Organization of Company	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization of Company	1. Organization of Company Description of Business NTN Buzztime, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware in 1984 as Alroy Industries and changed its corporate name to NTN Communications, Inc. in 1985. The Company changed its name to NTN Buzztime, Inc. in 2005 to better reflect the growing role of the Buzztime consumer brand. The Company delivers interactive entertainment and innovative technology, including performance analytics and secure payment with Europay, MasterCard® and Visa® (EMV) chip card readers or with near-field communication (NFC) technology to accept Apple, Android and Samsung Pay. The Company’s tablets and technology offer engaging solutions to establishments with guests who experience dwell time, such as in bars, restaurants, casinos and senior living centers. Casual dining venues subscribe to the Company’s customizable solution to differentiate themselves via competitive fun by offering guests trivia, card, sports and arcade games, customized menus and self-service dining features. The Company’s platform improves operating efficiencies, creates connections among the players and venues, and amplifies guests’ positive experiences. The Company also continues to support its legacy network product line, which it calls its Classic platform. The Company generates revenue by charging subscription fees for its service to network subscribers, by leasing tablet platform equipment to certain network subscribers, by selling tablet platform equipment, by hosting live trivia events, by selling advertising aired on in-venue screens and as part of customized games, by licensing its content for use with third-party equipment, from providing professional services (such as developing certain functionality within the Company’s platform for customers), and from pay-to-play arcade games. At December 31, 2018, 2,639 venues in the U.S. and Canada subscribed to the Company’s interactive entertainment network, of which approximately 84% were using the tablet platform. Basis of Accounting Presentation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NTN Buzztime, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: IWN, Inc., IWN, L.P., Buzztime Entertainment, Inc., NTN Wireless Communications, Inc., NTN Software Solutions, Inc., NTN Canada, Inc., and NTN Buzztime, Ltd., all of which, other than NTN Canada, Inc., are dormant subsidiaries. Unless otherwise indicated, references to the Company include its consolidated subsidiaries. Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years’ financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations or retained earnings.

Organization of Company

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

1. Organization of Company

Description of Business

NTN Buzztime, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware in 1984 as Alroy Industries and changed its corporate name to NTN Communications, Inc. in 1985. The Company changed its name to NTN Buzztime, Inc. in 2005 to better reflect the growing role of the Buzztime consumer brand.

The Company delivers interactive entertainment and innovative technology, including performance analytics and secure payment with Europay, MasterCard® and Visa® (EMV) chip card readers or with near-field communication (NFC) technology to accept Apple, Android and Samsung Pay. The Company’s tablets and technology offer engaging solutions to establishments with guests who experience dwell time, such as in bars, restaurants, casinos and senior living centers. Casual dining venues subscribe to the Company’s customizable solution to differentiate themselves via competitive fun by offering guests trivia, card, sports and arcade games, customized menus and self-service dining features. The Company’s platform improves operating efficiencies, creates connections among the players and venues, and amplifies guests’ positive experiences. The Company also continues to support its legacy network product line, which it calls its Classic platform.

The Company generates revenue by charging subscription fees for its service to network subscribers, by leasing tablet platform equipment to certain network subscribers, by selling tablet platform equipment, by hosting live trivia events, by selling advertising aired on in-venue screens and as part of customized games, by licensing its content for use with third-party equipment, from providing professional services (such as developing certain functionality within the Company’s platform for customers), and from pay-to-play arcade games.

At December 31, 2018, 2,639 venues in the U.S. and Canada subscribed to the Company’s interactive entertainment network, of which approximately 84% were using the tablet platform.

Basis of Accounting Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NTN Buzztime, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: IWN, Inc., IWN, L.P., Buzztime Entertainment, Inc., NTN Wireless Communications, Inc., NTN Software Solutions, Inc., NTN Canada, Inc., and NTN Buzztime, Ltd., all of which, other than NTN Canada, Inc., are dormant subsidiaries. Unless otherwise indicated, references to the Company include its consolidated subsidiaries.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years’ financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations or retained earnings.