{{Short description|American media corporation}} {{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}} | founder = James Michael Cline | hq_location_city = Beverly Hills, California | hq_location_country = United States | owners = Versant (75%) <br/>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 |quote=NBCU doesn't break out financials for Fandango (in which WarnerMedia retains about a 25% stake). |access-date= 2023-05-08 }}</ref> | divisions = {{Indented plainlist| * Fandango * Fandango at Home * INDY Cinema Group * MovieTickets.com * Rotten Tomatoes * Rotten Tomatoes Movieclips }} | 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-last1=D'Alessandro|author-first1= 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 ticketing company that sells movie tickets via its website and its mobile app. It also owns Fandango at Home (formerly owned by Walmart and originally known as Vudu), a streaming digital video store and streaming service, and Rotten Tomatoes, a website that provides television and streaming media information. It is a joint venture between Versant and Warner Bros. Discovery.
==History== In 2000, James Michael Cline, with Art Levitt, founded Fandango.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/j-michael-cline-dead-fandango-founder-jumped-off-hotel-1236076223/|title=Fandango Founder J. Michael Cline Dies After Falling From New York Hotel |website=Variety |first=Pat|last=Saperstein|date=July 18, 2024}}</ref> In 2003, Fandango secured $15 million in funding from venture capitalists Technology Crossover Ventures.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bloom |first1=David |title=Fandango to finger funding of $15 mil |url=https://variety.com/2003/digital/news/fandango-to-finger-funding-of-15-mil-1117878435/ |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=Variety |date=9 January 2003}}</ref> Fandango was privately held.<ref name="whirl" /> Then-owners included exhibition chains (Loews Cineplex Entertainment, Regal Cinemas, Carmike Cinemas, Cinemark Theatres, General Cinema Theatres, Edwards Theatres and Century Theatres<ref name="whirl">{{cite news |last1=Goldsmith |first1=Jill |title=Exhibs give Fandango tix name a whirl |url=https://variety.com/2000/digital/news/exhibs-give-fandango-tix-name-a-whirl-1117782303/ |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=Variety |date=7 June 2000}}</ref>) and venture capital firms (''Accretive Technology Partners'' and ''General Atlantic Partners'').
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-last1=Wallenstein|author-first1= 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://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-24-fi-movies24-story.html|title=Fandango acquires Movies.com|author-last1=Chmielewski|author-first1= 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-last1=Perez|author-first1= 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-last1=Faughnder|author-first1= 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|author-first1=Brian|author-last1=Fung|date=28 April 2016|newspaper=The 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 Time Warner's 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-last1=Ha|author-first1= 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 />
In December 2016, Fandango Media purchased Cinepapaya, a Peru-based website for purchasing movie tickets, for an undisclosed amount.<ref name=":1">{{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 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, Walmart entered into an agreement to sell Vudu to 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> Vudu was rebranded as Fandango at Home in 2024. On July 16, 2024, Fandango founder J. Michael Cline committed suicide at the age of 64.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/fandango-founder-j-michael-cline-dead-at-64-8679774|title=Fandango Founder J. Michael Cline Dead at 64|first=Angel|last=Saunders|publisher=People|date=July 17, 2024|accessdate=July 18, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/j-michael-cline-dead-fandango-founder-jumped-off-hotel-1236076223/|title=Fandango Founder J. Michael Cline Dies After Falling From New York Hotel|first=Pat|last=Saperstein|publisher=Variety|date=July 17, 2024|accessdate=July 18, 2024}}</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=https://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=live|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, Regal Cinemas, which owned the 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 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-last1=Lang|author-first1= Adam | url=https://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-last1=Jackson|author-first1= 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 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-last1=Cox|author-first1= 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|date=February 8, 2012 |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-last1= Rich|author-first1= 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-last1=Verrier|author-first1= 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> 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 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-last1=Sandoval|author-first1=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 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=https://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=https://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>
Rotten Tomatoes has received several criticisms relating to its scoring. 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=dead}}</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=dead}}</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> Other complaints have concerned apparent political bias, with an analysis of Rotten Tomatoes scores seemingly preferencing films which exhibit progressive values and down-rating conservative ones.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@centerissexy/graphing-rotten-tomatoes-political-bias-957e43986461 |title=Graphing Rotten Tomatoes' Political Bias|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref> Other criticisms suggest score manipulation for commercial reasons: in 2012, 32 million audience votes suddenly appeared for the Star Wars film 'Revenge of the Sith', in what was called by Screenrant "a clear example of nefarious manipulation".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/rotten-tomatoes-audience-score-changes-worse/ |title=Rotten Tomatoes' New Audience Rating System Is Even Worse|website=Screen Rant |date=March 3, 2019 |access-date=September 25, 2023}}</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=https://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>
== Fandango Latam == {{Infobox company | name = Fandango Latam | logo = Fandango 2014.svg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = <!-- Use ISO 639-1 code, e.g. "fr" for French. For multiple names in different languages, use {{lang|[code]|[name]}}. --> | former_name = Cinepapaya | type = Division | industry = | founded = {{start date and age|2012}} | founder = <!-- or: | founders = --> | defunct = {{start date and age|2020}} | hq_location = Lima, Peru | hq_location_city = | hq_location_country = | area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = --> | key_people = | products = | brands = | services = Movie ticketing and content | owner = | parent = Fandango Media | website = {{URL|https://fandango.lat}} | logo_padding = }} thumb|260px|Cinepapaya founders Manuel Olguin and Gary Urteaga at TNW Conference Latin America 2012.
'''Fandango Latam''', previously known as '''Cinepapaya''', was a movie ticket-selling website that served as the Latin American arm of Fandango Media.
Cinepapaya was first launched in 2012, receiving funding from 500 Startups and Telefonica‘s startup accelerator Wayra.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heim |first=Anna |date=2012-12-14 |title=Peruvian movie portal Cinepapaya announces funding from 500 Startups, eyes Latin America |url=https://thenextweb.com/news/peruvian-movie-portal-cinepapaya-announces-funding-from-500-startups-eyes-latin-america |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=The Next Web |language=en}}</ref> It participated also in the Start-Up Chile’s acceleration program.
In 2014, Cinepapaya received a $2M investment from Brazilian internet conglomerate Movile.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shieber |first=Jonathan |date=2014-10-20 |title=Movile, Brazil's Answer To Rocket Internet, Backs Mobile Ticketing Co. CinePapaya With $2M |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/10/20/movile-brazils-answer-to-rocket-internet-backs-mobile-ticketing-co-cinepapaya-with-2m/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref> As of May 2015, Cinepapaya was transactional in Peru, Chile and Colombia, and served content in 17 countries in South America (as for May 2015), expecting to close 2015 with 20 countries,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Editing Fandango Latam - Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fandango_Latam |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=en.wikipedia.org |language=en}}</ref> and then venture into other emerging markets.
In December 2016, Fandango Media purchased Cinepapaya, for an undisclosed amount.<ref name=":1" /> Fandango had previously acquired Cinepapaya's Brazilian competitor Ingresso in 2015, and merged the two entities to create Fandango Latam.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=2018-10-22 |title=Fandango Becomes Largest Online Ticketer in Latin America (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/fandango-latin-america-cinepolis-1202987694/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In March 2017, Fandango announced a new branding strategy for its Latin American assets, and definitively rebranded Cinepapaya to Fandango Latam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fandango unveils new global brand strategy for Latin America |url=http://www.thedrum.com/news/fandango-unveils-new-global-brand-strategy-latin-america |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=The Drum |language=en-US}}</ref>
In October 2018, Fandango Latam announced several multi-year deals with Cinépolis, Cinemark Theatres, National Amusements, and Cinemex, adding 5,000 new screens to Fandango's Latin American inventory. This deal turned Fandango into the largest online ticketer in Latin America.<ref name=":0" />
Fandango announced their exit from the Latin American market in 2020, as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cinema industry. This notably excluded the operation of the ticket merchant Ingresso in Brazil, which would later be acquired by Universo Online.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ingresso.com Rebrands and Plans To Grow Even Larger in Brazil |url=https://celluloidjunkie.com/digest/ingresso-com-rebrands-and-plans-to-grow-even-larger-in-brazil/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=Celluloid Junkie |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Video on demand== {{Main|Fandango at Home}} In early 2016, Fandango acquired M-GO,<ref name="Ryan Faughnder"/> which was re-branded as FandangoNOW.<ref name="thevideoink.com"/> Fandango later purchased Vudu from Walmart 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 was then merged with Vudu on August 3, 2021.<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 |date=August 3, 2021 |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> While Fandango initially chose to keep the "Vudu" name for brand recognition as the larger of the two services<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>, it would eventually be renamed to Fandango at Home on February 15, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-15 |title=Vudu Is Becoming Fandango At Home |url=https://www.fandango.com/movie-news/vudu-is-becoming-fandango-at-home-755026 |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=Fandango |language=en}}</ref>
In June 2023, AMC Theatres (which has been a long-time partner of Fandango's online movie ticketing service) announced that Vudu would subsume its AMC Theatres On Demand service, with its library being transferred to the platform and upgraded to higher quality formats where applicable.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Forristal |first=Lauren |date=2023-06-01 |title=AMC and Vudu score big with new on-demand streaming partnership |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/01/amc-and-vudu-score-big-with-new-on-demand-streaming-partnership/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|1=fandango.com}}
{{Fandango}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Fandango Media Category:2000 establishments in California Category:American companies established in 2000 Category:Film websites Category:Internet properties established in 2000 Category:Joint ventures Category:Subscription video on demand services Category:Ticket sales companies Category:Transactional video on demand Category:Versant Category:Warner Bros. Discovery