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/ftc-settlement-requires-fandango-and-credit-karma-to-establish-comprehensive-securit|access-date=August 24, 2014|work=The National Law Review|publisher=[[Covington & Burling]] LLP|date=August 21, 2014|archive-date=April 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421071757/https://www.natlawreview.com/article/ftc-settlement-requires-fandango-and-credit-karma-to-establish-comprehensive-securit|url-status=live}}</ref> The Fandango mobile app assured consumers, during checkout, that their credit card information was stored and transmitted securely.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fandango, Credit Karma Settle FTC Charges that They Deceived Consumers By Failing to Securely Transmit Sensitive Personal Information|url=http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2014/03/fandango-credit-karma-settle-ftc-charges-they-deceived-consumers|website=ftc.gov/|date=March 28, 2014|publisher=[[Federal Trade Commission]]|access-date=August 24, 2014|archive-date=January 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125111842/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2014/03/fandango-credit-karma-settle-ftc-charges-they-deceived-consumers|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the FTC claims against Fandango focused on failures relating to both the implementation and testing of the [[Secure Sockets Layer]] (SSL) certificates for 4 years following the mobile app's launch in March 2009. According to the FTC, Fandango commissioned security audits in 2011, but the audits were limited in scope and did not review the security of the app's transmission of information. The FTC also alleged that Fandango did not implement effective channels for security complaints and instead relied on its general customer service system to handle security vulnerability reporting.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=LaRose|first1=Cynthia J.|author2=Romero, Jake|title=Stop Phoning It in on Mobile Security: What Your Business Needs to Know About the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Settlements with Fandango and Credit Karma|journal=The National Law Review|date=March 4, 2014|url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/stop-phoning-it-mobile-security-what-your-business-needs-to-know-about-federal-trade|access-date=August 24, 2014|issn=2161-3362|archive-date=July 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716082117/https://www.natlawreview.com/article/stop-phoning-it-mobile-security-what-your-business-needs-to-know-about-federal-trade|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2015, [[FiveThirtyEight]] published a story and podcast calling Fandango's metrics on user ratings into question.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/fandango-movies-ratings/|title=Be Suspicious Of Online Movie Ratings, Especially Fandango's|last=Hickey|first=Walt|date=2015-10-15|website=FiveThirtyEight|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-03|archive-date=May 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503072205/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/fandango-movies-ratings/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/rating-subjective-experiences-is-hard-but-fandango-is-really-bad-at-it/|title=Rating Subjective Experiences Is Hard, But Fandango Is Really Bad At It|last=Avirgan|first=Jody|date=2015-10-22|website=FiveThirtyEight|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-03|archive-date=May 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503072201/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/rating-subjective-experiences-is-hard-but-fandango-is-really-bad-at-it/|url-status=live}}</ref> The investigation noted that the site's method for calculating ratings made it rare for a movie to ever receive an overall rating below three stars.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Machkovech|first1=Sam|title=FiveThirtyEight analysis finds inflated, rounded-up reviews at Fandango|url=https://arstechnica.com/business/2015/10/fivethirtyeight-analysis-finds-inflated-rounded-up-reviews-at-fandango/|website=Arstechnica|date=October 15, 2015|access-date=March 17, 2016|archive-date=April 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422050819/https://arstechnica.com/business/2015/10/fivethirtyeight-analysis-finds-inflated-rounded-up-reviews-at-fandango/|url-status=live}}</ref> The problem seemingly extended from Fandango's habit of rounding ratings up to the nearest half.<ref name="Verge">{{cite web|last1=Plaugic|first1=Lizzie|title=You probably should ignore Fandango movie ratings|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/15/9545427/fandango-movie-reviews-inflated-stars|website=The Verge|date=October 15, 2015|access-date=March 17, 2016|archive-date=April 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419203059/https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/15/9545427/fandango-movie-reviews-inflated-stars|url-status=live}}</ref> Fandango, in response, noted that this was a glitch it was working to repair.<ref name="Verge"/> Nevertheless, [[Gizmodo]] cited the study after Fandango announced the purchase of [[Rotten Tomatoes]] amid fears that the purchase would "ruin" the site.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Novak|first1=Matt|title=Fandango Buys Rotten Tomatoes But Will Probably Ruin It|url=https://gizmodo.com/fandango-will-probably-ruin-rotten-tomatoes-1759743925|website=Gizmondo|date=February 17, 2016|access-date=March 17, 2016|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407210132/https://gizmodo.com/fandango-will-probably-ruin-rotten-tomatoes-1759743925|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2017, Fandango received hundreds of complaints regarding its delivery of ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi]]'' tickets. ''Forbes'' reported that issues began within hours of advanced sales' becoming available for the new ''Star Wars'' film, with customers complaining of long wait times and website glitches.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fortune.com/2017/10/10/star-wars-the-last-jedi-pre-sale-tickets-fandango/|work=Forbes|title=Stars Wars the Last Jedi Tickets Fandango|access-date=December 20, 2017|archive-date=April 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419203110/https://fortune.com/2017/10/10/star-wars-the-last-jedi-pre-sale-tickets-fandango/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Video on demand==
In early 2016, Fandango acquired M-GO,<ref name="Ryan Faughnder"/> which was re-branded FandangoNOW.<ref name="thevideoink.com"/> Fandango later purchased [[Vudu]] in July 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lipman|first=Ashley|date=2020-07-06|title=Vudu is Now Officially Part of the Fandango Family|url=http://www.xanjero.com/news/fandangos-acquisition-of-vudu-is-complete/|access-date=2020-07-07|website=Xanjero|language=en|archive-date=July 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708030035/http://www.xanjero.com/news/fandangos-acquisition-of-vudu-is-complete/|url-status=dead}}</ref> FandangoNOW later merged with Vudu on August 3, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fandango chooses Vudu as the way forward for its streaming business |date=2021-08-03 |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604102958/https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/3/22607391/vudu-fandango-now-combining-roku-movies-tv |archive-date=2023-06-04 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/3/22607391/vudu-fandango-now-combining-roku-movies-tv}}</ref> Fandango chose to retain the "Vudu" name as it was the larger service with a loyal customer base.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/03/fandangonow-and-vudu-merge-into-a-new-streaming-service-with-titles-to-rent-buy-or-stream-free/ |title=FandangoNOW and Vudu merge into a new streaming service with titles to rent, buy or stream free |access-date=August 4, 2021 |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407210133/https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/03/fandangonow-and-vudu-merge-into-a-new-streaming-service-with-titles-to-rent-buy-or-stream-free/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[IMDb]]
* [[Roku]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|1=fandango.com}}

{{Fandango}}
{{NBCUniversal}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Fandango| ]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in California]]
[[Category:American companies established in 2000]]
[[Category:Film websites]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2000]]
[[Category:Joint ventures]]
[[Category:NBCUniversal]]
[[Category:Subscription video on demand services]]
[[Category:Ticket sales companies]]
[[Category:Transactional video on demand]]
[[Category:Warner Bros.]]
[[Category:Comcast]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Discovery]]

Fandango Media - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 14:46, 23 September 2023