Fandango and Moviefone dial up new partnership

One-time online ticketing rivals Fandango and Moviefone are joining forces.

The companies announced Wednesday that Fandango will be the exclusive ticketing partner for AOL’s Moviefone, marking the first partnership between the two companies.

Founded in the 1980s, Moviefone was an early pioneer in telephone and mobile ticketing, and provides showtimes, news and information about movies. It has worked with MovieTickets.com since 2004.

The new partnership will give Moviefone customers the ability to make ticket purchases online, on mobile devices and on tablets for Fandango’s network of 20,000 screens, the largest in the country.

“Partnering with Fandango gives Moviefone users an upgraded experience by allowing them to buy tickets from twice as many theaters with more options,” said Jay Kirsch, senior vice president and general manager of AOL Marketplace. “This move bolsters our already extensive web and mobile offerings.”

Moviefone, originally a phone-based service, was acquired by AOL in 1999 for $388 million in stock. After the acquisition, exhibitors launched their own services, MovieTickets.com and Los Angeles-based Fandango, the exclusive ticketer for Regency Theaters and AMC Theaters and is owned by NBC Universal.

“This new alliance builds on Fandango’s continued momentum by introducing its conveniences to millions of new Moviefone consumers, and furthering our goal to enable film fans to buy tickets at any time, any place and on any platform,” said Rick Butler, executive vice president and general manager of Fandango.

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