The good news is that the Buffalo Wild Wings on Mall Ring Circle is open 24 hours a day. (It's Nevada.)
The bad news is that NTN/Buzztime games don't kick in until 11am...and Costco should be done with its tire installation by that time.
But this info WILL be filed for future reference.
I'll have lunch here on occasion, and a couple of regulars are always there.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=9598
NTN/Buzztime continues to do stuff:
Buzztime Gets Personal with 'Know Your Server' Debut
NTN Buzztime, Inc.
CARLSBAD, Calif., June 30 -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. (Amex: NTN), an interactive entertainment company, debuts a new game series today called "Know Your Server" geared towards showcasing servers and revealing all their stories for the entertainment of restaurant and bar patrons. Buzztime interviewed 27 contestants from Buzztime locations and asked them a series of questions about their opinions, personal lives and experiences. Buzztime players will attempt to answer those questions. Ladies First; the first 27 contestants chosen are from far flung locations including Salmon Arm, British Columbia; Trabuco Canyon, California and Sellersville, Pennsylvania. Each week starting June 30th three contestants vie for patron popularity votes, with the grand finale winner taking home a $2000 prize package while her employer receives 6 months of free Buzztime service.
Once the Ladies First edition of Know Your Server concludes, Buzztime is planning for the male servers to get in the game as well.
"Restaurant and bar visitors have two main interactions when they visit a Buzztime location -- they love to play Buzztime's interactive games, and they interact with their server" said Jake Tauber, Executive Vice President, Content & Marketing for NTN Buzztime, Inc. "We combined the two, creating a unique game where patrons are entertained by answering questions about the servers who are competing and representing their workplaces against others nationwide."
Customers may even see a bit of themselves in the contest, as several questions have to do with the customer-server interaction, including "What's the weirdest thing a customer has said to you?"
First up to play is Leeann from Ten Sports Grill in Dallas, Texas; Safira from Beef O'Brady's in Davenport, Florida and Jeri from the Frosty Mug in Marion, Ohio, followed each week by three new contestants. The game schedule and the rules for the game can be found at http://players.buzztime.com/kys
Buzztime developed the Know Your Server contest for bar and restaurant operators who want to enhance their concept and engage more patrons through Buzztime's entertaining games.
About NTN Buzztime, Inc.
NTN Buzztime, Inc., a leader in multi-point social interactive entertainment for more than 20 years, is based in Carlsbad, CA. Buzztime is distributed in-home and out-of-home across broadband platforms including online, cable TV, satellite TV, and in approximately 3,800 restaurants, sports bars and pubs throughout North America and the United Kingdom. Buzztime entertainment is also available on electronic games and in books. For more information, please visit http://www.buzztime.com.
Buzztime is a proud member of the OVAB |Out-of-home Video Advertising Bureau.
Forward-looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements which reflect management's current views of future events and operations including but not limited to estimates of financial performance and cash flows, trends in subscriber preference and engagement and results of marketing strategies. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include the risk of changing economic conditions, failure of product demand or market acceptance of both existing and new products and services and the impact of competitive products and pricing. Please see NTN Buzztime, Inc.'s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks that may affect the Company. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. These statements speak only as of the date hereof, and NTN Buzztime, Inc. does not undertake to publicly update or revise any of its forward-looking statements, even if experience or future changes show that the indicated results or events will not be realized
For More Information Contact:
October Strategies for Buzztime
303-471-4511 or 303-346-5527
larae@octoberstrategies.com
SOURCE NTN Buzztime, Inc.
According to NTN Buzztime, the game has already started in the United States and Canada (Mondays 8:00 pm Eastern/5:00 pm Pacific), and will start in the United Kingdom tomorrow (Wednesdays 9:30 pm).
I almost stopped there a couple of weeks ago, but unfortunately didn't have time.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=31801
I saw this headline at the PR Newswire website and had to laugh:
NTN Buzztime, Inc. Successfully Completes Annual Meeting of Stockholders
I mean, c'mon. I usually chair between 1 and 3 meetings a week, and I don't issue a press release every time I finish one of them.
Then again, I haven't just refused to renew the contract of our head honcho. And shareholders can get antsy. So maybe the headline writer had a point.
CARLSBAD, Calif., June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. (Amex: NTN), reported that at its annual meeting of stockholders completed today in Carlsbad, California, the stockholders re-elected the incumbent five-person Board of Directors and ratified the selection of its independent registered accountants.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080331/CLM183LOGO)
The annual meeting had initially been convened on May 30, 2008, and had been adjourned to today.
Based on the preliminary report from the Inspector of Elections, over 64 percent of the Company's stockholders attended the annual meeting, in person or by proxy. A dissident stockholder had incorrectly asserted in an SEC filing on June 25 that its efforts to defeat a quorum would result in no more than 44 percent attendance. Michael Fleming, Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer of NTN Buzztime, Inc. said, "We appreciate the solid support we received today from the majority of our stockholders, as we move to implement our business plan."
Here's part of the June 25 filing that was referenced in the press release:
On June 24, 2008, Trinad Capital Master Fund, Ltd. (“Trinad”) sent a letter to the Issuer disputing the fact that a quorum existed for its annual meeting of stockholders, originally planned to be held on May 30, 2008, but adjourned until June 26, 2008 (the “2008 Annual Meeting”), based on the fact that Trinad was aware of numerous numbers of stockholders of Issuer who withheld their vote at that time in light of various events that took place in and around that time. Regardless of Issuer’s contention that a quorum existed, Trinad retained its own third party proxy solicitor to canvass Issuer’s stockholders to determine if a quorum exists for the 2008 Annual Meeting and was told that in excess of 56% of Issuer’s stockholders are withholding their votes at the 2008 Annual Meeting. Despite this demonstration of dissatisfaction by more than a majority of Issuer’s stockholders, Issuer still seems intent on going forward with the 2008 Annual Meeting and ignoring the actions of its stockholders. Trinad believes this action to be incomprehensible and lacks justification under any circumstance and believes that the Issuer’s rush to hold the 2008 Annual Meeting in the face of such dissatisfaction is a blatant disregard for Issuer’s stockholders. Trinad again demanded that Issuer postpone the 2008 Annual Meeting and consider a slate of directors (which Trinad had previously proposed) that will be responsive to the demands of Issuer’s stockholders.
Similar sentiments were expressed on the Yahoo! message boards, but message board participants are worse than PR Newswire headline writers.
Trinad is starting to kick AZZ
11-Jun-08 10:24 pm
Vote all the BOD's OUT!!!!!!!!!! WE need someone to take charge now. Go TRINAD!
To which NTN Buzztime said, "Nyah nyah." And just as well. If Trinad is such a savior for the company, why are they unable to count?
But the message boards did illuminate Trinad's plan for the company, had it been successful:
At the 2008 Annual Meeting Trinad intends to vote for the election of each of Dario Santana, Joseph Farricelli and Kirk Read to NTN’s Board of Directors (the “NTN Board”) and will withhold its vote for the election of the other nominees of the Company. Trinad also intends to vote for the four nominees presented below. The three Company nominees that Trinad intends to vote for and the four nominees described below constitute the full slate of seven directors supported by Trinad. Trinad hereby submits the following nominees for consideration at the 2008 Annual Meeting to serve as members of the NTN Board: Robert S. Ellin, Jay Wolf, Bruce Stein and Ian Aaron.
I say that Santana and Fleming should face off in a 15 question trivia challenge. Sounds fair to me.
P.S. I'd tell you more about Trinad Capital Master Fund, but they don't appear to have a website. Here's the Google search.
This press release was issued June 24. Note the "dwell time" and return rate.
CARLSBAD, Calif., June 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. (Amex: NTN), an out-of-home entertainment company, announced 65.9 percent of the Buzztime audience is the highly desirable 21-49 year old demographic according to a recent study conducted by The Nielsen Company. The Buzztime Network is currently available in bars and restaurants across North America and features casual interactive games played on television screens.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080331/CLM183LOGO)
In addition to having a desirable target demographic for advertisers, Nielsen also concluded that 86 percent of those interviewed were aware of Buzztime screens. These viewers demonstrated high ad awareness with over 50 percent recalling(1) an NFL Network advertisement on Buzztime screens during their stay.
Nielsen also documented that Buzztime players are 66 percent male and 34 percent female with an average annual income of $69,855. The audience had a dwell time of nearly one hour per visit (59.3 minutes) and 59 percent of the respondents visited the same location three or more times during the previous four weeks.
"The Nielsen results support the value of the Buzztime Network to both advertisers and venue owners," said Tim Nichols, Senior Director of Business Intelligence and Product Management. "Based on these findings, we are now able to quantify and demonstrate the value of our Buzztime audience."
Mr. Nichols further stated that, "Buzztime is a unique platform for advertisers to reach their target audience in a setting where they are engaged with our games and open to receiving advertising messages. We believe Buzztime’s reach in the out-of-home market among the 21-49 year olds is exactly what advertisers are seeking."
Nielsen’s Strategic Media Research fielded intercept interviews for a sample of dates and day-parts across Buzztime-installed locations. Interviewing took place in 47 locations across two measurement intervals: December 11-15, 2007 (5 days) and February 25-March 16, 2008 (21 days). Dayparts consisted of 5 hours each, from 5-10pm. Interviews were completed with 788 visitors 18+ yrs. old as they exited the site.
(1) Net of unaided, aided and photo-prompted.
About NTN Buzztime, Inc.
NTN Buzztime, Inc., a leader in social interactive entertainment for more than 20 years, is based in Carlsbad, CA. Buzztime is distributed in-home and out-of-home across broadband platforms including online, cable TV, satellite TV, and in approximately 3,800 restaurants, sports bars and pubs throughout North America and the United Kingdom. Buzztime entertainment is also available on electronic games and in books. For more information, please visit http://www.buzztime.com.
Buzztime is a member of the OVAB | Out-of-home Video Advertising Bureau.
Buzztime and Play Along TV are registered trademarks of Buzztime Entertainment, Inc.
Forward-looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements which reflect management’s current views of future events and operations including but not limited to estimates of financial performance and cash flows, trends in subscriber preference and engagement and results of marketing strategies. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include the risk of changing economic conditions, the impact of executive management transitions, failure of product demand or market acceptance of both existing and new products and services and the impact of competitive products and pricing. Please see NTN Buzztime, Inc.’s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks that may affect the Company. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. These statements speak only as of the date hereof, and NTN Buzztime, Inc. does not undertake to publicly update or revise any of its forward-looking statements, even if experience or future changes show that the indicated results or events will not be realized.
BUZZTIME CONTACT:
Jake Tauber
Executive Vice President,
Content & Marketing
NTN Buzztime, Inc.
760-930-5048
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sarah Znerold
SZPR, Inc.
760-943-2333
sarah@szpr.com
SOURCE NTN Buzztime, Inc.
OK, so you've decided that you want to work for NTN Buzztime and provide gaming solutions and related products to the masses. Where do you start:
The first place to start is at NTN Buzztime's own website. As of today (6/25/2008), they are seeking the following in Carlsbad and elsewhere:
San Diego: Part-time Contract Print Designer
San Diego: Controller
San Diego: Director of Financial Planning & Analysis
Tampa/Clearwater: Regional Marketing Executive
San Diego: Customer Service Representative
In addition to full-time employment, they also seek freelancers.
We are always seeking full-time or freelance resources to assist us with exciting new projects. If you are a talented artist, programmer, producer, or salesperson, we encourage you to email your resume to jobs@ntnbuzztime.com, or send us a non-returnable portfolio and/or CD to:
NTN Buzztime, Inc.
Attn: Human Resources
5966 La Place Court, Suite 100
Carlsbad, California 92008
But perhaps you would prefer to go through your own service. You can also see NTN Buzztime jobs via MySpace, SimplyHired, CareerBuilder, or Monster.
I didn't start playing NTN Buzztime until I started making regular trips to Canada in 2000 or so. But I found a post from someone who was playing the games much earlier.
sbroox discussed experiences in British Columbia back in 1991 with an earlier version of the devices.
I spent the better part of 1991 in Campbell River, BC. The hotel I was living at, the Anchor Inn, had a wireless trivia system in their lounge that was administered by a company called NTN....
The setup was similar to what we know today. People in the lounge would compete against each other, and the lounge would compete against other bars and lounges throughout North America (and the UK - see below).
Then sbroox spouts something that an NTN Buzztime marketer would love:
This is exactly the sort of interactivity that engages people and makes them stay longer at a bar, return more frequently, and invite other people along.
However, there is a cost involved, since the bars have to pay NTN Buzztime for the privilege of hosting their services. And while many establishments have been able to justify the cost via increased business, others have not.
See the rest of sbroox's post, which talks about bar trivia in general, here. Also see the followup post on an ineffective loyalty program.
Incidentally, when I first wrote this post, I stated that as of 1991, NTN was only available in the US and Canada. I was wrong.
[S]ome [forum] contributors refer to a previous attempt to launch this style of quiz by the name of 'Twin Network'. This was commenced in 1991 and was a joint project between NTN, Twin Network Limited (part of the Whitbread Group). I have found media references to it before 1994 but then the trail goes cold. I cannot find as to why it was not successful (I have searched two on-line news database).
I was able to find this in a 1997 press release:
A 12-year veteran of NTN, [Dan] Purner was previously vice president of production, charged with the responsibility for in-house product development and production for all NTN interactive products. From 1990-1993, he managed NTN's involvement in the Twin Network, a joint venture between BBC Enterprises and Whitbread in the United Kingdom. In 1993, he was named director of programming at NTN.
And I found this in the beginning of a July 1, 1991 article:
Interactive entertainment is being transmitted to television screens in 85 UK pubs by Twin Network, new joint company formed by BBC and Whitbread. Digital data is broadcast by BBC to receivers in pubs, with customers using hand-held computerised control to interact with live sports events--in first instance, racing at Ascot.
Here's a new feature for this NTN Buzztime blog, that will highlight various places where you can play NTN Buzztime games.
I visited the Laclede Street Grill a few years ago when I was in St. Louis, Missouri on business.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=28550
Some day I'm going to write a post in my personal blog that talks about people who promote services that never use them. It irks me to no end when people start a Web 2.0 service, but don't seem to use it themselves all that much. (I have to say, however, that Paul Buchheit is an exception; one of the principals of FriendFeed, he frequently uses the service to share items with his followers, and constantly engages with other people on the service.)
But when I get around to writing this post about people who don't use the services they promote, I'll have to start with myself.
Yup, that's right. Ever since I started the Empoprise-NTN blog, I have not played a single NTN Buzztime game.
But I came close to doing so last night.
I was in a celebratory mood, having just baselined three marketing requirements. (I know that you probably wouldn't celebrate such an accomplishment, but I certainly would.) I knew that I had a 7:00 meeting to attend at my church, but I figured that I would leave work, drive toward my church, stop somewhere along the way, play NTN Buzztime trivia (and, coincidentally, watch the Lakers at Celtics game) until 6:30 or so, then proceed to my church meeting.
The question was, where to play? I like the TGI Fridays in Yorba Linda, but the eastbound 91 should be avoided at all costs during the afternoon commute, so that was out of the question.
Because Diamond Bar is smack dab in the middle of my planned drive from work to church, I ran the Site Finder, centered on the 91765 zip code, to find some likely places along the way.
Oak Tree Lanes
reviews (2) 0 990 N Diamond Bar Blvd
Diamond Bar , CA 91765
map 333 1083
Black Angus Chino Hills
reviews (2) 7.5 3968 Grand Ave
Chino Hills, CA 91710
map • website 103 1134
The Gem Sports Bar
reviews (3) 7.7 5771-A Pine Ave
Chino Hills, CA 91709
map 2867 1600
Buffalo Wild Wings
reviews (1) 7.7 3160 Chino Ave
Chino Hills , CA 91709
map 574 97
TGI Fridays
reviews (4) 9.5 23040 Eastpark Dr
Yorba Linda, CA 92887
map • website 592 1118
JTs Beach Club
reviews (2) 10.7 15334 E Whittier Blvd
Whittier, CA 90603
map 415 1679
Tequila Hoppers and Grill
reviews (2) 11.3 60 N Mountain Ave
Upland , CA 91786
map 1964 867
The Olive Pit 12.3 834 E Lincoln Ave
Orange , CA 92865
map 3544 2918
Lamppost Pizza Corona
reviews (5) 12.7 300 N Main
Corona, CA 92880
map 818 154
Draft Picks Sports Club 12.8 15856 E Imperial Hwy
LA MIRADA , CA 90638
map 3269 2308
Danny Ks Cafe and Billiards
reviews (9) 13.3 1096 N Main
Orange , CA 92867
map 29 909
Bostons Gourmet Pizza
reviews (1) 15 11260 4th Street
Rancho Cucamonga , CA 91730
map 2631 855
Good Ol Boys Saloon 15.5 10624 Katella
Anaheim , CA 92804
map 1897 2120
National Sports Grill 15.5 5970 Orange Thorpe Ave
Buena Park , CA 90620
map 2836 3279
Lofflers Sports Bar and Grill
reviews (4) 15.5 8901 Katella Ave
Anaheim , CA 92804
map 3038 2028
Buffalo Wild Wings
reviews (4) 16.5 12411 Limonite Ave #650
Mira Loma , CA 91752
map 1237 37
Black Angus Santa Ana
reviews (4) 17.4 1350 N Tustin
Santa Ana, CA 92701
map • website 3544 3626
Buffalo Wild Wings
reviews (4) 19 8188 Daycreek Blvd #140
Rancho Cucamonga , CA 91739
map 311 201
Events Sports Grill
reviews (3) 19.7 10560 Magnolia Ave Unit A
Riverside, CA 92505
map 1734 1991
Michaels Sports Pub and Grill
reviews (3) 20 15192 Golden West St
Westminster, CA 92683
map 1272 1020
Mr Bs Restaurant Sports Lounge
reviews (4) 20.2 11272 Los Alamitos Blvd
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
map 159 893
East Side Marios Lakewood
reviews (2) 21.7 4771 Candlewood St
Lakewood, CA 90712
map 132 1096
Baja Willies
reviews (3) 22.2 7891 Warner Ave
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
map 979 1248
Centerfield Sports Bar
reviews (5) 22.2 17296 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach , CA 92647
map • website 1310 1988
Corrigans Sports
reviews (1) 22.4 4700 Airport Plaza Dr
Long Beach, CA 90815
map 3350 3138
Wardlow Station
reviews (1) 24.1 1174 E Wardlow Rd
Long Beach , CA 90807
map 1398 518
Rocks
reviews (1) 24.1 3445 Long Beach Blvd
Long Beach , CA 90807
map 3168 2833
Shannons Bayshore 24.4 5335 E 2nd St
Long Beach, CA 90803
map 1664 2414
Yankee Doodles
reviews (1) 24.4 4100 E Ocean Blvd
Long Beach , CA 90803
map 451 2219
Liquid Lounge
(coming soon) 24.5 3522 E Anaheim St
Long Beach , CA 90804
map 3544 3626
Max Sports Grill
reviews (1) 24.9 18862 Beach Blvd #114
Huntington Beach , CA 92648
map 2707 1299
Incidentally, I was saddened to see that the Beer Hunter in Rancho Cucamonga no longer appears on this list. I don't know if they've dropped NTN Buzztime, or whether Beer Hunter itself is closed.
I ended up concentrating on the two NTN Buzztime locations in Rancho Cucamonga. (Oh, how I wish McAlan's Pub had kept the service.) I considered going to Buffalo Wild Wings - I haven't played at a Buffalo Wild Wings before (although I almost did), but the chain is clearly a huge supporter of NTN Buzztime. However, for locational reasons, I decided to go to Boston's Gourmet Pizza (Buzztime page here) instead.
I got caught up in the commute, so I missed my window to get involved in the 5:30 game. No problem, I thought, I'll just get there before 6:00, get one game in, then head to church.
Well, I got there at about 5:45 and walked around the place, which was very crowded. Did I mention that the Lakers were playing last night? Every TV, with the exception of one, was tuned to the Lakers game. The one TV was tuned to...poker.
While I'm a fan of the trivia games, I'm not the biggest proponent of poker. I played it once, failed miserably, and have only played trivia since.
I guess I could have asked them to turn a TV to trivia, but I figured with the Lakers game and all, the chances of that happening were pretty much nil. (And I still remembered what had happened when I visited the Olive Pit in Orange for the first time in several months, only to discover that they had dropped trivia in favor of poker.)
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to go to the Buffalo Wild Wings at Victoria Gardens by this time, so I didn't get a chance to play last night.
And the Lakers lost.
But the church meeting went well, so it wasn't a total loss.
Here are portions of a June 17 press release from NTN Buzztime.
NTN Buzztime, Inc. (Amex: NTN) today announced that it has partnered with VH1 to support the launch of a new VH1 series, "I Love The New Millennium." Patrons of subscribing bars and restaurants can test their knowledge of pop culture topics from the past eight years (2000-2007) by playing the "I Love The New Millennium" out-of-home branded trivia game on the Buzztime(R) Network. "I Love The New Millennium" debuted June 6, 2008 on the Buzztime Network and the TV show is slated to premiere June 23, 2008 on VH1.
And this apparently got players' attention.
Interest in the trivia game is evident after the release of an e-newsletter announcing the game to Buzztime's player network. After sending the newsletter, Buzztime measured a 39 percent increase in website traffic.
Unfortunately, VH1 isn't quite as excited about the partnership as NTN Buzztime is. When I tried to search for "buzztime" on the VH1 website, here are my results:
Your search - buzztime - did not match any pages.
All of the Buzztime trivia games are listed at
http://players.buzztime.com/game_library/BuzztimeTrivia.php
Approximately 30 different trivia games are available. In addition to Buzztime Trivia, Appeteasers, Wipeout, and Buzztime Football Challenge, the games include Abused News, Get Reel, Odd Couples, Playback Music Trivia, RetroacTiVe, and many more.
I am in Huntsville, Alabama at the Madison Square mall, sitting outside a Buffalo Wild Wings.
Unfortunately, this is one of those "we're just here for one thing" trips, so there's no time to linger over an NTN Buzztime game.
Dang.
I've never played this game, and there's a reason - it's not offered in the United States or Canada.
http://players.buzztime.com/game_library/football.php
Buzztime Football Challenge is an exciting mix of everything football - from the current week's Premier League games to past World Cup Champions, this game has it all! This game is a half-hour, and consists of 15 multiple-choice football questions. The game runs back to back for a full hour of football fun!
http://players.buzztime.com/game_library/wipeout.php
Wipeout follows Buzztime's most popular trivia format, Buzztime Trivia®, with one very significant exception: there are no clues!
http://players.buzztime.com/game_library/appeteasers.php
Appeteasers is Buzztime's bite-sized lunchtime trivia game. It follows the format of Buzztime Trivia™, our most popular game -but it's shorter. Appeteasers is designed to accommodate that lunchtime rush: Each game consists of 7 trivia questions and lasts 15 minutes.
http://players.buzztime.com/game_library/buzztime_trivia.php
Buzztime Trivia™ is Buzztime's most popular trivia game! Each half-hour game consists of 15 multiple-choice trivia questions. From anatomy to zoology - and everything in between - there's something for everyone.
Remember how I lamented the fact that Double Decker's in Ottawa apparently dumped NTN Buzztime when it became another site? Well, that story isn't always repeated as buddyfeed noted:
My favorite bar in Buckhead, McDuff’s, recently passed on and in it’s wake comes Stout Irish Sports Pub. Stout Irish Sports Pub....
"...will provide a full premium bar including a wide selection of over 50 beers, dark ales, refreshing lagers and rich stouts on draft and available in bottles. Miller High Life beers are always $1. In addition to a welcoming patio, the main bar features 19 TVs with international satellite, a pool table, dart boards, Golden Tee, NTN Buzztime Trivia and juke box while the lower level game room offers three additional pool tables, Pac Man & Galaga, a private bathroom and its own cocktail waitress."
Holy crap, that bar sounds exactly like McDuff’s. That is genius idea to replacedan irish pub, with well another irish pub.
Hopefully things will work out. Keep posted.
All's not quiet on the NTN Buzztime front.
Not too long after NTN Buzztime announced Dario Santana's forthcoming departure, they're announcing some other changes:
CARLSBAD, Calif., May 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NTN Buzztime, Inc.
(Amex: NTN) today announced that former Sony Pictures Entertainment executive
and interactive games pioneer Michael Fleming has been named Chairman of the
Board of Directors and interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Fleming, a
Buzztime Board director since November 2001, will assume these positions and
responsibilities effective immediately.
After all of the made-up quotes, the press release continued:
Former CEO Dario Santana has resigned from the Company's Board of
Directors.
It was also announced that Barry Bergsman, Chairman of the Board since
July 2006, will step down from that position and remain on the Board.
Fleming's chief qualification, other than being around and available, is apparently that he previously served "as the recent Chairman and co-founder of Contendo Vici LLC, a fantasy sports game development and production company." He also founded the Game Show Network and worked for Playboy, ESPN, and a slew of other companies.
Here are excerpts from a 2000 article on Michael Fleming that noted how the Game Show Network was riding the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" wave:
Clenching his fist in celebration, Game Show Network President Michael Fleming looks at the numbers on a piece of paper with a sense of wonder.
They're television ratings from the night before, but have nothing to do with his network. Rather, they indicate another stunningly large audience for ABC's quiz craze, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." For Fleming, that's the next best thing....
In December [1999], the Game Show Network was added to cable systems in 1.8 million homes, nearly double the best month ever in its five-year history. Roughly one-quarter of the nation's television homes have access to the network.
But this little nugget is interesting for NTN Buzztime lovers:
For the future, the Game Show Network is counting heavily on an interactive television world where people will be able to play along with their games at home.
Only a small fraction of viewers now have the digital equipment necessary to do this, but the network is catering to them. "Inquizition" allows contestants at home to compete with players on the show, and win cash prizes.
The network is even going back to the tapes of old game shows to concoct ways viewers can play along. It expects the new games the network develops to all have some interactive element.
For the record, I participated in one of the first experiments in interactive TV. I was living in Portland, Oregon during the summer and fall of 1983, and I had subscribed to cable because my second-hand black and white TV set had a broken tuning dial, and I got tired of changing the channel with pliers. When I wasn't watching Martha Quinn, I remember watching some kind of public access show in which we could use our cable remote controls to vote on something or another.
Hardly anybody voted.
Hopefully Michael Fleming will have better success with interactive TV.
Empoprise-NTN Gets a Room? Yes.
Earlier today, FriendFeed publicly announced its "rooms" capability, which allows you to create public or private rooms that are dedicated to a specific topic. More information here.
As you may know, this blog already has its own Disqus discussion area, but I figured that I'd try to create a dedicated FriendFeed room, just to see what would happen.
And, by the way, if you see a similar post on my Empoprise-IE blog...yes, I created a room for that blog also.
Since I've been talking about history in my Inland Empire blog, I might as well talk about history here too.
I started playing NTN games such as Countdown probably around 2002, but Aimster (The Harness Kid) has been playing for a longer time:
I've been playing since the late 90's when it was called NTN Trivia (they changed the name to Buzztime a couple years ago). Been a Players Plus member (where you can earn points and compete for prizes and stuff) since 2002.
(By the way, I couldn't find a site for Aimster, but Midnight the Wonderpup has a MySpace page.)
But regarding the name, here's what Yahoo's company profile says:
The company was founded in 1983 as Alroy Industries and changed its name to NTN Communications, Inc. in 1985. Further, the company changed its name to NTN Buzztime, Inc. in 2005.
Well, Alroy Industries goes way, way back. Way back:
NTN Communications, Inc. was originally incorporated under the name Alroy Industries, Inc., and the original Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 13, 1984.
NTN Buzztime has issued a multimedia press release.
BUZZTIME DEMONSTRATES NEW CUSTOMIZABLE GAME SCREENS AT NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION (NRA) TRADE SHOW IN CHICAGO
Buzztime (Amex: NTN), a multi-point social interactive entertainment company, announces the addition of customizable screens to its popular interactive game network. Buzztime will demonstrate the new technology at the 2008 National Restaurant Association trade show in Chicago May 17-20 (booth #431). Buzztime-subscribing bars and restaurants can now display their own customized advertising and promotions on their wide-screens TVs, presented alongside Buzztime's fun and engaging trivia, sports, and casino-style games.
"Buzztime is providing a single solution combining entertainment, branding and sales messages to help restaurant and bar owners increase revenues. It is truly ground breaking for the hospitality marketplace and timely given today's economy," says CEO Dario Santana. "With this enhancement, venues have complete and immediate control of their promotional messages, which are positioned alongside our interactive and engaging games. By bundling bar and restaurant-themed advertising with our games, customers are more focused on the messages."
Ah, but I said multimedia. Because MultiVu (associated with PR Newswire) is also distributing this video, which not only shows the advertising solution, but also demonstrates what the game is like - although the games that I usually play, Buzztime (formerly known as Countdown) and Appeteasers also offer hints.
At first I was disturbed at the fact that there was no sound in this video, but then I realized that this was a true and accurate demonstration of the product. Think of your average sports bar, in which one of the TVs (usually the one showing the local team's game) will have sound, and all of the other TVs will be muted, allowing you to watch the game but not hear it. Well, Buzztime is an entirely sound-free activity, so as not to interfere with other things being watched on other TVs. Clever, once you realize what's going on.
I really want to talk about the NTN Buzztime games.
I really really do.
In fact, I'm even thinking about a regular scheduled series on the games (similar to something that I'm doing on my other Empoprises blog).
But, unfortunately, business issues at NTN Buzztime keep on getting in the way.
Specifically, Kent Gibbons at Multichannel News reported the following earlier today (Thursday):
NTN Buzztime said Thursday it’s terminating the employment of CEO Dario L. Santana as of July 9 after failing to reach agreement on renewal terms.
Santana, a former executive with General Instrument and Motorola Broadband and a streaming-media startup called Aerocast, came to the Carlsbad, Calif.-based interactive-TV game provider in July 2006.
The official Form 8-K read like this:
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
NTN Buzztime, Inc. (the “Company”) and Dario L. Santana, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, were unable to reach agreement on renewal terms to the Employment Agreement, dated June 7, 2006, between the Company and Mr. Santana (the “Agreement). Accordingly, on May 9, 2008, the Company provided Mr. Santana with written notice of its election not to renew the Agreement. If neither party to the Agreement gave such notice of election not to renew by May 10, 2008, the terms of the Agreement would have resulted in the automatic extension of Mr. Santana’s employment with the Company for an additional one-year period commencing July 10, 2008. Mr. Santana’s employment with the Company will terminate at the close of business on July 9, 2008. Mr. Santana continues to serve as a director of the Company.
The Company has commenced an active search for a successor Chief Executive Officer.
The terms of the Agreement require the payment of severance and other compensation as a result of the Company’s non-renewal of the Agreement. Post-employment, if he gives the Company a general release on or promptly following his last day of employment, Mr. Santana is entitled to receive compensation equal to his current base salary for a term of 12 months plus COBRA premiums for the earlier of 12 months or until Mr. Santana becomes eligible for medical coverage with another employer. Mr. Santana’s current base salary is $400,000 per year.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
NTN BUZZTIME, INC.
BY: /s/ Kendra Berger
Kendra Berger
Chief Financial Officer
Date: May 15, 2008
So, if you want to live in Carlsbad and believe you can resurrect a not-so-healthy company, contact Kendra Berger now.
I know that I should be talking about the games - and I will - but I keep on running into business stuff.
On 2008-05-09, according to SC13D/A SEC filing,
TRINAD CAPITAL MASTER FUND LTD. now owns 8.80 % of NTN BUZZTIME INC (NTN) (Size: 28 mil).
Well, that's OK, but then the message went on:
NTN's one-year return is -82%/year.
NTN's 4-year return is -43%/year.
NTN's 10-year return is -5%/year.
Ouch.
Needless to say, this blog isn't the only place to talk about NTN/Buzztime.
Here are a few other spots:
I think that the first time that I wrote about NTN Buzztime in a blog was back on February 11, 2004, when I wrote the post Addictions Available in Upland in Two Days in the old Ontario Empoblog.
At the time I was not a Players Plus member, but I was planning on joining Players Plus shortly (I would join before the end of the month, becoming a member at the then-new Tequila Hoppers in Upland, California, a membership that I have maintained to this day.)
In my February 11 post, I alluded to the first place where I ever played NTN trivia:
Although I've played in Minnesota and South Carolina, I usually get my fix at Double Decker's Pub and Diner in Ottawa, Canada.
I used to go to Ottawa on business trips a lot, and Double Decker's was within walking distance of the hotel where I stayed in Ottawa. It was right in the middle of the Byward Market area, and you'd climb up to the second floor, enjoy pub food, and play a trivia game. Whenever I visited, there was always a group of regulars there that were very good at the trivia.
Because of some business changes, I haven't been to Ottawa in years, but should I ever return, I was looking forward to going to Double Decker's and playing.
Sadly, it appears this is not to be. The title of this TripAdvisor page says it all:
Double-Decker's Pub (Reported Closed)
Unbeknownst to me, it appears that the pub closed right about the time that I was writing about it. And this is one case in which the Irish defeated the British:
The newest edition to the Irish Village Pub Group - the Aulde Dubliner opened its doors in May of 2004 - transition of the building from old to new was a welcome sight to one of the Market's busiest corners.
And, according to the NTN Buzztime Site Finder, there is no longer any NTN Buzztime location in the Byward Market area. The two closest ones are the New Edinburgh Pub off of Vanier Parkway, and the Carleton Tavern (apparently a new site) to the southwest, both well outside of walking distance.
One more thing about Double Decker's - I may have liked it for the trivia, but others liked for the wings. Here are some selected comments from a May 2004 post about sushi:
Where is there a good wings place in Ottawa? Rosie O'Grady's was amazing in first year. They had wings for under 10c/wing at one point. I guess that was too cheap though, cuz they went out of business later on. Now i'm screwed, cuz i don't know of another place where you can get (non-breaded) wings for cheap. Where, tell me, where?
» Posted by: Scott at May 13, 2004 09:48 AM
Hmm....I don't know if the special is still on, but maybe, just maybe, the Duke of Somerset might have a special on Mondays. It's been a looong time, you could give them a call first. They also had the 10c/wing deal.
» Posted by: sometimes bored in ottawa at May 13, 2004 10:24 AM
Scott : Double-Decker's in the market used to have incredible wings (and cheap too!), but apparently they've closed down now. :(
(I'm also looking for a good wing-place...)
» Posted by: peter at May 13, 2004 01:03 PM
I guess the Irish don't serve wings. Makes sense, since the Englishmen beat them down for years...
I could have started this blog with a description of a game, or of a particular playing experience. However, this blog is starting the day after NTN Buzztime, Inc. announced its results for the first quarter of 2008, so I might as well start there. Here are excerpts from the press release that appeared on PR Newswire:
CARLSBAD, Calif., May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. (Amex: NTN), a multi-point social interactive entertainment company, today announced results for the first quarter, ended March 31, 2008, of its 2008 fiscal year.
When reading a press release announcing financial results, a good rule of thumb is to skip the second paragraph. This is the company's last opportunity to put a positive spin on the results. In this case, NTN Buzztime President/CEO Dario Santana used words such as "multifacted turnaround." The third quarter cited Frost & Sullivan results on anticipated growth in the industry.
Let's go to the fourth paragraph:
Revenue from continuing operations decreased by $0.5 million or 7% to $7.2 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to revenues of $7.7 million for the first quarter of 2007. Net loss from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2008 was $2.3 million compared to a net loss of $0.8 million for the first quarter of 2007. Although the customer site count declined by only approximately 4.5% comparing the 2008 first quarter with the equivalent period of 2007, revenue decreased by a higher percentage due to the longer-term effect on recurring revenues of a net decline in sites over recent quarters.
Gross margin as a percentage of revenue remained the same at 71% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the first quarter of 2007.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.5 million or 27%, to $7.2 million for the first quarter of 2008 from $5.7 million for the first quarter of 2007. The increase was due to several factors. Salaries and related expenses increased primarily due to an increase in headcount in content/programming, marketing, advertising and business development functions, including senior positions. Also contributing to increased SG&A totals was the abandonment of a software development project, increased bad debt expense related to subscriber cancellations, marketing expenses incurred to conduct audience research and measurement studies and increased severance payments related to a workforce reduction that took place during the first quarter of 2008.
So this is where NTN Buzztime stands at the moment.
