The CC's preliminary findings suggest that the merger would ‘severely inhibit' the entry of new competitor, CTS Eventim, into the market.
Live Nation had recently signed an agreement with CTS to provide ticketing services for its live music events and venues in the UK .
The CC said that this agreement would have provided CTS with a foothold in the UK market from which it would have grown, increasing competition in the sector.
"The merger with Ticketmaster means that Live Nation will have every incentive to inhibit a significant potential rival from entering the UK market and, given the significance to CTS of its agreement with Live Nation in deciding to enter the UK market, we believe that Live Nation would be able to do so," said CC deputy chairman and chairman of the Inquiry Group, Christopher Clarke.
"We believe that, if the merger proceeds, Live Nation will seek to limit its relationship with CTS, with the effect of putting CTS's future prospects in the UK in considerable doubt."
Live Nation and Ticketmaster supply tickets for a number of large scale concerts and events.
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