Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	(1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION 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 March 31, 2019, 2,632 venues in the U.S. and Canada subscribed to the Company’s interactive entertainment network, of which approximately 85% were using the tablet platform. Basis of Accounting Presentation The accompanying unaudited interim condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary, which are of a normal and recurring nature, for a fair presentation for the periods presented of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company 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. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. The accompanying condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be anticipated for the entire year ending December 31, 2019, or any other period. In connection with preparing its financial statements as of and for the period ended March 31, 2019, the Company evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that are known and reasonably knowable that would raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern within twelve months after the date that such financial statements are issued. The Company believes it has sufficient cash to meet its operating cash requirements and to fulfill its debt obligations for at least the next twelve months after the date that such financial statements are issued. The Company continues to have discussions with Buffalo Wild Wings regarding the possibility of continuing the relationship beyond November 2019, which is when the relationship under existing agreements terminates in accordance with their terms. The Company is also having similar discussions directly with Buffalo Wild Wing franchisees. In addition, the Company is continuing to explore and evaluate additional financing alternatives, including additional equity financings and alternative sources of debt. These efforts are being undertaken to increase the likelihood that the Company will be able to successfully execute its current long-term operating and strategic plan and to position the Company to take advantage of market opportunities for growth and to respond to competitive pressures. If the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are not sufficient to meet future capital requirements, it will not be able to successfully execute its current long-term operating and strategic plan or take advantage of market opportunities for growth and may have to reduce planned capital expenses, reduce operational cash uses or raise capital on terms that are not as favorable to the Company as they otherwise might be. Any actions the Company may undertake to reduce planned capital expenses or reduce operational cash uses may not cover shortfalls in available funds. If the Company requires additional capital, it may not secure additional capital on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all.

Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

(1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION

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 March 31, 2019, 2,632 venues in the U.S. and Canada subscribed to the Company’s interactive entertainment network, of which approximately 85% were using the tablet platform.

Basis of Accounting Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary, which are of a normal and recurring nature, for a fair presentation for the periods presented of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company 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. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. The accompanying condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be anticipated for the entire year ending December 31, 2019, or any other period.

In connection with preparing its financial statements as of and for the period ended March 31, 2019, the Company evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that are known and reasonably knowable that would raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern within twelve months after the date that such financial statements are issued. The Company believes it has sufficient cash to meet its operating cash requirements and to fulfill its debt obligations for at least the next twelve months after the date that such financial statements are issued. The Company continues to have discussions with Buffalo Wild Wings regarding the possibility of continuing the relationship beyond November 2019, which is when the relationship under existing agreements terminates in accordance with their terms. The Company is also having similar discussions directly with Buffalo Wild Wing franchisees. In addition, the Company is continuing to explore and evaluate additional financing alternatives, including additional equity financings and alternative sources of debt. These efforts are being undertaken to increase the likelihood that the Company will be able to successfully execute its current long-term operating and strategic plan and to position the Company to take advantage of market opportunities for growth and to respond to competitive pressures. If the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are not sufficient to meet future capital requirements, it will not be able to successfully execute its current long-term operating and strategic plan or take advantage of market opportunities for growth and may have to reduce planned capital expenses, reduce operational cash uses or raise capital on terms that are not as favorable to the Company as they otherwise might be. Any actions the Company may undertake to reduce planned capital expenses or reduce operational cash uses may not cover shortfalls in available funds. If the Company requires additional capital, it may not secure additional capital on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all.