Promoter 'in secret Jackson ticket deal'

AEG Live has reportedly struck a secret deal with online ticket merchant Viagogo to re-sell "premium" tickets for Michael Jackson's upcoming residency at the O2.

These tickets will be sold for approximately £500 each, compared to their original face value of between £50 and £75, The Times reports.

The newspaper alleges that AEG Live and Viagogo will both make large profits from the arrangement, which will also reduce the number of standard seats available to fans via the Ticketmaster website.

AEG Live is said to have approached resellers with the offer of between 500 and 1,000 tickets for each night of Jackson's comeback shows.

A source close to the promoter said: "This is the hottest ticket of the decade. To suggest that there won't be a premium market is unrealistic.

"We want to make sure it is done properly and fans are not buying the tickets in some dodgy back alley."

The source added: "This is only a small minority of tickets. The aim all along has been to make sure that the majority of the arena is filled with real fans.

"There are systems in place to make sure people cannot buy multiple tickets and sell them on."