Organization of Company	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
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 to its partners in a wide range of verticals – from bars and restaurants to casinos and senior living centers. By enhancing the overall guest experience, the Company believes it helps its hospitality partners acquire, engage, and retain patrons. Through social fun and friendly competition, the Company’s platform creates bonds between our hospitality partners and their patrons, and between patrons themselves. The Company believes this unique experience increases dwell time, revenue, and repeat business for venues – and has also created a large and engaged audience which it connects with through its in-venue TV network. Over 1 million hours of trivia, card, sports and arcade games are played on our network each month. The Company generates revenue by charging subscription fees to partners for access to its 24/7 trivia network, by charging equipment fees to select partner venues for use of tablets and other equipment, by selling and leasing tablet and hardware equipment for custom usage beyond trivia/entertainment, by selling digital-out-of-home (DOOH) advertising direct to advertisers and on national ad exchanges, by licensing its entertainment and trivia content to other parties, and by providing professional services such as custom game design or development of new platforms on its existing tablet form factor. Up until February 1, 2020, the Company also generated revenue by hosting live trivia events (see Note 18). As of December 31, 2018, 2,639 venues subscribed to the Company’s interactive entertainment network and approximately 56% of its network subscriber venues were affiliated with national and regional restaurant brands. As of December 31, 2019, those numbers declined to 1,440 venues and to approximately 26%, in each case, primarily due to the termination of the Company’s relationship with Buffalo Wild Wings corporate-owned restaurants and most of its franchisees in November 2019. 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, 2019

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 to its partners in a wide range of verticals – from bars and restaurants to casinos and senior living centers. By enhancing the overall guest experience, the Company believes it helps its hospitality partners acquire, engage, and retain patrons.

Through social fun and friendly competition, the Company’s platform creates bonds between our hospitality partners and their patrons, and between patrons themselves. The Company believes this unique experience increases dwell time, revenue, and repeat business for venues – and has also created a large and engaged audience which it connects with through its in-venue TV network. Over 1 million hours of trivia, card, sports and arcade games are played on our network each month.

The Company generates revenue by charging subscription fees to partners for access to its 24/7 trivia network, by charging equipment fees to select partner venues for use of tablets and other equipment, by selling and leasing tablet and hardware equipment for custom usage beyond trivia/entertainment, by selling digital-out-of-home (DOOH) advertising direct to advertisers and on national ad exchanges, by licensing its entertainment and trivia content to other parties, and by providing professional services such as custom game design or development of new platforms on its existing tablet form factor. Up until February 1, 2020, the Company also generated revenue by hosting live trivia events (see Note 18).

As of December 31, 2018, 2,639 venues subscribed to the Company’s interactive entertainment network and approximately 56% of its network subscriber venues were affiliated with national and regional restaurant brands. As of December 31, 2019, those numbers declined to 1,440 venues and to approximately 26%, in each case, primarily due to the termination of the Company’s relationship with Buffalo Wild Wings corporate-owned restaurants and most of its franchisees in November 2019.

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.