When I started creating vertical, special interest blogs, I didn't know what to expect. In some respects I still don't, but I wanted to thank those of you who have chosen to read these blogs.
Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Grievance-Less Festivus, or whatever. I hope to share more Inland Empire, NTN Buzztime, and music stuff with you in the future.
Since I'm addicted to the Fox Soccer Report, I'll ask myself the question - where would the Fox Soccer Report people go for their trivia fix?
They have three choices:
This came out yesterday:
PRESS RELEASE
NTN Buzztime, Inc. Appoints Jeffrey Lewis Executive Vice President of Digital Advertising Sales
Last update: 12:00 p.m. EST Dec. 10, 2008
CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec 10, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. today announced the appointment of Jeffrey Lewis to the position of Executive Vice President of Digital Advertising Sales, effective December 10, 2008. In this position, he will spearhead the Company's initiative to grow sales of advertising displayed on Buzztime game-playing screens across the Company's North American network of approximately 3,750 Buzztime subscriber venues.
Mr. Lewis joins the Company from Ripple Networks, where he has served as Vice President, Sales. Between February 2007 and May 2008 he was Vice President, Sales with Instant Access Media's emerging iam-TV out-of-home entertainment network from the time of its launch. Beyond hands-on sales responsibilities, both of these positions included formulating sales and pricing strategies and revenue models. In the 2005 to 2006 time frame, he served as Account Manager for MTV Networks' Spike TV, with responsibility for both cable and online sales, achieving 36% growth in billings in a flat marketplace.
As an Account Executive with Turner Broadcasting Systems between May 2000 and March 2005, Mr. Lewis created specialized, integrated marketing packages and promotional platforms that yielded triple-digit revenue growth from prominent national advertisers. Earlier in his career, between 1990 and 2000, he was Sales Planner, then Account Executive, with Paramount Domestic Television's Advertiser Services unit. Mr. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Binghamton University in New York.
"We're excited about our corporate initiative to grow ad sales under the leadership of Jeffrey Lewis," commented NTN Buzztime's Chairman, Jeff Berg. "Our North American network of over 3,700 Buzztime subscriber sites reaches millions of consumers per month, and we believe Jeffrey Lewis has the successful executive-level track record, market savvy and drive to leverage our out-of-home advertising assets."
"I am tremendously excited to join the NTN Buzztime team," Mr. Lewis said. "Our digital platform's potential is enormous, providing 360-degree marketing solutions to a wide range of advertisers seeking to connect with the elusive adult and male demographic in the 21 to 49 age category. As digital out-of-home advertising increasingly becomes an integral part of regional and national media plans, Buzztime has a unique opportunity to solidify its position as a leader in delivering scale, rich metrics, consumer engagement, interactivity and market-leading value."
About NTN Buzztime, Inc.
NTN Buzztime, Inc., a leader in 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 3,750 restaurants, sports bars and pubs throughout North America. 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.
Buzztime is a registered trademark of Buzztime Entertainment, Inc. and Playmaker is a registered trademark of NTN Buzztime, 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, growth in advertising sales, 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.
SOURCE NTN Buzztime, Inc.
http://www.buzztime.com
So Lewis spent a large number of weeks at Ripple Networks before coming to NTN Buzztime. Who is Ripple Networks?
Our business stands firmly on our ability to deliver solutions that focus on the productivity improvements and collaborative enhancements critical to today's small and mid-sized businesses. Our experienced sales, engineering and project professionals will work to execute projects consistently and on budget in most major markets around the globe.
Well, that certainly explained things...
OK, so who goes off on a ski vacation and worries about where to play trivia? Apparently some people do:
Sometimes all you want after a day on the slopes is a beer, casual food and a lively, informal atmosphere....
Imagine going to a tropical island and finding a bar with skis and snowshoes on the walls. Now flip the image, and you have Jake's Dive Bar in Breckenridge, displaying dive gear. It serves 24 beers (three on draft), and most popular pub specialties are available until closing. Happy hour stretches from 3 to 7 nightly. Play NTN Buzztime Trivia all day every day. Warble along with karaoke every Friday at 9:30 p.m. If you give the night's best performance, you get a prize.
Breckenridge Towne Square, 100 N. Main St.; 970-547-0110.
A thread developed regarding the existence, or lack thereof, of bars in the Pittsburgh area that had board games. But the economics may not work:
The only problem with having gaming nights at coffee shops or bars is that people tend buy one thing and stay there for hours and buy nothing else. This was a problem at the Oakland Beehive years ago with people playing Magic: The Gathering. They would buy a $1.00 coffee and sit and play for hours and not buy anything else. This is bad for business. This may be different in bars, I dunno, but that's the only drawback I see about any establishment holding one of these nights. The NTN/Buzztime electronic trivia games they have at places like Buffalo Wild Wings and Damon's force you to take breaks between rounds to get a drink or order/eat your food. They also have sponsors/commercials during that time to avert the cost of playing.
I never thought of the pauses between rounds as an incentive to buy stuff. I always looked at them as an incentive to eat stuff, or to use the facilities.
In honor of the live Rick Roll during this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, I was curious to know where Rick Astley could play a bit of trivia after the parade. (He can't do it in England, after all.) This must be the place.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=33487
As Jeff Berg assumes the top position at NTN Buzztime, he must deal with the fact that the investment community has low regard for his company:
Harbinger detailed a broken system at Media General, with the newspaper and television company underperforming peers while outspending them. It said the company isn't aggressive enough, failing to pursue opportunities for retransmission and duopolies in certain markets. The investments it does make -- such as BlockDot Inc., DealTaker.com and NTN Buzztime Inc. -- are "ill-conceived," Harbinger said. The firm recommends exiting all three businesses.
Harbinger's comments were made in the spring. Has much changed in the fall?
Here's yesterday's news:
CARLSBAD, Calif., November 20/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - NTN Buzztime, Inc. (Amex: NTN) today announced the resignation of Michael Fleming as the Company's interim CEO, Board director and Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors has established an Interim Committee of the President, initially consisting of one Board member and one member of the management team, to lead the Company's operations. The Board of Directors has also appointed recent Board addition Jeff Berg, a large NTN Buzztime shareholder and new-media entrepreneur, as Chairman of the Board.
Another recent addition to the Board, Terry Bateman, an accomplished media and out-of-home (OOH) advertising executive, will serve as the Board's special advisor on the Interim Committee working to complete a strategic analysis of the business and to help guide day-to-day operations. Mr. Bateman, among other past accomplishments, has helped to develop and manage some of the industry's most successful OOH advertising networks in leadership posts with Whittle Communications and Snyder Marketing.
A search committee of the current Board of Directors continues to evaluate qualified candidates for the role of permanent chief executive officer. The search committee has engaged recruiting firm DHR and its President, Steve Hayes, to lead the search.
"The Company's core assets -- our products, our network of locations and our fanatically loyal audience -- along with our dedicated employee base, form the nucleus of what can be a very profitable business," commented Mr. Berg. "The current board of directors is keenly focused on reshaping the current business model to capitalize on the significant media opportunities in front of the company. The ongoing re-composition of the Board, which will continue over the balance of the year, has brought us significantly bolstered strategic skill sets and engagement levels. The current Board and executive team will provide the strategic guidance and focus necessary for the Company to better serve its business customers, the bar and restaurant industry, along with consumers and advertisers."
Another recently appointed Board member, veteran hospitality executive Kenneth Keymer, has been appointed to the Audit Committee.
About NTN Buzztime, Inc.
NTN Buzztime, Inc., a leader in 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 3,750 restaurants, sports bars and pubs throughout North America. 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.
Buzztime is a registered trademark of Buzztime Entertainment, Inc. and Playmaker is a registered trademark of NTN Buzztime, Inc.
Forward-looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements which reflect management's current views of future events and operations. 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.
COMPANY CONTACT:
Kendra Berger
Chief Financial Officer
NTN Buzztime, Inc.
(760) 438-7400
CCG CONTACT:
Sean Collins
Senior Partner
CCG Investor Relations
(310) 477-9800, ext. 202
# # #
My previous post about Jeff Berg can be found here.
Here's a Florida location:
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=6489
Why a Pembroke Pines location? I have my reasons.
Yes, I failed to post an Empoprise-NTN High Noon last week. So I'm posting two sites this week, as a favor to our incoming President. When President Barack Obama wants to engage his mind, where can he go to play NTN Buzztime games?
Well, it turns out that there are two sites fairly close to the White House:
Fast Eddies: http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=5291
Hyatt Grand Slam: http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=627
Both sites have been extensively reviewed, with a range of positive and negative reactions.
Here comes another one:
CARLSBAD, Calif., Nov 05, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. (NTN) today announced that veteran chain restaurant executive Kenneth L. Keymer has become an additional member of the Company's Board of Directors, raising the total number of Board members to seven.
Most recently CEO of VICORP Restaurants between April 2007 and May 2008, Kenneth Keymer has nearly 30 years experience as an executive with large chain restaurant operations. As CEO of VICORP, whose operations encompassed 390 restaurants under the Baker's Square and Village Inn brand names, two commissaries and a dessert manufacturing operation, he led a senior executive team in developing sales- and profit-enhancing menu initiatives and prototype designs, successfully reducing losses and improving profitability. He had served as a member of VICORP's Board of Directors since July 2005 before additionally becoming CEO at the request of the Board of Directors and investors.
Mr. Keymer served as CEO of 1,800-unit AFC Enterprises between September 2005 and May 2007, having been President of that publicly traded company's Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits business segment between June 2004 and September 2005. In those capacities, he was instrumental in achieving new unit growth of approximately 10% per year, broadening the menu and leading the company through the crisis of Hurricane Katrina, which severely impacted one of its most important geographical regions. In the 1984 through 1986 period, he had been a Vice President of Popeyes.
Prior to June 2004, he was President, Co-CEO and Board member of Noodles & Company; President, COO and Board member of Sonic Corporation and its subsidiaries; Executive Vice President of Perkins Family Restaurants; Senior Vice President of Boston Chicken; Vice President of Taco Bell Corporation; V.P. Operations and Human Resources with Sambos Restaurants; and Director of Human Resources for Hardee's Food Systems. Prior to beginning his foodservice career in 1979, he held positions with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and the Defense Intelligence Agency. He holds an M.S.A in Information Technology from George Washington University and a B.S. in Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy.
"Kenneth Keymer's deep background in the strategic direction of restaurant venues will provide our Board of Directors with invaluable insights into the thinking and competitive strategies of bar and restaurant owners and operators who comprise our subscriber base," commented NTN Buzztime's Chairman and interim CEO, Michael Fleming. "We are pleased to set a seventh chair at the Board table to gain the benefits of his experience and successful track record."
Mr. Keymer said, "I am excited and enthusiastic to join the NTN Buzztime Board. My experience has taught me that although successful restaurant growth strategies always involve food and drink, there are many additional elements to any formula that has lasting appeal to a loyal and growing customer base. So I look forward to contributing to this industry leader's ability to transform a venue into a destination and to elevate a night out into a truly special, fun and memorable event."
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 3,750 restaurants, sports bars and pubs throughout North America. 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.
Buzztime is a registered trademark of Buzztime Entertainment, Inc. and Playmaker is a registered trademark of NTN Buzztime, Inc.
Forward-looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements which reflect management's current views of future events and operations. 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 corporate governance matters, 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.
SOURCE NTN Buzztime, Inc.
http://www.buzztime.com
When I started the Empoprise-NTN High Noon series, I concentrated on NTN Buzztime sites at which I had played, and which still had active NTN/Buzztime gaming. As time moved on, I branched out to sites that I might visit in the future, or sites that I had heard about.
This week I thought I'd take a different tack, and try to find a site in a relatively remote place such as Yukon.
As of right now, there are no NTN/Buzztime sites in Yukon.
But there are three in the Northwest Territories. The only one that had received a review was the Eskimo Inn.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=21553
And the review clearly establishes the Eskimo Inn as the best NTN Buzztime site in Inuvik. Well, it's the only site in Inuvik.
In case you want to play there, here's a map:
View Larger Map
Just to confuse you:
Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar opened a Jacksonville location...at 13070 City Station Drive, at the River City Marketplace near the airport. Offering a line of gourmet pizzas and pasta, Boston's has a sports bar outfitted with flat-screen TVs and memorabilia from local teams. According to a press release from the eatery, the bar also features NTN Buzztime, the Wii and PlayStation3 with Madden '08.
I didn't know that they placed Playstations in bars. Now I know.
I'm in Costa Mesa this week (actually, by the time you read this, I'll probably be gone), so I was wondering where the closest trivia action would be. This place filled the bill.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=9694
Announced on October 22:
NTN Buzztime, Inc. Announces Appointment of Terry A. Bateman to Board of Directors
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
NTN Buzztime, Inc. today announced that senior entertainment and sports executive Terry A. Bateman has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Bateman replaces Barry Bergsman, who announced his retirement from the Board after having served as a Director since August 1998.
Terry Bateman has nearly 30 years executive experience in developing, growing, managing and selling businesses. As a personal investor in Red Zone Capital from 2006 to the present, Mr. Bateman served as CEO of Dick Clark Productions from June 2007 to February 2008. In 2006, as Chief Marketing Officer of the Washington Redskins, he led the team to a record 2006 year in terms of revenues.
As President and CEO of Barton Cotton between 1998 and 2006, Mr. Bateman grew that company's largest division over 500%. He was President of Snyder Communications' Marketing Services Division between 1994 and 1997, managing more than 25 publishing and marketing programs of Snyder's most profitable division. Mr. Bateman was Executive Vice President, Vice President and Director of Whittle Communications between 1981 and 1994, having begun his career in marketing with The Gillette Company between 1979 and 1981. Mr. Bateman holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Tennessee.
His board memberships have included Dick Clark Productions, Johnny Rockets and Red Zebra Broadcasting.
"We are very pleased to gain the experience and perspective that Terry Bateman brings to our company's Board of Directors," commented NTN Buzztime's Chairman and interim CEO, Michael Fleming. "Terry has a unique combination of successful Board-level, C-level, entrepreneurial and managerial expertise. He will provide invaluable support to solidifying Buzztime's preeminent position in out-of-home interactive entertainment and our initiative to leverage our network as a platform for uniquely compelling and cost-effective advertising solutions. As we welcome Terry, we also offer Barry Bergsman heartfelt thanks for his long and distinguished service on the NTN Buzztime Board."
Mr. Bateman commented, "My personal formula for success has always been to work hard while also enjoying what I am doing. Serving on the Board of Directors of NTN Buzztime, with its unparalleled position and potential in today's interactive entertainment and advertising environment, provides a tremendous opportunity for me to apply that formula in new ways."
Mr. Bergsman stated, "It is the right time to leave the Board facilitating the introduction of Mr. Bateman's fresh thinking and background, both appropriate to the current strategy of the Company. It has been a pleasure working with the Board and Company staff. I wish them great success."
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 3,750 restaurants, sports bars and pubs throughout North America. 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.
Buzztime is a registered trademark of Buzztime Entertainment, Inc. and Playmaker is a registered trademark of NTN Buzztime, Inc.
Forward-looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements which reflect management's current views of future events and operations. 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 corporate governance matters, 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.
Source: NTN Buzztime, Inc.
Forbes had a profile of (the outgoing) Bergsman:
Barry Bergsman
Director
NTN Buzztime, Incorporated
Carlsbad , CA
Sector: SERVICES / Broadcasting - TV
71 Years Old
Barry Bergsman was appointed as a Director in August 1998 and was appointed Chairman of the Board in July 2006. Prior to his appointment as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Bergsman served as lead Director from August 2004 until July 2006. Mr. Bergsman serves on the Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. Since 1965, he has served as president of Baron Enterprises, Inc., a privately owned consulting company established in 1965. From 1985 to 1998, Mr. Bergsman served as president of Intertel Communications, Inc., a company focused on the use of the telephone and interactive technology for promotion, entertainment and information. Prior to 1985, Mr. Bergsman was engaged in television production and syndication and was an executive with CBS, a broadcast television network. Since May 1999, Mr. Bergsman has served as a director of Photogenesis, Inc., a privately held medical device and biotechnology company. NTN Buzztime, Inc. (the "Company") announced that effective May 29, 2008, Barry Bergsman has stepped down as Chairman but will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.
You'll recall that Bergman's replacement as Chairman of the Board was Michael Fleming.
For this week's installment, I figured I'd go back to my undergraduate stomping grounds. NTN didn't exist back when I went to Reed College, but I was curious - what NTN/Buzztime locations can be found in southeast Portland?
The answer - none. There are plenty of NTN/Buzztime locations on the west side of the Willamette River, but nothing in the southeast area.
So, assuming that all of the bridges across the river were washed out, where would today's Reedie go to play trivia (assuming, of course, that they were in an age-friendly area of the establishment, or were of legal drinking age if no such area existed)?
That's how I ended up on NE Halsey St.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=9959
Normally when we think of "the Nielsens," we think of television ratings. But Nielsen rates other stuff, as this NTN Buzztime press release indicates:
NTN Buzztime, Inc. (AMEX: NTN) , an out-of-home interactive entertainment company, has verified the reach of its audience on screens in bars and restaurants across the country. Advertisers looking at more effective ways to connect with consumers will find these in-depth results useful for a more targeted and effective advertising buy. Resulting from a study conducted by The Nielsen Company, Buzztime's brand and advertising impact directly connects with more than 10.7 million viewers and 1.14 million Buzztime players who interacted with Buzztime(R) games during a four-week time period in their local eating establishment.
The socially interactive nature of Buzztime is one of the key reasons for strong brand awareness when ads are seen around Buzztime's game content. Buzztime players customarily play in groups averaging 2.3 people. Because game play engages the entire group so does the associated advertising.
Buzztime audiences viewed/played for 45.8 minutes per session; while Buzztime PlayersPlus(R) members stayed engaged for an average of 62.8 minutes per visit. This significant amount of game play exposes Buzztime players to more advertising messages. PlayersPlus members are those registered with Buzztime's loyalty program where members amass points and prizes for frequent game play.
And, of course, the more minutes that people "stayed engaged," the more time that they'll potentially stay engaged with their bartender, waitress, or waiter.
Win-win-win.
Why am I promoting this today? Because Stephanie promoted it a week ago. Well, actually she originally promoted Fitzgerald's, but close enough.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=32839
While perusing the tubes, I ran across this suggestion at the site whynot.net:
The idea would be that NTN Trivia systems (used commonly in pubs and restaurants) be available in-flight, which you could play against others on your flight, or even perhaps collectively as a team (co-op) against other flights. Long Flights and high cost of travel is in need of better entertainment than the usual in-flight movie.
However, NTN Buzztime has been beaten to the punch. I took a Delta flight to Atlanta which included an online trivia game in which you competed against other passengers.
And I'm not the only person to play trivia on a Delta flight to Atlanta. See this Flickr photo.
Here's what Delta says:
Up for some friendly competition with your fellow passengers? Check out Delta’s interactive Trivia game for free.
It's interesting to note that in this case, the differences outweigh the similarities. NTN Buzztime's pitch to bar owners is that if you install trivia in the bar, patrons will drink more and stay longer. However, Delta passengers aren't affected by this, because they can't leave the flight. And the airlines enforce a drink maximum.
Here's the San Francisco NTN/Buzztime site that I didn't attend during Oracle OpenWorld.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=29258
Why not? Because the walking distance between 747 Howard St and 770 Stanyan St is 3.4 miles. And I'm not sure if the Haight is the place to go at night. (I was there once in the early 1980s, but that was during the day.)
Of NTN/Buzztime's various in-bar offerings, I've played the trivia games, and I played poker once. I have never played QB1. \
But frankrmineo has:
I don’t know if any of you have ever played “QB1” on the NTN Buzztime games that you can play at different bars. Anyways it is a great game that makes watching somewhat otherwise boring Monday Night or Sunday Night football games...interesting.
But QB1 isn't limited to the nightly games - it's offered for every game, including the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl.
The Pro Bowl?!?
But frankrmineo's concern about buying too much at bars can be addressed - you can also play QB1 online for selected games.
This week I took a different tack - which NTN/Buzztime location is closest to NTN/Buzztime's headquarters?
When I did a zip code search, this site came up.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=33195
Don't know if they get beta tests or any special privileges, but they're close.
I won both the games I played. Um, I was the only player. (5347 on Wipeout - I joined late - and 10710 on Buzztime Trivia.)
Beale St Bar & Grill is a funky little place by the Transbay Terminal. Oddly enough, a picture of Tommy Lasorda is among the Giants pictures.
I have an early morning meeting, so I'm quitting while I'm behind.
Last summer, I returned from San Diego and played a little bit of NTN/Buzztime at Fratello's Pizza and Pasta in Upland. (See my July 28, 2007 blog post.)
Well, David Allen has written a restaurant review of the place.
But since I last played at Fratello's, they seem to have dropped the NTN/Buzztime trivia.
Which is why I won't have anything else to say about them here.
No, I haven't been in New Jersey for several years. So why did I choose The Shannon Lounge? Because it recently appeared at hoboken411.com. More information here (although their shannonlounge.com website appears to be down).
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=29645
I played here last summer, on the same trip during which I played at Joe's Pizza. (I missed the turn-off twice.)
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=3116
I played here last summer (before driving to National City).
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=31584
This site is in the same area as Double Vision. It doesn't have a cool name, but I enjoyed their food in Louisville.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=28690
(Yes, this is the place where I played Six on Wednesday.)
I'm in Illinois right now. After leaving my old neighborhood in Evanston, it was dinner time. Rather than going to Double Vision, I went for the predictability of a Buffalo Wild Wings in Mount Prospect, Illinois. (It was on Euclid Avenue; since I live in Ontario, California, the street name was easy to remember.)
I didn't get there until after 8:00 pm CDT, and I couldn't stay late, so I jumped into the Six game during Round Two. So instead of playing all four rounds, I just played three. (Hence the title.)
I still got a score of 26,738, but it was nowhere near the winning score for the site.
And that may be it for my actually having an opportunity to play NTN Buzztime for a while, despite my fame as an identifier of all things trivialicious. I can't guarantee that I'll play during Oracle OpenWorld, since Sunday will be busy with the blogger dinner, and Wednesday will be busy with the concert (unless I lose my wristband again).
As you can see from the picture that I took, the Buffalo Wild Wings on Bardstown Rd. in Louisville, Kentucky was obviously a movie theater at one point.
A Wikipedia article contains this interesting tidbit:
Before the era of multiplexes, small single-screen theatres dominated. Several in Louisville were located along Bardstown Road and were popular sources of entertainment in the Highlands for decades.
Baxter (later called the Airway). 1055 Bardstown Road. Housed the The Brycc House in the late 1990s, now home to a Buffalo Wild Wings
The article then lists several other movie theaters that have been converted to other uses.
Incidentally, the Brycc House is now publicly known as the Brick House - perhaps because they're desperate for donations to fulfill their mission statement.
As a community resource, The Brick House seeks to provide a safe, oppression-free space to people of all ages and persuasions, where they may gain the knowledge and collective engagement to be self-reliant and to live sustainably.
I'm in a hotel in Louisville, waiting for the concluding banquet for the conference that I'm attending. But things keep on happening that remind me of a conference that I'll attend next month.
First, I decided to make a presentation at next month's Oracle OpenWorld Unconference.
Then I found out that my blog writings have been cited in an Oracle blog. This in itself isn't surprising - my blogs have been featured by Oracle over the years - but what is surprising is that it's THIS blog - the Empoprise-NTN blog - that was cited.
This morning, Jack Flynn wrote a post entitled "Around the World." This is (part of) what he said:
Empoprise-NTN High Noon—Beale Street Bar and Grill (San Francisco, CA)
Worried about your trivia skills getting rusty while at the conference? Don’t fret. Blogger Empoprise has already found an NTN Buzztime location for you close to the Moscone Center—which is named after former San Francisco mayor George Moscone, in case you get asked.
The favorite part of the citation is the fact that Flynn managed to work a trivia question into the thing.
(Other possible answers include Dianne Feinstein and Willie Brown. Harvey Milk is not a correct answer.)
So, much to my surprise, I am going to add the openworld08 label to this post.
And you know what this means.
Yes, I'll have to write about Elvis Costello and Seal in Empoprise-MU.
NTN Buzztime the company continues to retool. On August 19, they announced a change to the Board of Directors:
NTN Buzztime Appoints Jeff Berg to Board of Directors
CARLSBAD, Calif., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. (Amex: NTN), today announced that the Board of Directors has been increased to six members adding new media executive Jeffrey A. Berg. Mr. Berg has been appointed to serve as an independent member of the Company's Board of Directors, effective August 19, 2008.
Mr. Berg, a significant shareholder of NTN Buzztime, Inc. is currently Chairman of and lead investor in Surfline/Wavetrak Inc., an action sports web site. In 1999, he co-founded Swell, a direct marketer of surf apparel and accessories, and is currently its lead Director and largest shareholder. He is also founder and owner of Airborne Media LLC, a specialty media company which operates web sites and publishes magazines and other niche-market print products. All told, he has over 12 years' experience in founding, chairing and/or holding lead investor positions in new media companies and taking 'hands-on' roles in contributing to their success.
Between 1995 and 2000, Mr. Berg was Chairman of AccentHealth. He led its financing and strategic development from its pilot phase to a network now providing segmented, patient education-oriented TV programming to over 10,000 medical waiting rooms. AccentHealth programming reaches 11.7 million consumers every month.
Mr. Berg has over 20 years' experience as a professional investor, having founded Matador Capital Management in 1993, and before that working for 9 years at Raymond James Financial as an institutional securities analyst. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Florida and certification as a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Commenting on the appointment of Mr. Berg, Michael Fleming, Chairman of the Board and interim Chief Executive Officer said, "We are very pleased to welcome Jeff Berg to the Board of Directors. Anchored by his success as an investment professional, he has practical new media experience and relevant success with advertising supported networks. The expertise and vision he has shown in leading multiple new media ventures to success will prove uniquely valuable to our management team in charting the way forward for NTN Buzztime."
The addition of Berg to the expanded sixth seat is a concrete demonstration of the company's commitment to bringing new talent to the Board of Directors. It is anticipated that the Board will include two or three new directors by next year's annual meeting.
Now that last statement is an interesting twist. Are they talking about expanding the board further, or are some board members planning to depart (one way or another)? Here are the other board members:
Gary H. Arlen was appointed as a Director in August 1999. Since 1980, he has been president of Arlen Communications, Inc., a research and consulting firm specializing in interactive information, transactions, telecommunications and entertainment. Arlen Communications provides research and analytical services to domestic and international organizations in entertainment, media, telecommunications and Internet industries. Mr. Arlen was a founder and board member of several interactive media trade associations. He is a member of the Academy of Digital TV Pioneers and the Cable TV Pioneers.
Barry Bergsman has been a Director since August 1998 and was appointed lead director in August, 2004. He is president of Baron Enterprises, Inc., a privately owned consulting company established in 1965. As president of Intertel Communications, Inc., from 1985 to 1998, Mr. Bergsman pioneered the use of the telephone and interactive technology for promotion, entertainment and information. Prior to 1985, Mr. Bergsman was engaged in television production and syndication and was an executive with CBS. He currently serves as a director and member of the management team of Photogenesis, Inc., a private medical device and biotechnology company.
Robert B. Clasen has been a Director since November 2001. Currently he is President and CEO for Starz Entertainment Media Group, the largest provider of premium movie services in the United States. He was appointed to this position in December 2004, previously serving as President of Sales and Marketing since September 2003 and President and COO since May 2004. For most of the past ten years, Mr. Clasen has been President and CEO of Clasen Associates, an advisor to a broad range of technology and service companies who operate in the broadband, wireless and satellite sectors.
Joseph J Farricielli, Jr. was appointed a Director in December 2007. He is currently a Senior Vice President of Fidelity National Special Opportunities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Mr. Farricielli also serves as a director of three privately held companies, Look Investment Agency, Inc., Recycling Enterprises, Inc. and Hamden Sand & Stone, Inc. Previously, Mr. Farricielli held executive positions at Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, LLC; Imperial Capital, LLC; The Bank of Nova Scotia, and GE Capital Services.
Michael Fleming was appointed a Director in November 2001. Mr. Fleming is currently chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Fleming Media Group, advising a broad range of content and technology companies on interactive television, broadband, wireless and other convergent technology opportunities. He is the founder and recent past-President of Game Show Network, a satellite delivered television programming service dedicated to the world of games and game play. Mr. Fleming has held senior executive positions at Playboy Entertainment Group, ESPN, Turner Broadcasting and Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Company. He was inducted into the Cable Pioneers in 1999.
Back to Berg. A corporate filing provided additional information:
There were no arrangements or understanding between Mr. Berg and any other person pursuant to which he was selected as a director.
On August 19, 2008, in accordance with the Board compensation provisions with respect to new directors as currently in effect, Mr. Berg was granted options to purchase 30,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Performance Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). One half of these option shares are immediately vested and exercisable. The remaining shares vest and become exercisable in equal installments each month immediately subsequent to the date of grant and up to the date of the next annual meeting of shareholders, which is expected to occur in or about May 2008 [SIC]. The option shares are subject to full acceleration of vesting upon a change of control event (as defined in the Plan).
But can Berg make NTN Buzztime, in a word, kewl? Here's a description of his current company, Surfline:
Welcome to Surfline.com -- the most comprehensive surf-related web site on the Internet. We're not talking about the kind of "surfing" done by Uncle Fester-looking cyberheads; we're talking about the kind done by real surfers -- those of us who do it in the ocean, on wind-borne waves, and who frequently suffer from such unsightly ailments as saltwater sinus drain, bone-clogged ear canals, sandpaper-like eyeball pimples and dermatological sun damage of the highest order.
We were hesitant to use a superlative such as "most comprehensive" in that first sentence up yonder, but we're confident that it's true. Spend a few hours browsing around Surfline.com and we guarantee you won't even come close to getting to the end of every cul-de-sac on the site. We have compiled close to half a million words and 1,500 images and video clips. We have also spent much time and energy trying to organize that content in a way that's at once utilitarian and stylish, intuitive and surprising, simple and complex. Our goal is simple: we want to pin you to your chair at the same time that we inspire you to get out of it. And once you decide to get wet, we want to help you figure out where to go, when to go, how to get there and what to ride.
But Berg presumably realizes that NTN Buzztime needs the casual gamers to survive, and can't limit itself to the boss trivia d00dz.
When the games pause on NTN Buzztime screens, and as we sip our adult beverages, our minds are being non-subliminally invaded by advertisements. But NTN Buzztime isn't the only outfit doing this. From Brandweek:
In an effort to strengthen its position as a leader in the out-of-home interactive entertainment network category, TouchTunes said today it has acquired Barfly Interactive Networks, which operates a digital media network in bars in major metropolitan areas. Financial terms were not disclosed.
TouchTunes, New York, has more than 35,000 touch-screen jukeboxes in the U.S. and Canada, located in bars, retail outlets and elsewhere, offering music, advertising and other content. Based in Austin, Texas, Barfly delivers interactive and customized content in 150 locations for brands in the beer and spirits categories, including Anheuser-Busch, Skyy and Diageo.
NTN Buzztime is briefly mentioned:
In terms of scale, the alliance is dwarfed by digital signage networks like Premier Retail Network, which delivers content into more than 6,800 in-store televisions at Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Circuit City; and AdtekMedia's Pump Top TV, which has a stable of screens at 75,000 gas stations. The in-bar network category leader, NTN Buzztime, Carlsbad, Calif., has about 4,000 digital signs in bars and restaurants.
What do you do with the money you save? Piepi had plans:
2.5* Simi Valley Holiday Inn Express Simi Valley, $58 ... 8/16/08-8/17/08
I bid at 5:20 A.M. this morning for a same day stay. Today is August 16, 2008.
I was expecting the Grand Vista. This choice seems fine. According to tripadvisor, Holiday Inn Express is #2 and Grand Vista is #3. WooHOO
I just need a quiet place to work. Now, that I see its location, I may reward myself after working with a little shopping and NTN Buzztime (bar trivia). Simi has at least 4 restaurants with this fun interactive game.
Hope Piepi played well.
B. Santos recently wrote about Rocky Run in Columbia, Maryland. Here's a relevant excerpt:
The Smartest Patrons Ever Known
I am serious about this point. Since the day it opened, Rocky Run always ran the NTN/Buzztime trivia games; Half hour trivia contests that linked thousands of restaurants across the United States. Rocky Run attracted a clientele that was adept at these games (and for a long time, I was one of them) and often times Rocky Run would be ranked in the top 20 in the nation. Occasionally, a person would arrive at Rocky Run just based on seeing the restaurant on the trivia boards at other restaurants. During the late 1990’s, Rocky Run and Nottingham’s were engaged in a battle of trivia supremacy. Trivia players were courted. Scores were displayed; cell phone calls were exchanged after games.
What gave this rivalry depth was that at Nottingham’s, it was known that the trivia players typically shared answers. At Rocky Run, the unwritten rule was that you played your game. Shouting out answers was considered bad form. That is not to say that the trivia players were stoic and silent. After playing for a while, players got to know each other. Most were witty, some were outright funny, and all liked passing time together.
Unfortunately, this story has a sad ending:
[Friday] I stopped by to take the picture to accompany this post. The owner came out and said hello. We talked for a short while and then I just had to ask: What happened? He told me that business had really dropped off drastically in the last four months. I thanked him and inquired how the staff were doing. He had told me that more than a few had already found jobs. I was relieved to hear that. I just smiled and thanked him again. He smiled back and thanked me, then quietly went inside. I took a minute and sat on the bench outside. As I sat there, four cars pulled up, and each asked the same question: What happened? I told each what I had heard, and they all, hesitantly, walked back to their cars, muttering “This is awful…This was my favorite place…”
The secret of community is community. And the Buffalo Wild Wings in Huber Heights, Ohio (and other locations) is apparently community-minded:
Food/Drinks
Triviapalooza
Sun, 8/17 8:00 pm
Location
Buffalo Wild Wings, Huber Heights
7875 Waynetowne Blvd.
Huber Heights OH 45424
ProfileA Buzztime player-planned event where trivia fans will go head-to-head to play the games offered by NTN Buzztime, an out-of-home interactive entertainment company that develops and supplies interactive games. It will feature more than 100 devoted players from 17 states. Triviapalooza begins with a happy hour. Players will have the opportunity to win prizes while enjoying the opportunity to chat with fellow event participants and members of the Buzztime corporate team. The three-day event will also include a charity auction benefiting Adventures In Movement (AIM) for the Handicapped, Inc.
Even if a local place (local being Louisville, Kentucky) is participating, I unfortunately have another commitment this evening.
Good luck to all Triviapaloozans. Hope the auction goes well.
Things could be better at the moment.
During my second game (the 15 minute True, Half True, or a Lie), my screen display disappeared. My entries were still being counted (I was 29th in the network), but I was playing blind.
During my third game (Odd Couples), either we lost connection to the network, or the entire network went down. The TV screens went black, and my Couple 3 results (4 of 4 for 1000 points) continue to display on my Playmaker.
Oh well, it could be worse. I could be in the UK.
(cross-posted to mrontemp and Empoprise-NTN)
As I play NTN Buzztime in Louisville, the Redskins are on TV. (Can't tell if the Jets' new QB is playing yet.)
Life is good.
James 4 notwithstanding, I made it here, taking the 17 bus from downtown. The neighborhood is funky, and the BWW itself is a converted movie theater.
I'm going to Oracle OpenWorld in a month, and figured that I should perhaps check out the gaming opportunities.
This is the closest option to the Moscone Center area, and one of only two NTN Buzztime sites in San Francisco.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=1387
Think of your stereotypical image of a Mensa person. You imagine that he or she is hiding away in a library, far from the crowds - and certainly not in a bar, playing trivia.
Well, that stereotype has gone the way of quadrophonic recording. Here's the word from Summit County, Colorado:
A Frisco couple who honed their trivia skills on an electronic game popular in bars outsmarted some of the biggest brains in the country in claiming the Mensa “national championship.”
Dennis and Wendy Lenahan practiced on NTN Buzztime trivia games twice each week at Po’ Boys Restaurant before going on to win the CultureQuest trivia contest with High Mountain Mensa’s Team Highbrow.
The High Mountain Mensa group website is here. But Team Highbrow's chances of winning in the future may have decreased:
There has been a “brain drain” in the high country since the competition, however, as the Lenahans recently moved to Salem, Ore., to be near their children. Dennis Lenahan said he’ll probably remain a member of the Western Colorado group, as he edits its newsletter. But Wendy may join the group in Oregon because it needs someone to chair its scholarship committee.
The statistics for the Po Boys Frisco site are at http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=28562.
I never did officially blog about the NTN Buzztime second quarter results, although I did share from brief comments via Google Reader.
Here are some excerpts from the earnings announcement:
Revenue from continuing operations decreased $0.6 million or 8% to $7.0 million for the second quarter of 2008, compared to revenues of $7.6 million for the second quarter of 2007. Net loss from continuing operations for the second quarter of 2008 was $2.1 million compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $377,000 for the second quarter of 2007. Although site count declined by only 3.6% compared to the same prior year date, revenue decreased by a higher percentage due to the longer-term effect on recurring revenues of a net decline in sites over recent quarters.
This has already had one result, as announced by Chairman/interim CEO Michael Fleming:
As part of our continuing efforts to focus on growing our core Entertainment division which now includes our promising new digital signage product, we have determined to discontinue our United Kingdom operations as currently constituted, and began winding down our U.K. operations in July. However with proper market conditions and appropriate timing, the potential for expansion into territories outside North America remains in place.
So cheerio, United Kingdom. We may come back. Again.
Obviously NTN Buzztime is assembling a new management team. We'll see if the retrenching results in new opportunities in the future.
There are a ton of NTN Buzztime locations in the northwest Chicago suburbs, but the name of this particular establishment caught my eye.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=31376
It appears to be a new site, so if you want to get on the leaderboard, this is the place to go.
This particular game won't be played in your favorite bar, however - unless your favorite bar is on Wall Street.
NTN Buzztime announced on July 31 that they'll release their earnings report tomorrow (August 7):
[NTN Buzztime] plans to release financial results for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2008 after the close of regular market trading on Thursday, August 7, 2008. The Company's senior management will then host a conference call to discuss these results at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
To access the conference call, please dial 1-866-360-7027 if calling from the United States or Canada, or 1-706-643-3291 if calling internationally.
A replay will be available until August 13, 2008, which can be accessed by dialing 1-800-642-1687 if calling from the United States or Canada or 1-706-645-9291 if calling internationally. Please use pass code 57562093 to access the replay.
The call will also be accompanied live by webcast over the Internet and accessible at the Company's web site at http://www.buzztime.com.
Their previous Form 10-Q wasn't all that impressive, and miracles aren't expected this time around. We'll see what happens.
I concentrate on the restaurant/bar offerings of NTN/Buzztime so much that I usually end up ignoring the other offerings with which the company is associated.
Lynn Little at BellaOnline doesn't suffer from this myopia:
This fun restaurant trivia game network is now a fun card game. There are four Buzztime Trivia decks, each featuring a different theme. The NTN Buzztime TV Trivia offers 200 questions about television throughout the years. The card game can be played individually, with other players, or in groups.
The game itself comes from Cadaco, a company that has been around for a while:
Seventy years isn't ancient by most standards...but it is in the toy business! We're proud to say CADACO is one of America's oldest toy and game companies, and certainly one of the most colorful. To this day, we remain a family owned company, and look back fondly on the trials and successes that have made us what we are today.
It all began in 1935, when Donald Mazer, a sports enthusiast and game lover, and Charles Berlsheimer, a businessman and investor, teamed up to form their own game company. They called the company "CADACO," an acronym for "Charles and Don and Company." Their first office was modest: a rented garage in San Leandro, California.
Unfortunately, Cadaco seems to be reworking their website, so I can't access the official Cadaco information on the product. See Lynn Little's post for more information.
This is actually available on Amazon, and I have my own Amazon storefront thingie (did you see my June promotion?), but rather than me posting this on my site, I encourage you to go to Lynn Little's page and buy it from her.
Here's the meat of a recent NTN/Buzztime press release:
Beginning today, three new premium games will be available in operator locations as part of Buzztime(TM)'s network upgrade. The three additions, each of which will be formatted with Buzztime's new 15-minute game time model, include:
Ask It Already! -- the all new multiple-choice game where the sequence is flip-flopped and answers come first.
Immortal Words -- a game about famous quotes from movies, TV, books, philosophers, authors, poets, comedians and more.
Lexitopia -- brought to you by Dictionary.com, Lexitopia is a challenging multiple-choice word and definition game.
I didn't know that NTN/Buzztime was using a 15 minute game model for anything other than Appeteasers.
Here's a longer description for Ask It Already:
Ask It Already is Buzztime Trivia… in reverse! We’ll show you the answers first and then ask the question. It’s the same Buzztime Trivia you love -- with a twist!
HOW TO PLAY:
Grab a Playmaker and create a Handle
Choose Buzztime Trivia from the menu on the Playmaker
You will be asked 10 questions, worth a maximum of 1,000 points a piece
There are four possible answers
Use the Playmaker to select your answer
As time counts down, so do the points, also 2 of the incorrect answers will dissapear at alloted times
You can change your answer at any time
There is no penalty for getting the answer wrong
The person with the higest local cumulative total wins the game
Your scores will be ranked across the nation as well, so check to see how you did at the end of the game on our National Leaderboard!
Immortal Words:
Admit it… you love to quote your favorite movie, TV show… even your favorite song.
We’re going to see if you really know where your favorite quotations came from.
Immortal Words will challenge your ability to identify who said what… was it a movie, TV, book, philosopher, author, poet, comedian? Nothing is off limits.
Um, NOTHING is off limits? Including this blog? If they quote from here, I may win...but I probably won't.
Lexitopia:
Lexitopia, brought to you by Dictionary.com, will test what you really know about all of those words you haven’t seen since taking the SATs.
We’ll give you the word, you’ll tell us what it means. Sound simple? We’ll see about that!
I just checked the USA Primetime Schedule, and these games are scheduled for the following times:
Ask It Already - Tuesday 5:00 pm Pacific, Thursday 5:30 pm Pacific, Saturday 8:15 pm
Immortal Words - Thursday 6:45 pm Pacific, Friday 5:30 pm Pacific, Saturday 8:00 pm Pacific
Lexitopia - Wednesday 5:45 pm Pacific, Saturday 8:30 pm Pacific
And yes, they have a TON of 15 minute games during primetime now.
I played here several years ago during a conference in Minneapolis.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=7171
In my various NTN/Buzztime writings, I have tended to neglect their Texas Hold'Em Poker games - perhaps because the one time that I did play poker on NTN/Buzztime, I failed miserably. But some people are getting enjoyment out of it, as the Fort Myers (Florida) News-Press notes:
The playing cards and poker chips have been replaced by a television and electronic devices as NTN Buzztime - a company that produces interactive entertainment - and Bikini Joe's have teamed up for Texas Hold 'Em Video Poker tournaments each Tuesday.
"I enjoy offering the Texas Hold 'Em tournaments," said Roger Lowe, owner of Bikini Joe's. "It brings in a lot of great people, and I really like having the opportunity to visit with our poker regulars."
The tournament is free to enter, and Bikini Joe's offers a $20 tab to the winner.
Bikini Joe's Buzztime info is at http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=32937. There's also a wi-fi listing and a MySpace page.
I was nosing around in a Google search for NTN Buzztime (I'll confess; I wanted to see if this blog was gaining traction in Google yet) when I ran across a message board at the site kenjennings.com.
Yeah, that Ken Jennings. Understatement of the bio: "Much to his surprise, Ken's Jeopardy! appearance extended beyond a single game in June...." He ended up winning 74 Jeopardy games before losing 1. (Total haul: $2.52 million.)
Someone started a thread on NTN Buzztime, and Jennings eventually weighed in. Here's some of what he said. Note that these responses were written in June 2006.
Buzztime doesn't get much attention, but it's huge. I've been talking with them on and off about doing some kind of cross-promotional project together, and the data they sent me claims that they have 12,000 screens, 1 million daily "viewers," and 16.5 million annual "players." Obviously there's some wiggle room in those definitions, but it sounds like they have a pretty good claim to be the world's most-played quiz game.
Talking to the hardcore NTN players was interesting, since they're not just your average viewer, perched on a barstool with a beer, casually playing along. The real fans congregate by the dozens and play as teams, competing with other elite bars on the nationwide rankings, and use elaborate strategies for team play. One bar I talked to in DC actually looks for local faces on Jeopardy! and Millionaire, so they can look them up in the phone book and recruit them onto their NTN team.
I guess a cross-promotional project between NTN/Buzztime and Ken Jennings would have been interesting earlier, but now I wonder if anyone knows who Ken Jennings is any more.
And if anyone assumed that Jennings automatically participates in all trivial pursuits, they're wrong.
I was never really a trivia exhibitionist before I went on TV either...I guess I played trivia board games with friends, and college quiz bowl, but those aren't really public pursuits. If I had a pub trivia or NTN team I played with regularly, I'm sure I'd keep that up. But showing up at somebody else's trivia night, with all the expectations that might entail? No thanks. It's odd, but I have to admit I don't have much of a competitive trivia jones anymore. Maybe 75 straight games of Jeopardy are pretty good aversion therapy.
He has a point. I've probably played more than 75 NTN Buzztime games over the years, but it wasn't necessarily that much of a high pressure environment.
P.S. Ken's blog is here.
I missed this event, but The No Fact Zone didn't:
Tonight is the NTN Buzztime Trivia Topix game featuring trivia from The Colbert Report. I love playing trivia, and I’m going to take a break from packing tonight to be at Ten Sports Grill in downtown Dallas to see if I can actually beat my husband at a trivia game. The game starts at 9p CST, and I’ll probably be there early for a beer and a burger. If you’re in the area and you’d like to come, put a comment here and I’ll watch for you when I get there. My NTN user name is “NOBLET”, so be watching for that on the National tally screen.
After the fact I found Noblet on the Ten Sports Grill page, but her profile is not available for some reason.
I plan to take a trip to Louisville in August, and this is the closest NTN/Buzztime site to my convention.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=10088
Carl Martens wrote this on July 17:
Stout, Buckhead’s newest Irish Pub located next door to East Andrews!
Located at in the former McDuff’s location, this renovated Buckhead neighborhood pub will provide a full premium bar....
In addition to a welcoming patio, the bar features 19 TVs with international satellite, a pool table, dart boards, Golden Tee, NTN Buzztime Trivia and juke box....
If this story looks familiar to you, it's because I reported it back on May 30, after buddyfeed reported it, again on May 30.
I suspect that Carl Martens must be like me. He doesn't get out often.
I missed this when it came out, but NTN Buzztime issued this press release on July 15:
Buzztime Adds Boylan to Top Sales Spot
Hospitality Industry Expert Brings Vast Relationship Network and Innovative Sales Strategies to Interactive Leadership Team
CARLSBAD, Calif., Jul 15, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. (Amex: NTN), an out-of-home interactive entertainment company, today announced the appointment of Peter J. Boylan III to the position of Executive Vice President of Sales. Joining NTN Buzztime, Inc. (Buzztime) from Enterprise Media Networks - EMN8, Inc., a San Diego-based provider of customer self-service solutions for quick-service and fast casual restaurants, Boylan's extensive business development experience within the restaurant industry combined with his technology vendor relationships fit flawlessly within the Buzztime team.
"Peter has been pairing ground-breaking technologies with restaurant businesses throughout his career. He brings an impressive track record of revenue growth for partners in both sectors," said Buzztime's Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer, Michael Fleming. "We have great confidence in his ability to grow the existing business while taking Buzztime into new channels."
Boylan adds his own extensive hospitality industry contacts and 17 years of professional and executive experience to Buzztime, including a strong strategic focus and a track record of leading successful teams and outperforming financial targets. Prior to his Vice President of Sales position at EMN8, Boylan held increasingly responsible executive positions within The Coca-Cola Company between 1995 and 2005. He joins Buzztime effective immediately.
Boylan earned an MBA from Wake Forest University's Babcock Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
About NTN Buzztime, Inc.
NTN Buzztime, Inc., a leader in 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. Buzztime entertainment is also available on electronic games and in books. For more information, please visit 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.
SOURCE: NTN Buzztime, Inc.
October Strategies for Buzztime
LaRae Marsik, 303-471-4511
larae@octoberstrategies.com
or
Joanne Dant, 303-346-5527
joanne@octoberstrategies.com
I read up a little on Boylan's time with EMN8, and found this press release from March of this year:
Boddie-Noell Enterprises and EMN8® Introduce Self-Service Kiosks at Hardee’s Largest Franchisee
New Self-Service Kiosks Provide Quick and Easy Ordering for Hardee’s Customers
SAN DIEGO, Calif., March 10, 2008 – Boddie-Noell Enterprises (BNE), the largest Hardee’s franchise operator in the United States with 345 restaurants in four states and EMN8®, the leader in technology-based, rich-media self-service systems for quick service restaurants (QSRs), today announced the introduction of EMN8® kiosks in BNE Hardee’s restaurant locations.
According to BNE Director of Field Information Systems Jody Smith, a three restaurant pilot is underway that will test the level of guest adoption of the technology, improvement in speed of customer service, and lift in average check the franchisee can achieve. “The pilot period enables us to learn and improve the self-service program from both a customer service and store integration perspective,” said Smith.
EMN8®’s self-service software features vibrant graphics and a user friendly interface that allows Hardee’s customers to order their food quickly and easily. The menu presents products, suggestions and options in such a manner as to influence customers’ decisions at the point of purchase, increasing average ticket and menu awareness. “We are in the early stages, yet customer feedback has been very positive and the increase in the average check amount exceeds our expectations,” noted Mike Boddie, president of the BNE Restaurant Division.
BNE’s selection of EMN8® as its self-service partner was driven by EMN8®’s experience in the QSR industry, its expertise in user interface design and point-of-sale (POS) integration, and its product’s ability to accept both cash and credit card payments. More than 60 percent of the orders processed to date at the kiosks involved cash payments.
“The Boddie-Noell program is a true collaboration between our two companies that successfully leverages the knowledge EMN8® has gained through our ongoing market research, previous QSR implementations and POS integrations,” said Peter Boylan, vice president of sales at EMN8®.
About Boddie-Noell Enterprises Inc.
Boddie-Noell Enterprises, www.bneinc.com, is a diversified family-owned business engaged primarily in restaurants and land development. It is the largest Hardee's franchise operator in the United States with 345 restaurants across four states. The company owns the Texas Steakhouse & Saloon and Café Carolina and Bakery restaurant brands. It also operates Moe's Southwest Grill franchises and the historic Rose Hill Conference Center in Nashville. Boddie-Noell has major land-development projects completed or underway along the North Carolina coast and in Virginia. It employs more than 12,750 people and is headquartered in Rocky Mount.
About EMN8® Inc.
EMN8®, www.emn8.com, is the leading developer of consumer self-service order and payment systems for the quick service restaurant and fast casual dining industries. Its products leverage innovative technology and designs, cash and payment card handling capabilities, integration with leading point-of-sale (POS) application, and compatibility with industry leading kiosk and POS hardware. EMN8® systems increase average check, improve speed of service and deliver consistent in-store brand messaging while reducing an enterprise’s overall operating costs. EMN8® systems have been deployed within major QSR brands including Arby’s, Burger King, Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s and Jack in the Box. EMN8® is headquartered in San Diego.
Press Contact:
Jerry Allsbrook
Boddie-Noell Enterprises
252 937 2800
jerryallsbrook@boddienoell.com
Madeline Pantalone, Vice President of Marketing
EMN8®, Inc.
858.784.0800 X106
mpantalone@emn8.com
So Boylan definitely knows machines, and he definitely knows restaurants. But Buzztime neglected to note that Boylan definitely knows resorts, according to this June 24, 2008 article from The Oklahoman:
The Grove Public Schools superintendent voiced his opposition Monday to a tax proposal designed to rebuild a Grand Lake luxury resort....
The proposal would provide $25 million in tax revenue over 25 years to developers of the Peninsula Resort, a four-star hotel where Shangri-La Resort once stood....
Shangri-La Resort, a luxury resort near Grove, was known for its golf courses in the 1970s and 1980s before hard economic times produced multiple ownership changes and bankruptcies.
The resort was purchased in 2005 by Peter J. Boylan III, who has spearheaded the drive for the tax district.
Revenue would be redirected from Grove Public Schools, several Delaware County agencies, Emergency Management Services, and the Vo-Tech facilities, said Leon Hurt, Delaware County assessor.
But the interesting part of that article was the sidebar. According to the story as printed in the sidebar, Boylan also knows about the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is normally a good thing for a publicly traded company. Normally.
One point of criticism levied against Peter J. Boylan III was a $600,000 fine imposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Boylan disputed the accusation, saying there was no admission of fraud.
Boylan is the former co-president, co-chief operating officer and a member of the board of directors of Gemstar, parent to TV Guide. He was later reprimanded by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for inflating the company's revenue figures.
Without either admitting or denying guilt, Boylan consented to a fraud injunction and agreed to pay a $600,000 fine in disgorgement and civil penalties, SEC records show.
Funny, NTN Buzztime didn't mention Gemstar in its press release.
And there's a good reason - Peter J. Boylan III never worked for Gemstar. Peter C. Boylan III did:
Peter C. Boylan, III
Director
BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF)
www.bokf.com Industry: Finance
Overview
Mr. Boylan, CEO of Boylan Partners, LLC (investment management and advisory organization) since March 2002. From April 2002 through March 2004, Mr. Boylan served as Director, President and Chief Operating Officer of Liberty Broadband Interactive Television, Inc. (technology company providing software, services and products to cable and satellite television network operators worldwide), a company controlled by Liberty Media Corporation. Prior to April 2002, Mr. Boylan was Co-President, Co-Chief Operating Officer, Member of the Office of the Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. (media, entertainment, technology and communications company).
Compare with the press release for J's promotion at EMN8:
Prior to joining EMN8®, Boylan served as director of national sales for the Coca-Cola Company. During his ten-year tenure at Coca-Cola, he assumed increasing responsibilities culminating in the management of a national account team that generated $66 million in annual revenue.
Boylan earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1984 and his Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University in 1996.
I just hope that the SEC can tell Peter J. Boylan III and Peter C. Boylan III apart.
I never got around to featuring my home site in this series. It's time.
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=13953
My 7:00 Wipeout game was ranked 139th in the network.
My 7:30 Buzztime game had a higher score (11828 vs 10483), but the network score was 230th. I won't make leaderboards (other than local leaderboards) with that.
I'm skipping Know Your Server. Good night.
Ever since I've started the Empoprise-NTN blog, events have conspired to keep me away from the games.
Until tonight.
I am currently sitting in Tequila Hoppers in Upland, California, struggling through a game of Wipeout. Actually, I'm doing halfway decently (for me); I just earned my bonus points.
Plus, they have an extended happy hour from 2:30 to 8.
P.S. 10483 points in Wipeout.
Turns out this isn't the only Buffalo Wild Wings in Henderson, but this is the only one that I've visited (although I got there too early to play).
http://players.buzztime.com/bt_site.php?sid=14211
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
