Eterna Therapeutics Inc. - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Form
10-K
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008
Commission
File Number 1-11460
NTN
Buzztime, Inc.
(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
31-1103425
|
(State
or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation
or Organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
No.)
|
5966
La Place Court
Carlsbad,
California
|
92008
|
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
(760)
438-7400
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including Area Code)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of Each Class
|
Name
of Each Exchange on
Which
Registered
|
Common
Stock, $.005 par value
|
NYSE
Amex
|
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No x
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No x
Indicate
by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best
of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer ¨
|
Accelerated
filer ¨
|
Non
accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if
a smaller reporting company)
|
Smaller
reporting company x
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell
company. Yes ¨ No x
The
aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the
Registrant as of June 30, 2008, computed by reference to the closing sale
price of the common stock on the American Stock Exchange on June 30, 2008,
was approximately $13.9 million. Shares of common stock held by each executive
officer and director and by each person who owns 5% or more of the outstanding
common stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be
affiliates. The determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a
conclusive determination for other purposes.
As of
March 10, 2009, the Registrant had 55,723,438 shares of common stock
outstanding.
Documents
Incorporated by Reference.
The
information required by Part III of this report to the extent not set forth
herein, is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s proxy statement
relating to the annual meeting of stockholders expected to be held on or about
May 29, 2009.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Item
|
Page
|
|
Part
I
|
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1.
|
Business
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1
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1A.
|
Risk
Factors
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7
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1B.
|
Unresolved
Staff Comments
|
14
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2.
|
Properties
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14
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3.
|
Legal
Proceedings
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14
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4.
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Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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14
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Part
II
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||
5.
|
Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
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15
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6.
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Selected
Financial Data
|
15
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7.
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Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
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16
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7A.
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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27
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8.
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Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data
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27
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9.
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Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
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27
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9A(T).
|
Controls
and Procedures
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27
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9B.
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Other
Information
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28
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Part
III
|
||
10.
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Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
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29
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11.
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Executive
Compensation
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30
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12.
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Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
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30
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13.
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Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence
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30
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14.
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Principal
Accounting Fees and Services
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30
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Part
IV
|
||
15.
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Exhibits,
Financial Statement Schedules
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31
|
Signatures
|
33
|
|
Index
to Financial Statements and Schedule
|
F-1
|
i
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve
a high degree of risk and uncertainty. Such statements include, but are not
limited to, statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,”
“expects,” “estimates” and words of similar import. Our actual results could
differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect
management’s opinions only as of the date of this report, as a result of risks
and uncertainties that exist in our operations, development efforts and business
environment. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the
results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements. You should
carefully review the “Risks and Factors” section below and the risk factors in
other documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
PART
I
ITEM 1.
|
Business
|
Unless
otherwise indicated, references herein to “Buzztime”, “NTN,” “we,” “us” and
“our” refer to NTN Buzztime, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. NTN
Buzztime, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 1984 as Alroy Industries and
changed its corporate name to NTN Communications, Inc. in 1985. We changed our
name to NTN Buzztime, Inc. in 2005 to better reflect the growing role of the
Buzztime consumer brand.
We own
several trademarks and consider the Buzztime and Play Along TV trademarks to be
among our most valuable assets.
Overview
We have
been in the business of multi-point social interactive entertainment for 25
years. Our trivia, games and other interactive entertainment are
distributed across broadband platforms, including online, satellite TV and in
approximately 3,750 restaurants, sports bars and other hospitality venues
throughout North America. Our primary source of revenue is our
Buzztime iTV Network, which focuses on the distribution of our interactive
promotional television game network programming, primarily to hospitality venues
such as restaurants and bars. Additionally, we distribute our game
content and technology through other third-party consumer platforms, including
online and in retail games and books.
We have
historically operated principally through two operating divisions: Entertainment
and Hospitality. The Entertainment division generates revenue
primarily from the Buzztime iTV Network. Additionally, we generate
royalty revenue by distributing our game content and technology to other
third-party consumer platforms, including cable television, satellite
television, online, retail games and toys, airlines and
books. Additionally, revenue is generated from the sale of
advertising for distribution via the Buzztime iTV Network.
The
Hospitality division is comprised of NTN Wireless Communications, Inc. (“NTN
Wireless”) and NTN Software Solutions, Inc. (“Software Solutions”). In 2006, we
determined that the operation of the Hospitality division was not a strategic
fit with our core business and committed to a divestiture plan. These operations
have been reclassified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. NTN
Wireless generated revenues from producing and distributing guest and server
paging systems to restaurants and other markets. Software Solutions developed
and distributed customer management software to manage reservations and table
service in restaurants. Software Solutions also provided professional help desk
services and outsourced software development and support and maintenance
services.
On
March 30, 2007, we completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of
NTN Wireless. On October 25, 2007, we sold certain intellectual property
assets of Software Solutions pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement, and in a
separate agreement with a customer, discontinued the outsourced software
development. Additionally, we completed the wind down of our professional help
desk and support and maintenance services during the third quarter of
2008.
Our
Strategy
As we
continue to focus on our core business and returning to profitability, our
business strategy is to increase the distribution of our brand of interactive
entertainment in major selected markets, to grow advertising revenue and
increase cash flow by becoming more of an integrated media company that
attracts growing audiences from our developing integrated network (iTV, web and
mobile), that will enable us to acquire high value customers for advertisers and
for our own products.
1
Key
elements of our strategy include the following:
Grow
out-of-home network
Our plans
to grow our out-of-home network include the following:
|
●
|
Develop
integrated product offering. We plan to leverage our 25 year
history of providing compelling interactive entertainment in the
out-of-home digital media industry by extending our brand to the internet
and mobile devices in 2009. We believe expanding the
availability of Buzztime branded games beyond our traditional hospitality
venue-based platform to create a broadly integrated media platform and
experience will allow us to capture new customer segments, to
cross-promote our games across platforms to drive traffic to hospitality
venues from the internet/mobile and from hospitality venues to
the internet/mobile and to add value for our media
partners. Additionally, we plan to promote Buzztime through
online/mobile viral marketing, online trivia challenges and
direct-to-consumer grassroots marketing designed to drive additional
interest, excitement and traffic for our games and our venues. We believe
that these initiatives will play a significant role in improving our
customer retention and increasing sales to new
customers.
|
|
●
|
Improve the
entertainment value of our content. We expect to grow our player
and audience community, improve customer retention and increase site sales
by continuing to improve the entertainment value of our games and our
content. We plan to introduce additional content offerings that for 2009
will focus on sports enthusiasts and trivia buffs. We intend to
continue to build the Buzztime brand into an increasingly popular
entertainment experience for people who are looking for competition,
social interaction and entertainment. We also plan to continue to invest
in account management including customer and consumer marketing support
activities to continue to drive on-premise participation and game play
through local events, endorsements, tournaments, championships and
prizing, all promoted in local
media.
|
|
●
|
Continue to
focus on national key accounts. Currently, national accounts
represent approximately 29% of our total subscriber base. We believe we
have significant opportunities to grow this segment by offering customized
solutions. These solutions will be aimed at addressing the revenue,
promotional, branding and operational needs of these unique
customers.
|
Grow
advertising revenue
We
believe we are well positioned to capitalize on the emerging opportunity in
out-of-home media in order to drive advertising revenue in 2009 and beyond,
connecting advertisers and their brands to consumers, digital content and
context in social environments. Currently approximately 53% of our
out-of-home venues operate in the top 30 designated market areas (DMAs) across
the United States. We plan to target our sales and retention efforts
in the top 30 DMAs as well as in high traffic venues to continue to build on our
current media platform. Additionally, we hired a newly created
executive position of Executive Vice President of Advertising Sales to lead the
direct sales strategy around our advertising assets and
opportunities. We have also completed audience measurement studies
led by Nielsen Media Research that are intended to provide independent
justification that advertisers require. We intend to stay at the forefront of
the out-of-home advertising industry and we will continue to actively
participate in key industry affiliations including the Out-of-home Video
Advertising Bureau (OVAB).
Increase
distribution of the Buzztime-branded content
Buzztime
games are available via satellite through Echostar DISH and Bell Canada
ExpressVu on a premium subscription basis.
We intend
to broaden Buzztime’s interactive entertainment business and provide more access
points for current players and a new generation of viewers. During 2009, we plan
to launch an interactive broadband distribution targeting the online experience
through a combination of our own internet presence, partner websites, viral
distribution and mobile devices. Our internet and mobile products will combine
our casual games with rich media and interactive broadband video to create a
compelling next generation entertainment experience that is integrated with our
iTV network.
Geographic
Areas
In 2007,
we had two reportable segments within the Entertainment division; Buzztime iTV
Network and Buzztime Distribution. In 2008, we changed the method in
which our chief decision makers evaluated our business and began making
operational and strategic decisions based on the Entertainment division as a
whole. As such, we no longer have multiple reporting
segments.
The
following table presents the geographic breakdown of our revenue for the last
two fiscal years.
Year
Ended
December 31,
|
||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||
United
States
|
87
|
%
|
86 |
%
|
||||||
Canada
|
12 |
%
|
13 |
%
|
||||||
United
Kingdom
|
1 |
%
|
1 |
%
|
2
The
following table presents the geographic breakdown of our total assets for our
last two fiscal years.
Year
Ended
December 31,
|
||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||
United
States
|
60 |
%
|
54 |
%
|
||||||
Canada
|
40 |
%
|
43 |
%
|
||||||
United
Kingdom
|
— | 3 |
%
|
The
Entertainment Division
Buzztime
iTV Network
The
out-of-home Buzztime iTV Network has maintained a unique position in the
hospitality industry for approximately 25 years as a promotional platform
providing interactive entertainment to patrons in restaurants and sports bars
(hospitality venues). Approximately 97% of our current consolidated revenues are
derived from the Buzztime iTV Network as we receive recurring service fees from
subscribing hospitality venues (Network subscribers) and advertising
revenues.
The iTV
Network distributes a wide variety of engaging interactive multi-player games,
including trivia quiz shows, play-along sports programming and casino-style and
casual games to our Network subscribers. Patrons use our wireless game
controllers, or Playmakers, to play along with the Buzztime games which are
displayed on television screens. Buzztime players can compete with other players
within their hospitality venue and also against players in other Network
subscriber venues.
We target
national and regional hospitality chains as well as local independent
hospitality venues that desire a competitive point-of-difference to attract and
retain customers. As of December 31, 2008, we had 3,429 United States
Network subscribers and 317 Canadian subscribers. Approximately 29% of our
Network subscribers come from leading national chains in the casual-dining
restaurant segment such as Buffalo Wild Wings, TGI Friday’s, Old Chicago and
Damon’s Grill.
Through
the transmission of interactive game content stored on a site server at each
location, our Buzztime iTV Network enables single-player and multi-player
participation as part of local, regional, national or international competitions
supported with prizes and player recognition. Our Buzztime iTV Network also
generates revenue through the sale of advertising and marketing services to
companies seeking to reach the millions of consumers that visit the Buzztime iTV
Network’s venues.
Technology
In 2005
we launched a new technology platform that is now installed in all new
subscribing hospitality venues. The new platform, called iTV2, allows two
channels of Buzztime entertainment programming to be electronically delivered to
each location. This has enabled channel one to remain as a primarily
trivia-based offering to our long-time loyal players while channel two is
devoted to new content such as Texas Hold’em, Buzztime Billiards and Crazy Golf.
Like its single channel predecessor technology, called DITV (Digital Interactive
Television), iTV2 uses Windows-based multimedia capabilities, resulting in
enhanced, high-resolution graphics and full-motion video. Both iTV2 and DITV
technology allow advertisers to use existing video footage in their ads on the
Buzztime iTV Network. As of December 31, 2008, approximately 95% of the
sites in our network had iTV2 technology while 5% had DITV.
The
Buzztime iTV Network sends and receives data to our site servers via several
methods: FM2 (one-way
satellite), Very Small Aperture Technology, known as VSAT or two-way satellite,
and broadband. As of December 31, 2008, 75% of our sites were
connected through broadband, 22% of the sites were connected through VSAT,
and 3% of our sites were connected through FM2.
With the
exception of our wireless Playmakers, each system installed at a hospitality
location is assembled from off-the-shelf components available from a variety of
sources. The unique software driving our on-site servers was developed in-house
and software releases are carefully managed over our Network. We are responsible
for the installation and maintenance of each system, which we continue to
own.
End
User “Playmaker” Devices
Our iTV
Network system uses a 900 MHz wireless Playmaker, a hand-held 900 MHz radio
frequency device with a monochrome LCD display and sealed keypad that players
use to enter choices and selections. The product was manufactured by a
non-affiliated manufacturer in Taiwan. Our Playmakers are a rugged combination
of hardware and firmware optimized for hospitality environments. There are no
breakable exterior components. We developed a more advanced 2.4 GHz Playmaker
that we began offering to customers selecting a higher priced package during
2007.
3
Content
Services
The
Buzztime iTV Network internally develops and licenses content from third-party
providers. Each hospitality venue can be addressed individually, allowing us to
send specific content to selected Network subscribers. Subscribing
hospitality locations receive our content, in the form of programming, for
approximately 15 hours each day, 365 days a year.
Game
Content and Promotion
Our
primary product is the distribution of a variety of multi-player interactive
games that entertain and challenge a player’s skill and knowledge while
prompting the customer of the hospitality venue to stay longer, spend more money
and return more often.
Trivia
Games
We
provide premium trivia competitions during evening hours when the venues,
particularly restaurants and sports bars, tend to be busiest. During these
programs, each venue system simultaneously displays selected trivia questions on
television monitors. Participants use Playmakers to enter their individual
answers. Answers are collected, transmitted and tabulated. We display the score
of each participant on the television monitors in our customer venues, along
with national, regional and local rankings, as applicable. Players can compete
for prizes in their local venues, as well as on a regional and national scale.
In addition to game interaction, other consumer features available on the
Playmaker include real-time sports scores transmitted directly to the units and
player chat.
Sports
Games
We have
developed and produced a number of interactive sports games over the past 25
years including Predict the Play® sports
games. Predict the Play sports games call for participants to predict the
outcome of events before they happen, primarily in an intensive play-by-play
method. Our lead game in this category is QB1, a live, play-along football game
in which players predict the outcome of each play broadcast within professional
and collegiate football games. We have developed a following of thousands of
loyal players who participate weekly in our customer’s hospitality venues during
football season.
In
addition to our Predict the Play games, we offer a series of pre-event
prediction games. Race
Day consists of two game play components: one predictive before the race
and one trivia during the race. Points from both elements are added together for
a final score. Brackets
asks players to predict the outcome of all 65 games of the NCAA Men’s Basketball
tournament.
Turn
Based Games
In 2005
with the launch of our second channel of programming, we released a series of
new turn based games. The new programming is designed with today’s young adults
in mind, and primary products include multi-player card games Blackjack and
Texas Hold’em poker as well as a miniature golf game (Crazy Golf) and a
billiards game (Cutthroat). Programming on this channel is developed with a goal
of securing subscription contracts with new hospitality venues that might not be
attracted to our core trivia and sports products, as well as retaining existing
hospitality venues with the expanded content offering by driving a broader group
of consumers into our subscribing venues, based on varied tastes in interactive
entertainment.
Playmaker
Games
We also
offer a suite of Playmaker only games. This suite of games is independent of the
Buzztime iTV Network and they are played directly on our wireless Playmakers
rather than on one of the television screens in the hospitality venue. Players
access the games by logging onto a Playmaker and following the instructions on
the Playmaker screen. Currently, we have the following Playmaker only
games:
Playmaker Poker:
|
Compete
against the house in a game of jacks-or-better poker.
|
Acey
Duecey:
|
Two
cards are dealt face up. Players bet that the third card will fall between
the previous two.
|
Crystal
Ball:
|
Ask
the Crystal Ball a question and receive your answer.
|
Shark
Attack:
|
Just
like hangman, but with an oceanic
twist.
|
Competition
We face
direct competition in hospitality venues and face competition for total
entertainment dollars in the marketplace. Competing forms of entertainment
provided in public venues include music-based systems, live entertainment, cable
and pay-per-view programming, coin-operated single-player games/amusements and
traffic-building promotions like happy hour specials and buffets. However, many
of these competitive systems require some involvement by the venue staff to be
successful.
4
Buzztime
iTV Network Marketing, Sales and Distribution
We market
our services to the industry primarily through advertising in national trade
periodicals, national and regional trade shows, telemarketing, direct mail and
direct contact through our field sales and marketing representatives. We
organize and track all sales prospects through our distributed database
software. We also use the internet to drive leads directly to our sales team.
Potential customers learn of our products via marketing and promotional efforts,
including direct mail trade ads or trade shows, and are directed to our website,
where their information is electronically sorted and delivered to the
appropriate sales team.
We sell
the Network primarily through direct sales employees organized by regions
throughout the United States and Canada. A portion of our sales are made through
independent dealers and representatives. Our sales cycle varies by customer
type, and is generally longer for national accounts than independent
subscribers. Generally, sales are made telephonically rather than in
person.
Buzztime
iTV Significant Customer
Our
customers are diverse and vary in size as well as location. For the years ended
December 31, 2008 and 2007, we generated approximately 12% and 11%,
respectively, of revenue from a single national chain, Buffalo Wild Wings,
together with its franchisees. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007,
approximately $47,000 and $193,000, respectively, was included in accounts
receivable from this customer.
Buzztime
iTV Network Backlog
We
historically have not had a significant backlog at any time because we normally
can deliver and install new systems at hospitality locations within the delivery
schedule requested by customers (generally, within three to four
weeks).
The
Hospitality Division
The
Hospitality division is comprised of NTN Wireless Communications, Inc. (“NTN
Wireless”) and NTN Software Solutions, Inc. (“Software Solutions”). In 2006, we
determined that the operation of the Hospitality division was not a strategic
fit with our core business and committed to a divestiture plan. These operations
have been reclassified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. NTN
Wireless provided revenues from producing and distributing guest and server
paging systems to restaurants and other markets. Software Solutions developed
and distributed customer management software to manage reservations and table
service in restaurants. Software Solutions also provided professional help desk
services and outsourced software development and support and maintenance
services.
On
March 30, 2007, we completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of
NTN Wireless. On October 25, 2007, we sold certain intellectual property
assets of Software Solutions pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement, and in a
separate agreement with a customer, we discontinued the outsourced software
development. Additionally, we completed the wind down of our professional help
desk and support and maintenance services during the third quarter of
2008.
NTN
Wireless
NTN
Wireless earned revenue from the sale of on-site wireless paging products
primarily to restaurants but also hospitals, church and synagogue nurseries,
salons, business offices and retail establishments in North America. In
restaurants, these products were provided to customers while waiting for a table
and activated to let them know when their table is ready, as well as to
restaurant staff to alert them to certain issues, such as when hot food is ready
to be served.
Software
Solutions
Software
Solutions generated revenue from the licensing of proprietary seating management
and reservation management systems software to restaurants, casinos and other
venues. Software Solutions also provided professional help desk services and
outsourced software development and support and maintenance services to Domino’s
Pizza and their franchisees and other quick service restaurant
locations.
Licensing,
Trademarks, Copyrights and Patents
We keep
confidential as trade secrets our technology, know-how and software. The
hardware used in our operations is purchased from outside vendors. We enter into
confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and
contractors, and non-disclosure agreements with third parties with whom we
conduct business in order to limit access to, and disclosure of, our proprietary
information. We have either received, or have applied for, trademark protection
for the names of our proprietary programming, to the extent that trademark
protection is available for them. Our intellectual property assets are important
to our business and, accordingly, we have launched a program directed to the
protection of our intellectual property assets, including regular intellectual
property protection meetings and ongoing internal education on the protection of
intellectual property.
As of
December 31, 2008, we owned one U.S. patent covering certain aspects of
technology related to an interactive learning system, which expires in 2017. We
filed two utility conversion applications in 2007 and one PCT application. In
addition, in 2007 we filed two new provisional applications and one utility
application.
5
We
consider the Buzztime and Play Along TV trademarks and our many related
trademarks to be valuable assets and have registered these trademarks in the
United States and aggressively seek to protect them. Our flagship game titles,
Countdown and Showdown are also protected under United States copyright
registrations.
We are
party to a license agreement with NFL Enterprises L.P. This NFL agreement grants
us rights to utilize the trademarks and logos of the NFL member teams and
leagues in connection with production and distribution of our QB1 interactive
game on the Buzztime Network in the United States and Canada. Under the terms of
our license, the NFL has granted us data broadcast rights to conduct our QB1
interactive games on the Buzztime Network in conjunction with the broadcast of
NFL football games. During 2008, we renewed our license agreement with the NFL
for the 2008—2009 season.
Government
Contracts
We
provide our content distribution services through the Buzztime Network to
colleges, universities and a small number of government agencies, typically
military base recreation units. However, the number of government customers is
small compared to our overall customer base. We provide our products and
services to government agencies under contracts with substantially the same
terms and conditions as are in place with non-government customers.
Government
Regulations
The cost
of compliance with federal, state and local laws has not had a material effect
on our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position to date. On
June 16, 1998, we received approval from the Federal Communications
Commission for our 900 MHz Playmakers. The 900 MHz Playmaker is an integral
component of our network. The multi-player card games offered on the Buzztime
Network may be restricted in some jurisdictions; the laws and regulations
governing distribution of card games vary in different
jurisdictions.
We are
subject not only to regulations applicable to businesses generally, but also to
laws and regulations that apply directly to the industry of interactive
television products. Although there are currently few such laws and regulations,
state and federal governments may adopt laws and regulations that address issues
such as:
●
|
user
privacy;
|
●
|
copyrights;
|
●
|
consumer
protection;
|
●
|
the
media distribution of specific material or content;
and
|
●
|
the
characteristics and quality of interactive television products and
services.
|
One or
more states or the federal government could enact regulations aimed at companies
like us that provide interactive television products. Any such legislation or
regulation could dampen the growth of the interactive television industry and
have an impact on our Buzztime Network products and services and our operations.
If such a reduction in growth occurs, demand for our interactive television
products and services may decline significantly.
In
addition, we operate games of chance and, in some instances, award prizes. These
games are regulated in many jurisdictions. The selection of prizewinners is
sometimes based on chance, although none of our games require any form of
monetary payment. We also operate interactive card games, such as Texas Hold’em
poker and Blackjack. These card games are restricted in several jurisdictions.
The laws and regulations that govern these games, however, vary in different
jurisdictions and are subject to legislative and regulatory change in all of the
jurisdictions in which we offer our games. If such changes were to happen, we
may find it necessary to eliminate, modify or cancel certain components of our
products, which could result in additional development costs and/or the possible
loss of revenue.
Web
Site Access to SEC Filings
We
maintain an Internet website at www.buzztime.com. We make
available free of charge on our Internet website our annual reports on
Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on
Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably
practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to,
the SEC.
Materials
we file with the SEC may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room
at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of
the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
The SEC also maintains an Internet website at www.sec.gov that contains
reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding our
company that we file electronically with the SEC.
6
Employees
As of
March 10, 2009, we employed approximately 120 people on a full-time basis
and 14 people on a part-time basis. We also utilize independent contractors for
specific projects and hire as many as 30 seasonal employees as needed to produce
our play-along sports games during various professional and collegiate sports
seasons. None of our employees are represented by a labor union and we believe
our employee relations are satisfactory.
ITEM 1A. Risk
Factors
Risk
Factors That May Affect Our Business
Our
business, results of operation and financial condition could be adversely
affected by a number of factors, including the following:
Our
future capital needs are uncertain and we may need to raise additional funds in
the future. Such funds may not be available on acceptable terms or at
all.
Our
capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
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our
ability to generate cash from operating activities;
|
●
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acceptance
of, and demand for, our interactive games and
entertainment;
|
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the
costs of developing new entertainment content, products or technology or
expanding our offering to new media platforms such as the internet and
mobile phones;
|
●
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the
extent to which we invest in the creation of new entertainment content and
new technology; and
|
●
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the
number and timing of acquisitions and other strategic transactions, if
any.
|
In the
future, we may need to raise additional funds, and such funds may not be
available on favorable terms, or at all, particularly given the continuing
credit crisis and downturn in the overall global
economy. Furthermore, if we issue equity or debt securities to raise
additional funds, our existing stockholders may experience dilution, and the new
equity or debt securities may have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to
those of our existing stockholders. If we cannot raise funds on
acceptable terms, or at all, we may not be able to develop or enhance our
products and services, execute our business plan, take advantage of future
opportunities, or respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated customer
requirements. This may materially harm our business, results of
operations, and financial condition.
The
current economic downturn could disrupt and materially harm our
business.
Negative
trends in the general economy could cause a downturn in the market for our
products and services. The current and continuing financial
disruption affecting the banking system, housing market and financial markets
and the concern whether investment banks and other financial institutions will
continue operations in the foreseeable future have resulted in a tightening in
the credit markets, a low level of liquidity in many financial markets and
extreme volatility in credit and equity markets. This financial
crisis could adversely affect our operating results if it results, for example,
in the insolvency of a significant customer. For instance, during
2008, one of our customers, the Bennigan’s restaurant chain, ceased operations
and closed its restaurants, which resulted in a reduction of 34 Network
subscriber sites. Tight credit markets could also delay or prevent us
from acquiring or making investments in other technologies, products or
businesses that could enhance or complement our Buzztime iTV Network or ability
to generate additional revenues, such as from out-of-home
advertising.
In
addition, global economic conditions, including the credit crisis, increased
cost of commodities, widespread employee layoffs, actual or threatened military
action by the United States and the continued threat of terrorism, have resulted
in decreased consumer spending and may continue to negatively impact consumer
confidence and spending. Any reduction in consumer confidence or
disposable income in general may negatively affect consumer spending at the
hospitality venues that comprise the primary customer base for our iTV Network,
and may also negatively affect spending by advertisers in the out-of-home
market.
7
We cannot
predict other negative events that may have adverse effects on the global
economy in general and the hospitality and out-of-home media industries
specifically. However, the factors described above and such
unforeseen events could negatively affect our revenues and operating
results.
We
have experienced significant losses, and we may incur significant losses in the
future.
We have a
history of significant losses, including net losses of $6,466,000 in 2008 and
$5,026,000 in 2007, and an accumulated deficit of $105,351,000 as of
December 31, 2008. We may also incur future operating and net losses, due
in part to expenditures required to implement our business strategies. Despite
significant expenditures, we may not be able to achieve or maintain
profitability. Moreover, if we do achieve profitability, the level of any
profitability cannot be predicted and may vary significantly from quarter to
quarter.
Our
success depends on our ability to grow our out-of-home Buzztime iTV Network
revenue and implement our other business strategies.
We expect
to derive a significant portion of our revenue for at least the next several
years from our out-of-home Buzztime iTV Network. Accordingly, our success
depends on our ability to increase market awareness and encourage the adoption
of the Buzztime brand and our iTV game service among establishments such as
restaurants, sports bars, taverns and pubs, and within the interactive game
player community. Our success also depends on our ability to increase customer
retention. We may not be able to leverage our resources to expand awareness of
and demand for our iTV game service. In addition, our efforts to improve our
game platform and content may not succeed in generating additional demand for
our products within the player community or strengthening the loyalty and
retention of our existing customers. The degree of market adoption of Buzztime
will depend on many factors, including consumer preferences, the availability
and quality of competing products and services, and our ability to leverage our
brand.
Our
success also depends on our ability to implement our other business strategies,
which include growing our advertising revenue, developing an integrated platform
that provides cross-selling opportunities across our Network, the internet, and
mobile devices, and focusing on national accounts. The implementation of these
strategies will require us to dedicate significant resources to, among other
things, expanding our product offerings, customizing our products and services
to meet the unique needs of our national accounts and expanding and improving
our advertising efforts. We may be unable to implement these strategies as
currently planned.
New
products, rapid technological change and the adoption of incompatible standards
may render our operations obsolete or noncompetitive.
The
emergence of new entertainment products and technologies, changes in consumer
preferences, the adoption of new industry standards and other factors may limit
the life cycle of our technologies and any future products and services we
develop. Accordingly, our future performance will depend on our ability
to:
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identify
emerging technological trends and industry standards in our
market;
|
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identify
changing consumer needs, desires or
tastes;
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develop
and maintain competitive technology, including new product and service
offerings;
|
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improve
the performance, features and reliability of our existing products and
services, particularly in response to changes in consumer preferences,
technological changes and competitive offerings;
and
|
●
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bring
technology to the market quickly at cost-effective
prices.
|
If we do
not compete successfully in the development of new products and keep pace with
rapid technological change, we will be unable to achieve profitability or
sustain a meaningful market position. The interactive entertainment and game and
out-of-home digital advertising industries are highly competitive and subject to
rapid technological changes. We are aware of other companies that are
introducing interactive game products on various platforms that allow players to
compete across the nation. Some of these companies may have substantially
greater financial resources and organizational capital than we do, which could
allow them to identify or better exhibit emerging trends and market
opportunities. In addition, changes in customer tastes may render our Buzztime
iTV network and its content obsolete or noncompetitive.
8
We may
not be successful in developing and marketing new products and services that
respond to technological and competitive developments and changing customer
needs. We may have to incur substantial expenditures to modify or adapt our
products or services to respond to these developments. We must be able to
incorporate new technologies into the products we design and develop in order to
address the increasingly complex and varied needs of our customer base. Any
significant delay or failure in developing new or enhanced technology, including
new product and service offerings, could result in a loss of actual or potential
market share and a decrease in revenues.
We
must compete effectively within the highly competitive interactive games and
entertainment industries.
We face
intense competition in the markets in which we operate. Our Buzztime iTV Network
faces significant competition from other companies for total revenues in the
overall market for entertainment in public venues. Additionally, we do compete
for total entertainment dollars in the marketplace. Other forms of entertainment
provided in public venues include music-based systems, live entertainment, cable
and pay-per-view programming, coin-operated single-player games/amusements and
traffic-building promotions like happy hour specials and buffets.
Our
network programming competes generally with broadcast television, direct
satellite programming, pay-per-view, other content offered on cable television
and other forms of entertainment. Some of our current and potential competitors
enjoy substantial competitive advantages, including greater financial resources
for competitive activities, such as content development and programming,
research and development, strategic acquisitions, alliances, joint ventures and
sales and marketing. As a result, these current and potential competitors may be
able to respond more quickly and effectively than we can to new or changing
opportunities, technologies, standards, or consumer preferences.
We also
compete with providers of other content and services available to consumers
through online services. The expanded use of online networks and the internet
provides computer users with an increasing number of alternatives to video games
and entertainment software. With this increasing competition and the rapid pace
of change in product and service offerings in the interactive entertainment
industry, we must be able to compete in terms of technology, content and
management strategy. If we fail to provide quality services and products, we
will lose revenues to other competitors in the entertainment industry. Increased
competition may also result in price reductions, fewer customer orders, reduced
gross margins, longer sales cycles, reduced revenues and loss of market
share.
Our
management transition creates uncertainties.
We have
experienced significant changes in our executive leadership. Dario
Santana, our former CEO and President, separated from our Company in May
2008. Michael Fleming served as Interim Chief Executive Officer until
November 2008 when he resigned. Terry Bateman is currently serving as
our Chief Executive Officer effective February 2, 2009. Changes in
senior management are inherently disruptive, and efforts to implement any new
strategic or operating goals may also prove to be disruptive. Executive
leadership transition periods are often difficult as the new executives gain
detailed knowledge of company operations and due to cultural differences and
friction that may result from changes in strategy and style.
We
are dependent on our key management personnel, and the loss of any of these
individuals may adversely affect our business.
Our
success greatly depends on the efforts of our management team. Our ability to
operate successfully will depend significantly on the services and contributions
of the individuals in executive positions. We have experienced
significant turnover in our senior executive leadership in the past several
months. The loss of any of our key management personnel, or our
inability to recruit qualified members of our management team, will
significantly harm our business. We do not have a key man life insurance policy
for the Chief Executive Officer.
9
Our
success depends on our ability to recruit and retain skilled professionals for
our business.
Our
business requires experienced programmers, creative designers, application
developers and sales and marketing personnel. Our success will depend on
identifying, hiring, training and retaining such experienced and knowledgeable
professionals. We must recruit talented professionals in order for our business
to grow. There is significant competition for employees with the skills required
to develop the products and perform the services we offer. We may be unable to
attract a sufficient number of qualified employees in the future to sustain and
grow our business, and we may not be successful in motivating and retaining the
employees we are able to attract. If we cannot attract, motivate and retain
qualified technical and sales and marketing professionals, our business,
financial condition and results of operations will suffer.
Communication
failures with our subscriber locations could result in the cancellation of
subscribers and a decrease in our revenues.
We rely
on both satellite and telephone systems to communicate with our subscriber
locations. We currently transmit the majority of our data to our
hospitality customer sites via broadband connectivity and, to a lesser
extent, via PanAmSat’s Galaxy IIIR satellite. As of December 31, 2008,
75% of our sites were connected by broadband and 25% of our sites were
connected by satellite. An interruption in communications with our subscriber
locations under either system could decrease customer loyalty and satisfaction
and result in a cancellation of our services.
In the
event that we are forced to switch to another satellite, we could incur
significant costs associated with re-pointing our VSAT satellite receivers. In
addition, we could experience higher operating costs to transmit data to our
customers via telephone lines and the internet during the transition
period.
Because
United States satellite operators are federally licensed, we also face a
potential risk that the government could preempt our satellite for national
security reasons. Any disruption to our communications with our subscribers may
result in a decrease in revenues or an increase in expenses, and may harm our
results of operations and financial condition.
We
may face exposure on sales and/or use taxes in various states.
From time
to time, state tax authorities will make inquiries as to whether or not a
portion of our services might require the collection of sales and use taxes from
customers in those states. In the current difficult economic climate, many
states are expanding their interpretation of their sales and use tax statutes to
derive additional revenue. While in the past the sales and use tax assessments
we have paid have not been significant to our operations, it is likely that such
expenses will increase in the future.
We
have incurred litigation and may incur additional litigation or other challenges
related to company control.
Trinad
Capital Master Fund, Ltd., which beneficially owned 13.8% of our common stock as
of December 31, 2008, has written us a series of letters critical of our
company's performance and of certain decisions of our board. Trinad
also attempted to nominate an alternative slate of Board of Directors candidates
for our 2008 annual meeting of stockholders. However, the attempted
nominations were invalid because Trinad did not comply with the advance-notice
requirement in our Bylaws. Trinad asserts it has received evidence
that we and our Board have committed mismanagement, fraud, breach of fiduciary
duty and waste of corporate assets. We believe that Trinad’s concerns
and claims are baseless. Trinad has made various other demands on us
in these letters, and has threatened to take unspecified
action. Trinad’s demands have included demands under Section 220 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law for production of certain documents and
other information concerning our company. We have provided Trinad
with such of the requested information as we believe has been requested with the
appropriate specificity and proper purpose as required under the
law. We have not provided other information and have asked Trinad to
provide additional clarification with respect to some of its
requests.
10
On
October 17, 2008, Trinad filed a "books and records" proceeding in the Delaware
Chancery Court under Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law asking
the Court to require us to provide Trinad with certain of the requested
information. We have moved to dismiss this complaint. We intend to
vigorously defend this claim with respect to information that we believe has not
been requested with appropriate specificity or for a proper purpose as required
by the law.
Trinad
could decide to expand the current litigation or bring additional litigation
against us and/or against directors and officers whom we are obliged to
indemnify and defend. In addition, Trinad might attempt to wage a
corporate control contest against us and our current Board of
Directors.
The
current litigation and any further litigation and/or control contest could be
significantly expensive and disruptive, could damage our image with customers,
and could destabilize our relationships with key employees. Although
the current litigation does not seek monetary damages and we do not expect to
incur any material impact to the financial statements, any expanded or further
litigation might seek such damages and, if we and/or any officers or directors
named as defendants were to lose, we might have to pay damages or indemnify such
officers or directors. If we were to lose a control contest, the new
personnel and strategies implemented by Trinad may not be effective, might be
less effective than the present and the changeover would involve significant
disruption. In addition, even if we were to prevail in all respects
or reach a settlement on mutually agreeable terms, the costs and expenses of any
defense and/or settlement could be significant, and the
litigation/control-contest process could be time consuming and could divert our
management and key personnel from our business operations. Any of
these events could harm our business.
We
may be liable for the content we make available on the Buzztime iTV Network, the
Buzztime Trivia Channel and the internet.
We make
content available on the Buzztime iTV Network, the Buzztime Trivia Channel for
cable television and the internet. The availability of this content could result
in claims against us based on a variety of theories, including defamation,
obscenity, negligence or copyright or trademark infringement. We could also be
exposed to liability for third-party content accessed through the links from our
websites to other websites. Federal laws may limit, but not eliminate, our
liability for linking to third-party websites that include materials that
infringe copyrights or other rights, so long as we comply with certain statutory
requirements. We may incur costs to defend against claims related to either our
own content or that of third parties, and our financial condition could be
materially adversely affected if we are found liable for information that we
make available. Implementing measures to reduce our exposure may require us to
spend substantial resources and may limit the attractiveness of our services to
users which would impair our profitability and harm our business
operations.
Our
products and services are subject to government regulations that may restrict
our operations or cause demand for our products to decline
significantly.
We are
subject not only to regulations applicable to businesses generally, but also to
laws and regulations that apply directly to the interactive television products
and gaming industries. In the area of interactive television products, state and
federal governments may adopt a number of laws and regulations governing any of
the following issues:
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user
privacy;
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copyrights;
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consumer
protection;
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media
distribution of specific material or content;
and
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the
characteristics and quality of interactive television products and
services.
|
One or
more states or the federal government could enact regulations aimed at companies
like us that provide interactive television products. Any such legislation or
regulation could dampen the growth of the interactive television industry and
have an impact on our Buzztime Network products and services and our operations.
If such a reduction in growth occurs, demand for our interactive television
products and services may decline significantly.
In
addition, we operate games of chance and, in some instances, award prizes. These
games are regulated in many jurisdictions. The selection of prizewinners is
sometimes based on chance, although none of our games require any form of
monetary payment. We also operate interactive card games, such as Texas Hold’em
poker and Blackjack. These card games are restricted in several jurisdictions.
The laws and regulations that govern these games, however, vary in different
jurisdictions and are subject to legislative and regulatory change in all of the
jurisdictions in which we offer our games. If such changes were to happen, we
may find it necessary to eliminate, modify or cancel certain components of our
products, which could result in additional development costs and/or the possible
loss of revenue.
If
intellectual property law and practice do not adequately protect our proprietary
rights and intellectual property, our business could be seriously
damaged.
We rely
on a combination of trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secret laws to
protect our proprietary rights in our products. We believe that the success of
our business also depends on such factors as the technical expertise, innovative
skills, marketing and capabilities of our employees. It is our policy that all
employees and consultants sign non-disclosure agreements and assignment of
invention agreements. Our competitors and former employees and consultants may,
however, misappropriate our technology or independently develop technologies
that are as good as, or better than ours. Our competitors may also challenge or
circumvent our proprietary rights. If we have to initiate or defend against an
infringement claim to protect our proprietary rights, the litigation over such
claims could be time-consuming and costly to us, adversely affecting our
financial condition.
11
From time
to time, we hire or retain employees or external consultants who may have worked
for other companies developing products similar to those that we offer. These
other employers may claim that our products are based on their products and that
we have misappropriated their intellectual property. Any such litigation could
prevent us from exploiting our proprietary portfolio and cause us to incur
substantial costs, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business.
As of December 31, 2008, we owned one U.S. patent covering certain aspects
of technology related to an interactive learning system. This patent will
expire in 2017. We filed two utility conversion applications in 2007 and one PCT
application. In addition, in 2007 we filed two new provisional applications and
one utility application. Our pending patent applications and any future
applications might not be approved. Moreover, our patents might not provide us
with competitive advantages. Third parties might challenge our
patents. In addition, patents held by third parties might have an adverse
effect on our ability to do business. Furthermore, third parties might
independently develop similar products, duplicate our products or, to the extent
patents are issued to us, design around those patents. Others may have filed
and, in the future may file, patent applications that are similar or identical
to ours. Such third-party patent applications might have priority over our
patent applications. To determine the priority of inventions, we may have to
participate in interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent and
Trademark Office. Such interference proceedings could result in substantial cost
to us.
We have incurred
significant net operating loss carryforwards that we believe we will not be able
to fully use.
As of
December 31, 2008 and 2007 we have federal income tax net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $61.2 million and $63.0, respectively, which will
begin to expire in 2009, unless utilized. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007
we have state income tax net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $12.0
million and $14.5 million, respectively, which will begin to expire in 2009,
unless utilized. We believe that our ability to utilize our net operating loss
carryforwards may be substantially restricted by the limitations of
Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code which apply when there are certain
changes in ownership of a corporation. To the extent we begin to realize
significant taxable income, these limitations may result in our incurring
federal income tax liability notwithstanding the existence of otherwise
available carryforwards. To date we have not quantified the potential impact of
these limitations.
Foreign
currency exchange rate fluctuations and trade barriers could harm our
business.
We
operate the Buzztime iTV Network in Canada. Since service fees and operating
expenses from our Canadian subsidiary are recognized in its local currency, our
financial results could be significantly affected by large fluctuations in
foreign currency exchange rates or by weak economic conditions in Canada. To the
extent we attempt to expand our sales efforts in international markets, we may
also face difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, longer
payment cycles and problems with collecting accounts receivable and increased
risks of piracy and limits on our ability to enforce our intellectual property
rights. If we are unable to adequately address the risks of doing business
abroad, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be
harmed.
Risk
Factors Associated with our Common Stock
Our
common stock could be delisted or suspended from trading on the NYSE Amex if we
fail to maintain compliance with continued listing criteria.
NYSE Amex
will normally consider suspending dealings in, or removing from the list,
securities selling for a substantial period of time at a low price per share if
the issuer fails to affect a reverse split of such stock within a reasonable
time after being notified that NYSE Amex deems such action to be appropriate
under the circumstances. While NYSE Amex does not provide bright line minimum
share price standards for continued listing, we believe that a price less than
$1.00 per share for a substantial period of time may be investigated. Our common
stock has traded at below $1.00 per share since July 2007.
If we are
unable to comply with the NYSE Amex continued listing requirements, including
its trading price requirements, our common stock may be suspended from trading
on and/or delisted from NYSE Amex. Alternatively, in order to avoid delisting by
NYSE Amex, we may be required to affect a reverse split of our common stock. The
delisting of our common stock from NYSE Amex may materially impair our
stockholders’ ability to buy and sell shares of our common stock and could have
an adverse effect on the market price of, and the efficiency of the trading
market for, our common stock. In addition, the delisting of our common stock
could significantly impair our ability to raise capital.
12
Our
stock price has been highly volatile and your investment could suffer a decrease
in value.
The
trading price of our common stock has been, and may continue to be, subject to
wide fluctuations. Our stock price may fluctuate in response to a number of
events and factors, such as quarterly variations in operating results,
announcements of technological innovations or new products and media properties
by us or our competitors, changes in financial estimates and recommendations by
securities analysts, the operating and stock price performance of other
companies that investors may deem comparable, and news reports relating to
trends in our markets. In addition, the stock market in general, and the market
prices for technology-related companies in particular, have experienced extreme
volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of such
companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the
price of our stock, regardless of our operating performance.
Our
charter contains provisions that may hinder or prevent a change in control of
our company, which could result in our inability to approve a change in control
and potentially receive a premium over the current market value of your
stock.
Certain
provisions of our certificate of incorporation could make it more difficult for
a third party to acquire control of us, even if such a change in control would
benefit our stockholders. For example, our certificate of incorporation requires
a supermajority vote of at least 80% of the total voting power, voting together
as a single class, to amend certain provisions of such document, including those
provisions relating to:
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the
number, election and term of
directors;
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the
removal of directors and the filling of vacancies;
and
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the
supermajority voting requirements of our restated certificate of
incorporation.
|
Additionally,
our certificate of incorporation and restated bylaws contain provisions that
could delay or prevent a change of control of our company or changes in our
board of directors that our stockholders might consider favorable. Some of these
provisions:
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authorize
the issuance of preferred stock which can be created and issued by the
Board of Directors without prior stockholder approval, with rights senior
to those of the common stock;
|
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prohibit
stockholders from filling Board vacancies, calling special stockholder
meetings, or taking action by written
consent;
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prohibit
our stockholders from making certain changes to our bylaws except with
66 2/3%
stockholder approval; and
|
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require
advance written notice of stockholder proposals and director
nominations.
|
These
provisions could discourage third parties from taking control of our company.
Such provisions may also impede a transaction in which you could receive a
premium over then current market prices and your ability to approve a
transaction that you consider in your best interest.
In
addition, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware
General Corporate Law, which may prohibit certain business combinations with
stockholders owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. These and other
provisions in our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Restated Bylaws and
Delaware law could make it more difficult for stockholders or potential
acquirers to obtain control of our Board or initiate actions that are opposed by
the then-current Board, including delay or impede a merger, tender offer, or
proxy contest involving our company. Any delay or prevention of a change of
control transaction or changes in our Board could cause the market price of our
common stock to decline.
Future
sales of our common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to stock option and
warrant exercises may adversely affect the market price of our common
stock.
Future
sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market or the
anticipation of such sales could have a material adverse effect on
then-prevailing market prices. As of December 31, 2008, there were
approximately 5,249,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the
exercise of outstanding stock options at weighted-average exercise prices
ranging from $0.70 to $2.04 per share. As of December 31, 2008, there were
also outstanding warrants to purchase an aggregate of approximately 403,000
shares of common stock at weighted-average exercise prices ranging from $1.00 to
$3.91 per share.
These
outstanding options and warrants could adversely affect our ability to obtain
future financing or engage in certain mergers or other transactions because the
holders of the options and warrants may exercise these securities when we are
attempting to raise additional capital through a new offering of securities at a
price per share that exceeds the exercise price of such options and warrants. To
the extent the trading price of our common stock at the time of exercise of any
of our outstanding options or warrants exceeds the exercise price, such exercise
will have a dilutive effect on our stockholders.
13
ITEM 1B. UnresolvedStaff
Comments
Not
applicable.
ITEM 2.
Properties
We lease
approximately 41,000 square feet of office and warehouse space at 5966 La Place
Court, Carlsbad, California, for our corporate headquarters. In October 2005, we
entered into an amendment to our lease agreement whereby we extended the term of
the lease through June 2011.
We
operated our Canadian operations in approximately 5,400 square feet of office
and warehouse space in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, under a lease expiring in
December 2014. In April 2007, we entered into a sublease agreement to rent the
space to a subtenant for the remaining period of the lease. In March 2007, we
relocated our Canadian operations to a new location and entered into a new lease
agreement to lease approximately 1,500 square feet, which we currently lease on
a month to month basis.
We lease
approximately 3,361 square feet of office space in Santa Monica, California,
which expires February 28, 2011. The property is currently vacant and
we are seeking to sublease the property.
In
January 2009, we entered into a lease for office space at 275 Madison Avenue,
New York, New York, which expires on December 31, 2009.
The
facilities that we lease are suitable for our current needs and are considered
adequate to support expected growth.
ITEM 3.
Legal
Proceedings
Sales
and Use Tax
From time
to time, state tax agencies will make inquiries as to tax applicability of our
service offerings. Many states have expanded their interpretation of
their sales and use tax statues to derive additional revenue. While
in the past sales and use tax assessments have not been significant to
operations, it is likely that such expenses will increase in the
future.
We have
evaluated such inquiries on a case-by-case basis and have favorably resolved
these tax issues in the past without any material adverse
consequences. Currently, we are in active settlement discussions with
the state of Texas in relation to sales tax collection and
remittance. The discussions are the result of a long on-going
evaluation that began in 2004 when the state concluded that our services were
subject to sales tax on an amusement services basis and assessed us $1.1 million
for the five year audit period ending December 31, 2002. The Company
objected to that conclusion based on the facts of the business and in August
2006, the Texas State Attorney indicated that the State agreed that our services
did not constitute taxable amusement services. However, the State
adopted a new position whereby it concluded that we provide taxable cable
television services. We believe that it provides interactive game
services for the purpose of providing a vehicle for customers to promote their
business. However, based on the nebulous definition of cable
broadcast services as defined by the Texas Tax Code, we believes that, if it
pursued this defense all the way to a formal court procedure, the risk that it
could lose the case was great enough to enter into settlement discussions with
the state. As a result of those discussions, we have recorded a
liability of $515,000, which is based on the latest settlement offer extended by
the state that we are willing to accept. We expect the formal
settlement offer to be signed in the first quarter of 2009. Further,
in February 2009, we began collecting and remitting sales tax in the state of
Texas in accordance with the state tax statutes.
We are
involved in ongoing sales tax inquiries, including certain formal assessments of
$601,000, with a few other states. As a result of those inquiries and
the Texas liability discussed above, we recorded a total liability of $867,000
and $833,000 as of December 31, 2008 and 2007. Based on the guidance
set forth by SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies,
we have deemed the likelihood that it will be forced to pay an assessment as
reasonably possible.
ITEM 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of
Security Holders
No
matters were submitted for a vote by security holders during the fourth quarter
of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.
14
PART
II
ITEM 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common
Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Our
common stock is listed on the NYSE Amex under the symbol “NTN.” Set forth below
are the high and low sales prices for the common stock as reported by the NYSE
Amex for the two most recent fiscal years:
Common
Stock
|
||||||||
Low
|
High
|
|||||||
2008
|
||||||||
First
Quarter
|
$ | 0.40 | $ | 0.64 | ||||
Second
Quarter
|
0.30 | 0.54 | ||||||
Third
Quarter
|
0.20 | 0.33 | ||||||
Fourth
Quarter
|
0.11 | 0.25 | ||||||
2007
|
||||||||
First
Quarter
|
$ | 1.12 | $ | 1.57 | ||||
Second
Quarter
|
1.01 | 1.25 | ||||||
Third
Quarter
|
0.75 | 1.03 | ||||||
Fourth
Quarter
|
0.48 | 0.95 |
On
March 10, 2009, the closing price for our common stock as reported on the
NYSE Amex was $0.17 and there were approximately 1,150 holders of
record.
To date,
we have not declared or paid any cash dividends with respect to our common
stock, and the current policy of our Board of Directors is to retain earnings,
if any, after payment of dividends on the outstanding preferred stock to provide
for our growth. Consequently, no cash dividends are expected to be paid on our
common stock in the foreseeable future.
We have
161,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. The Series A
Preferred Stock provides for a cumulative annual dividend of 10 cents per share,
payable in semi-annual installments in June and December. Dividends may be paid
in cash or with shares of common stock. In 2008 we issued approximately 70,000
common shares for payment of these dividends.
On April
5, 2007, our Board of Directors authorized a Stock Repurchase Plan, which
authorized management to repurchase up to a maximum of $3,500,000 of our Common
Stock from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices or in
privately negotiated transactions over an eighteen month period which expired on
October 4, 2008. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, we
purchased approximately 49,400 shares for a total $12,000. In
addition, we purchased approximately 454,000 shares for $444,000 during
2007. In total, we have purchased approximately 503,000 shares for a
total of $456,000.
Stock
repurchases activity under this Board authorization from April 5, 2007 through
October 4, 2008 was as follows:
Period
|
Total
Number of Shares Purchased
|
Average
Price Paid per Share
|
Total
Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced
Plan
|
Approximate
Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the
Plan
|
||||||||||||
April
1, 1007 through June 30, 2007
|
— | $ | — | — | $ | 3,500,000 | ||||||||||
July
1, 2007 through September 30, 2007
|
454,000 | 0.98 | 454,000 | 3,056,000 | ||||||||||||
October
1, 2007 through December 31, 2007
|
— | — | — | 3,056,000 | ||||||||||||
2007
Total
|
454,000 | 0.98 | 454,000 | 3,056,000 | ||||||||||||
January
1, 2008 through March 31, 2008
|
— | — | — | 3,056,000 | ||||||||||||
April
1, 2008 through June 30, 2008
|
— | — | — | 3,056,000 | ||||||||||||
July
1, 2008 through September 30, 2008
|
49,400 | 0.25 | 49,400 | 3,043,750 | ||||||||||||
October
1, 2008 through October 4, 20081
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
2008
Total
|
49,400 | $ | 0.25 | 49,400 | $ | — | ||||||||||
Plan
Total
|
503,400 | 503,400 |
1. The
Stock Repurchase Plan expired on October 4, 2008.
ITEM 6.
Selected Financial
Data
Not
Applicable.
15
ITEM 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K (including, but not limited to, the following
discussion of our financial condition and results of operations) and the
documents incorporated herein by reference contain “forward-looking” statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words
such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projections,” “may,”
“potential,” “plan,” “continue” and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying
forward-looking statements in this report. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding
our future financial performance or position, our business strategy, plans or
expectations, and our objectives for future operations, including relating to
our products and services. Forward-looking statements contained
herein are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties and our actual results
and outcomes may be materially different from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Our actual results and outcomes may
differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to
risks and uncertainties that exist in our operations, development efforts and
business environment, including those set forth under the Section entitled “Risk
Factors” in Item 1A, and other documents we file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of
activity, performance or achievements. Readers are urged not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date of this report. We do not undertake any obligation to revise or
update any such forward-looking statement to reflect future events or
circumstances.
You
should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of
operations in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the
notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Form
10-K.
Overview
We
historically have operated principally through two operating divisions:
Entertainment and Hospitality. The Entertainment division generates revenue
primarily from the Buzztime iTV Network which distributes an interactive
television promotional game network to restaurants, sports bars, taverns and
pubs, primarily in North America. Additionally, we generate royalty revenue by
distributing our game content and technology to other third-party consumer
platforms, including cable and satellite television, online, retail games and
toys, airlines and books. We also generate revenue by selling advertising for
distribution via our interactive television network.
The
Hospitality division has been discontinued. It was comprised of NTN Wireless
Communications, Inc. (“NTN Wireless”) and NTN Software Solutions, Inc.
(“Software Solutions”). In 2006, we determined that the operation of the
Hospitality division was not a strategic fit with our core business and
committed to a divestiture plan. These operations have been reclassified as
discontinued operations for all periods presented. NTN Wireless provided
revenues from producing and distributing guest and server paging systems to
restaurants and other markets. Software Solutions developed and distributed
customer management software to manage reservations and table service in
restaurants. Software Solutions also provided professional help desk services
and outsourced software development and support and maintenance
services.
On
March 30, 2007, we completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of
NTN Wireless. On October 25, 2007, we sold certain intellectual property
assets of Software Solutions pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement, and in a
separate agreement with a customer, we discontinued the outsourced software
development. Additionally, we completed the wind down of our
professional help desk and support and maintenance services during the third
quarter of 2008. We do not expect to incur any additional expenses
related to the help desk and support and maintenance function in subsequent
periods.
Restructuring
of Operations
In
January 2007 we restructured our Canadian operations to reduce our costs and
streamline operations. The restructuring involved a reduction of ten employees,
moving the operation to a smaller facility and subleasing the previously
occupied facility until the end of the original lease. Along with the
restructuring, we sold certain assets and granted a license for the related
licensed materials of our Interactive Events business to a former
employee.
During
the third quarter of 2008, we ceased our operations in the United Kingdom. The
closure of operations involved the termination of six employees, relocation of
nearly all assets to the United States and disposal of certain other
assets. As of the date we ceased operations, UK operations accounted
for less than 1% of the total subscriber sites.
The
Entertainment Division
The
out-of-home Buzztime iTV Network has engaged in business in the hospitality
industry for 25 years as a promotional platform providing interactive
entertainment to patrons in restaurants and sports bars. The iTV Network
distributes a wide variety of engaging interactive multi-player games, including
trivia quiz shows, play-along sports programming, casino-style and casual games
to our Network. Patrons use our wireless game controllers, or Playmakers, to
play along with the Buzztime games which are displayed on television screens.
Buzztime players can compete with other players within their hospitality venue
and also against players in other Network venues.
We target
national and regional hospitality chains as well as local independent
hospitality venues that desire a competitive point-of-difference to attract and
retain customers. As of December 31, 2008, we had 3,429 United States
Network subscribers and 317 Canadian subscribers. Approximately 29% of our
Network subscribers come from leading national chains in the casual-dining
restaurant segment such as Buffalo Wild Wings, TGI Friday’s, Old Chicago and
Damon’s Grill.
16
Through
the transmission of interactive game content stored on a site server at each
location, our Buzztime iTV Network enables single-player and multi-player
participation as part of local, regional, national or international competitions
supported with prizes and player recognition. Our Buzztime iTV Network also
generates revenue through the sale of advertising and marketing services to
companies seeking to reach the millions of consumers that visit the Buzztime iTV
Network’s venues.
We also
generate revenue from distributing and licensing our Buzztime-branded content
and related technology to consumer platforms, with a focus on interactive
networks such as cable TV, satellite TV and mobile phones. Our distribution
efforts focus on licensing real-time, mass-participation games such as trivia,
head-to-head multi-player games such as Texas Hold’em and single-player games
such as solitaire.
Our games
have been available as a two-way cable TV game service since June 2002. In 2008,
our games (including trivia, Texas Hold’em, Buzztime Billiards and assorted
single-player games) were licensed to five cable systems including Comcast
and were available to the digital cable subscribers for free. Our games are
also available as a premium monthly subscription service to Echostar DISH and
Bell ExpressVu satellite customers in the U.S. and Canada, respectively. Revenue
from our distribution division is derived primarily from license fees and
royalties from third-party licensees who distribute Buzztime content to
end-users, as well as from third-party development and production
fees.
The
Hospitality Division (Discontinued Operations)
NTN
Wireless earned revenue from the sale of on-site wireless paging products
primarily to restaurants but also hospitals, church and synagogue nurseries,
salons, business offices and retail establishments in North America. In
restaurants, these products were provided to customers while waiting for a table
and activated to let them know when their table was ready, as well as to
restaurant staff to alert them to certain issues, such as when hot food is ready
to be served.
Software
Solutions generated revenue from the licensing of proprietary seating management
and reservation management systems software to restaurants, casinos and other
venues. Software Solutions also provided professional help desk services and
outsourced software development and support and maintenance services to Domino’s
Pizza and their franchisees and other quick service restaurant
locations.
Results
of Operations
Change
in Reporting Format
Our
Hospitality Division is classified as discontinued operations in accordance with
SFAS No. 144, Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. The operating
results for these businesses have been separately classified and reported as
discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements. In accordance
with SFAS No. 144, corporate expenses previously allocated to these
divisions have been reclassified to Buzztime iTV for all years
presented.
Results
of Continuing Operations
Year
Ended December 31, 2008 compared to the Year Ended December 31,
2007
Continuing
operations, which consists of the Entertainment division, generated a loss of
$6,134,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to a loss of $4,291,000
for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Revenue
Revenue
from continuing operations decreased $3,046,000 or 10% to $27,496,000 for the
year ended December 31, 2008 from $30,542,000 for the year ended December 31,
2007. This decrease was due to a reduction in our site count
predominately driven by the closure of our UK operations, the Chapter 7
bankruptcy of the Bennigan’s restaurant chain and changes in our pricing
strategy. Comparative site count information for Buzztime iTV Network is as
follows:
Network Subscribers
As of December 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
United
States
|
3,429 | 3,490 | ||||||
Canada
|
317 | 322 | ||||||
United
Kingdom
|
- | 65 | ||||||
Total
|
3,746 | 3,877 |
17
Direct
Costs and Gross Margin
The
following table compares the direct costs and gross margins for the
Entertainment Division for 2008 and 2007:
For
the year ended
December 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 27,496,000 | $ | 30,542,000 | ||||
Direct
Costs
|
7,756,000 | 9,017,000 | ||||||
Gross
Margin
|
$ | 19,740,000 | $ | 21,525,000 | ||||
Gross
Margin Percentage
|
72% | 70% |
Gross
margin as a percentage of revenue increased by two percentage points to 72% for
the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 70% in the prior
year. The two point increase in the gross margin percentage is
primarily the result of a reduction in depreciation expense as equipment became
fully depreciated. Additionally, installation costs decreased in 2008
compared to 2007 primarily due to an adjustment relating to the amortization of
deferred costs.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
Selling,
general and administrative expenses increased $1,442,000 or 6%, to $25,314,000
in 2008 from 23,872,000 in 2007. Selling, general and administrative
expenses increased due to several factors. Severance expenses
increased $956,000 as a result of the elimination of 22 positions, closing our
UK office, and the departure of several executives. Consulting
expenses increased $857,000 as we utilized the services of external consultants
on a number of initiatives. Software disposal expenses increased
$360,000 due to impairments on certain projects that were deemed to no longer
fit with our current strategy. Legal fees increased $198,000 related
to corporate governance matters as well as an ongoing trademark infringement
case. Bad debt expense increased $201,000 related to customer
cancellations and bankruptcies. Recruiting expenses increased
$202,000 as a result of our efforts to recruit new executive talent to
complement our revised business strategy and turnover in several executive
positions. In addition, office lease expenses increased $304,000 due
to the addition of leased office space in Santa Monica, California.
The
above increases were offset by several factors. Marketing expenses
decreased $851,000 due to an overall reduction in advertising, trade shows, and
outsourced marketing services. Commission expenses decreased $339,000
predominately due to an adjustment relating to the amortization of deferred
costs. Other taxes decreased $270,000 due to updated estimates
relating to ongoing sales tax obligation settlement discussions, which resulted
in the reversal of certain accrued expenses. Additionally, salaries
decreased $120,000 due to the closing of the UK office and reductions in
force.
Impairment
of Capitalized License
During
the third quarter of 2007, we performed an evaluation of our capitalized license
agreement with Media General, Inc., which would have been up for renewal in May
2008. We determined that the intangible asset related to selected technology and
content licensed from Media General was impaired. In May 2003, in connection
with an investment Media General made in us, we issued 666,667 shares of
unregistered shares of our common stock as consideration for this license. The
original license was for five years with an option to renew. At that time, we
had intended to renew for the additional five year period in part related to our
plans to deploy the games relating to this license as a premium subscription
tier to the Buzztime cable channel. As of September 30, 2007, we determined
that the license agreement was no longer a strategic fit and did not renew it.
Therefore, we incurred a loss on impairment equal to the remaining net book
value of the capitalized license agreement of approximately $968,000 during the
third quarter of 2007.
Restructuring
Costs
We
recorded restructuring charges totaling $478,000 during the year ended December
31, 2007 in connection with the restructuring of the Canadian operation to
reduce costs and streamline operations. Of this amount, approximately
$337,000 was for one-time termination benefits, $99,000 related to costs to exit
certain contractual and lease obligations and $42,000 for moving and relocation
costs. The restructuring involved a reduction of 10 employees and
relocating to a smaller space.
Depreciation
and amortization
Depreciation
and amortization not related to direct operating costs decreased $34,000, or 6%,
to $532,000 in 2008 from $566,000 in 2007, due to various fixed assets becoming
fully depreciated, thereby reducing our depreciation in 2008.
Interest
Income and Expense
Interest
income decreased $209,000, to $138,000 in 2008 from $347,000 in the prior year
due to a decrease in our average cash balance invested. Interest
expense decreased $25,000, to $5,000 in 2008 from $30,000 in 2007 due to a
reduction in capital leases.
18
Income
Taxes
We expect
to report a U.S. tax loss for the year ended December 31, 2008. We expect
that we will not incur a federal tax liability; however, we will likely incur a
state tax liability. We also expect to pay income taxes in Canada due to the
profitability of NTN Canada. As a result, we recorded a tax provision of
$234,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008. This was a $98,000 decrease
compared to the $332,000 provision for income taxes recorded for the year ended
December 31, 2007. We continue to provide a 100% valuation allowance
against our deferred tax assets related to certain net operating losses as
realization of such tax benefits is not assessed as more likely than
not. Further, we have not quantified the potential impact that
Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code may have on the ability for us to
utilize our net operating loss carryforwards. The use of some or all
of those net operating losses may be limited if certain changes in ownership are
deemed to have occurred.
Results
of Discontinued Operations
Year
Ended December 31, 2008 compared to the Year Ended December 31,
2007
Discontinued
operations generated a loss of $332,000 for the year ended December 31,
2008 compared to a loss of $735,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007.
The operating results of the discontinued operations are as follows for 2008 and
2007:
For
the year ended
December 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Operating
revenues
|
$ | 21,000 | $ | 4,825,000 | ||||
Operating
expenses
|
530,000 | 5,919,000 | ||||||
Operating
loss
|
(509,000 | ) | (1,094,000 | ) | ||||
Other
income
|
177,000 | 388,000 | ||||||
Loss
before income taxes
|
(332,000 | ) | (706,000 | ) | ||||
Income
tax expense
|
- | 29,000 | ||||||
Loss
from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
$ | (332,000 | ) | $ | (735,000 | ) |
On March
30, 2007, we completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of NTN
Wireless for $2.4 million and recognized a gain, net of tax, of approximately
$396,000. On October 25, 2007, we sold certain intellectual property
assets of Software Solutions pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement, and in a
separate agreement with a customer, we discontinued the outsourced software
development it was providing. The intellectual property sold
constituted substantially all of the remaining operating assets of our
Hospitality division, which had originally consisted of our Software Solutions
and Wireless. We completed the wind down of our professional help
desk and support and maintenance services during the third quarter of
2008. As such, we do not anticipate any further costs in subsequent
periods.
Moving,
relocation and other associated costs related to the dissolution were expensed
as incurred. Severance expenses for involuntary employee terminations
were approximately $52,000 for 2008 and $55,000 for 2007.
We
recorded a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of approximately
$332,000 during 2008. That loss was substantially due to the wind
down activities associated with the discontinuation of those
operations.
EBITDA—Consolidated
Operations
Earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, is not
intended to represent a measure of performance in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). Nor should EBITDA be
considered as an alternative to statements of cash flows as a measure of
liquidity. EBITDA is included herein because we believe it is a measure of
operating performance that financial analysts, lenders, investors and other
interested parties find to be a useful tool for analyzing companies like us that
carry significant levels of non-cash depreciation and amortization charges in
comparison to their GAAP earnings or loss.
19
The
following table reconciles our consolidated net loss per GAAP to
EBITDA:
For
the year ended
December 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Net
loss per GAAP
|
$ | (6,466,000 | ) | $ | (5,026,000 | ) | ||
Interest
income, net
|
(133,000 | ) | (317,000 | ) | ||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
3,101,000 | 3,932,000 | ||||||
Income
taxes
|
234,000 | 361,000 | ||||||
EBITDA
|
$ | (3,264,000 | ) | $ | (1,050,000 | ) |
Our
operations generated EBITDA levels as presented below:
For the year
ended December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||
Entertainment
|
Discontinued
operations
|
Total
|
||||||||||
Net
loss per GAAP
|
$ | (6,134,000 | ) | $ | (332,000 | ) | $ | (6,466,000 | ) | |||
Interest
income, net
|
(133,000 | ) | — | (133,000 | ) | |||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
3,101,000 | — | 3,101,000 | |||||||||
Income
taxes
|
234,000 | — | 234,000 | |||||||||
EBITDA
|
$ | (2,932,000 | ) | $ | (332,000 | ) | $ | (3,264,000 | ) |
For the year ended December 31, 2007 | ||||||||||||
Entertainment
|
Discontinued
operations
|
Total
|
||||||||||
Net
loss per GAAP
|
$ | (4,291,000 | ) | $ | (735,000 | ) | $ | (5,026,000 | ) | |||
Interest
income, net
|
(317,000 | ) | — | (317,000 | ) | |||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
3,932,000 | — | 3,932,000 | |||||||||
Income
taxes
|
332,000 | 29,000 | 361,000 | |||||||||
EBITDA
|
$ | (344,000 | ) | $ | (706,000 | ) | $ | (1,050,000 | ) |
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
As of
December 31, 2008, we had cash and cash equivalents of $3,362,000 compared
to cash and cash equivalents of $10,273,000 as of December 31,
2007. We used $5,912,000 in cash in 2008 compared to cash generation
of $774,000 in 2007. Cash use in 2008 was driven by our net loss of
$6,466,000. In 2008, especially in the second half of the year, we
began to take strong measures to reduce our use of cash. Those
measures included reducing headcount through strategic reductions in our work
force, renegotiated pricing with numerous vendors, decrease in use of certain
vendors, decrease in use of consultants, decreased marketing spending and a
decrease in travel and entertainment expenditures. Additionally, we
took a further reduction in our work force in January 2009 in a further effort
to align our human resources with our current business
objectives.
During
2009, we intend to continue to rely upon our cash on hand and cash flow from
operations to meet our liquidity needs. While we believe that the actions taken
in 2008 to reduce our operating costs, improve our gross profit margin and
manage working capital should benefit us in 2009, there can be no assurance in
these uncertain economic times that those actions will be
sufficient.
We
believe existing cash and cash equivalents, together with funds generated from
operations, will be sufficient to meet our operating cash requirements for at
least the next 12 months. We have no debt obligations other than capital leases
and we do not expect to incur debt in 2009. In the event that net
cash provided by operating activities and cash on hand are not sufficient to
meet future cash requirements, we may be required to reduce planned capital
expenses, further reduce operational cash uses, sell assets or seek financing.
Any actions we may undertake to reduce planned capital purchases, further reduce
expenses, or generate proceeds from the sale of assets may be insufficient to
cover shortfalls in available funds. If we require additional
capital, we may be unable to secure additional financing on terms that are
acceptable to us, or at all.
20
Working
Capital
As of
December 31, 2008, we had working capital (current assets in excess of
current liabilities) of $874,000 compared to $7,698,000 as of December 31,
2007. The following table shows our change in working capital from
December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2008.
Increase
(Decrease)
|
||||
(In
thousands)
|
||||
Working
capital as of December 31, 2007
|
$ | 7,698 | ||
Changes
in current assets:
|
||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
(6,911 | ) | ||
Restricted
cash
|
(55 | ) | ||
Accounts
receivable, net of allowances
|
(718 | ) | ||
Investment
available-for-sale
|
(206 | ) | ||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
(134 | ) | ||
Assets
held for sale
|
(212 | ) | ||
Total
current assets
|
(8,236 | ) | ||
Changes
in current liabilities:
|
||||
Accounts
payable
|
612 | |||
Accrued
expenses
|
(269 | ) | ||
Sales
tax payable
|
24 | |||
Accrued
salaries
|
(26 | ) | ||
Accrued
vacation
|
66 | |||
Income
tax payable
|
18 | |||
Deferred
revenue
|
315 | |||
Liabilities
of discontinued operations
|
672 | |||
Total
current liabilities
|
1,412 | |||
Net
change in working capital
|
(6,824 | ) | ||
Working
capital as of December 31, 2008
|
$ | 874 |
Cash and
cash equivalents decreased $6,911,000 as a result of $2,963,000 of cash used in
operating activities, $2,925,000 used in investing activities, $24,000 used in
financing activities and a $999,000 effect of changes in exchange rates,
primarily from converting Canadian Dollars to US Dollars.
Restricted
cash decreased $55,000 due to the release of restricted cash used to
collateralize leased office space in Canada.
Accounts
receivable decreased $718,000 from $1,354,000 as of December 31, 2007 to
$636,000 as of December 31, 2008. The decrease is primarily
attributable to lower revenue in 2008. This decrease in revenue
resulted from a decline in our customer site count, from 3,877 as of December
31, 2007 to 3,746 as of December 31, 2008, combined with an overall decrease in
pricing.
Accounts
payable decreased $612,000 from $831,000 as of December 31, 2007 to $219,000 as
of December 31, 2008. That decrease was primarily attributable to
efforts taken by management during 2008 to reduce spending in key areas which
ultimately resulted in decreased accounts payable at the end of the
year.
Liabilities
of discontinued operations decreased as we fulfilled our obligations related to
the wind down of the Wireless and Software Solutions businesses in
2008. We do not expect to incur any additional expenses or cash
outflows related to those discontinued operations.
21
Cash
Flows
Cash
flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as reflected in the
accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, are summarized as follows
(in thousands):
(In
thousands)
For
the year ended
|
||||||||
December
31,
2008
|
December
31,
2007
|
|||||||
Cash
(used in) provided by:
|
||||||||
Operating
activities
|
$ | (2,963 | ) | $ | (782 | ) | ||
Investing
activities
|
(2,925 | ) | 1,763 | |||||
Financing
activities
|
(24 | ) | (207 | ) | ||||
Effect
of exchange rates
|
(999 | ) | 725 | |||||
Net
(decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
$ | (6,911 | ) | $ | 1,499 |
Net cash from operating
activities. We are dependent on cash flows from operations to
meet our cash requirements. Inclusive of cash flows from discontinued
operations, net cash used in operating activities was $2,963,000 in 2008
compared to net cash used in operating activities of $782,000 in 2007. The
$2,181,000 increase in cash used in operations was primarily due to a
significant increase in net loss. Our primary source of cash is cash
we generate from customers. Cash received from customers decreased
$1,200,000 to $28,600,000 in 2008 from $29,800,000 in 2007. The
principal changes in non-cash items that affected operating cash flow for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2008 when compared to the same period in 2007
included a $831,000 decrease in depreciation and amortization, a $968,000
decrease in intangible impairments and a $887,000 change from a $269,000 gain on
disposition of assets recorded in 2007 compared to a $618,000 loss recorded in
2008.
Our
largest use of cash is payroll and related costs. Payroll and related
costs were $15,700,000 in 2008 compared to $15,000,000 in 2007.
Cash used
by discontinued operations was $807,000 in 2008 compared to cash used by
discontinued operations of $1,616,000 in 2007. The reduction in cash
used by discontinued operations was due to the completion of the wind down in
operations, which we completed in the third quarter of 2008.
Net cash from investing
activities. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, we
used $2,925,000 in cash for investing activities. That was a change
of $4,688,000 from the prior year when we generated $1,763,000 in cash from
investing activities. The change in cash flows from investing
activities when comparing the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 to the same
period in 2007 was due to the following:
●
|
Cash
used for capital expenditures increased
$1,568,000,
|
●
|
Cash
used for software development initiatives increased
$247,000,
|
●
|
Deposits
for broadcast equipment decreased
$161,000,
|
●
|
Proceeds
from the sale of equipment and other assets in continuing operations
decreased $466,000, and
|
●
|
Cash
generated from discontinued operations decreased $2,606,000 primarily due
to the proceeds from the sale of assets, in 2007, of the discontinued
operations.
|
We
currently anticipate investing approximately $3.5 million in 2009 for software
development, equipment purchases and infrastructure improvements. Our actual
future capital requirements will depend on a number of factors, including our
cash availability, success in increasing sales, industry competition and
technological developments.
Net cash from financing
activities. Net cash used in financing activities decreased
$183,000 to $24,000 in 2008 compared to net cash used of $207,000 in 2007.
Included in net cash used in financing activities in 2008 were payments for the
repurchase of our common stock of $12,000 under the Stock Repurchase Plan and
$12,000 in principal payments on capital leases. Cash used in
financing activities in 2007 primarily consisted of $444,000 in repurchases of
our common stock and $363,000 in principal payments on capital leases, which
were offset by proceeds from the exercise of warrants and options.
22
Amendments
to Satellite Agreements
On
January 20, 2005, but effective as of December 31, 2004, we amended
our agreements with our satellite services provider to extend the expiration
date on the FM2
satellite platform to February 2007 and to modify our VSAT equipment purchase
and satellite service agreements. In October 2006, we amended our agreement with
FM2
to extend the expiration date to December 2008, which went month to month
was ultimately terminated on February 28, 2009. The modification to the
equipment purchase agreement eliminates the requirement to purchase and install
a specific amount of VSAT equipment.
The
termination of the FM2 data
transmission agreement and the revisions to the VSAT equipment purchase and
satellite service agreements enable us to implement our business strategy to
convert all customers to broadband delivery. We expect VSAT satellite
services to terminate by the end of 2009, at which point all customers are
expected to have been converted to broadband delivery.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are
based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
(GAAP). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make
estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities,
revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those
related to deferred costs and revenues, depreciation of broadcast equipment,
allowance for doubtful accounts, investments, intangible assets and
contingencies. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various
other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances,
the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying
values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other
sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates. Critical
accounting policies and estimates are defined as those that are both most
important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results and
require management’s most subjective judgments. We believe the following
critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates
used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
Allowance for
Doubtful Accounts—We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for
estimated losses resulting from nonpayment by our customers. We
reserve for all accounts that have been suspended or terminated from its
Buzztime iTV Network services and auto debit customers with balances that are
greater than 60 days past due. We analyze historical collection trends, customer
concentrations and creditworthiness, economic trends and anticipated changes in
customer payment patterns when evaluating the adequacy of our allowance for
doubtful accounts for specific and general risks. Additional reserves may also
be established if specific customers’ balances are identified as potentially
uncollectible. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate,
resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional
allowances may be required.
Broadcast
Equipment and Fixed Assets—Broadcast equipment and fixed assets are
recorded at cost. Equipment under capital leases is recorded at the present
value of future minimum lease payments. Depreciation of broadcast equipment and
fixed assets is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated
useful lives of the assets. Depreciation of leasehold improvements and fixed
assets under capital leases is computed using the straight-line method over the
shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease
period.
We incur
a relatively significant level of depreciation expense in relationship to our
operating income. The amount of depreciation expense in any fiscal year is
largely related to the estimated life of handheld wireless Playmaker devices,
and associated electronics and the computers located at our customer’s sites.
The Playmakers are depreciated over a four-year life and associated electronics
and the computers are depreciated over three or four years. The
depreciable life of these assets was determined based on their estimated useful
life, which considers anticipated technology changes. If our Playmakers, VSAT
dishes and associated electronics and the computers turn out to have longer
lives, on average, than estimated, our depreciation expense would be
significantly reduced in those future periods. Conversely, if the Playmakers,
and associated electronics and the computers turn out to have shorter lives, on
average, than estimated, our depreciation expense would be significantly
increased in those future periods.
Investments—SFAS
No. 115, Accounting for
Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, SEC Staff Accounting
Bulletin (SAB) 59, Accounting
for Noncurrent Marketable Equity Securities, and Emerging Issues Task
Force (EITF) issue No. 03-01, Other Than Temporary Impairments,
provide guidance on determining when an investment is
other-than-temporarily impaired. Investments are reviewed quarterly for
indicators of other-than-temporary impairment. This determination requires
significant judgment. In making this judgment, we employ a systematic
methodology that considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence in
evaluating potential impairment of our investments. If the cost of an investment
exceeds its fair value, we evaluate, among other factors, general market
conditions, the duration and extent to which the fair value is less than cost,
and our intent and ability to hold the investment. We also consider specific
adverse conditions related to the financial health of, and business outlook of
the investee, including industry and sector performance, changes in technology,
operational and financing cash flow factors, and rating agency actions. Once a
decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment
charge is recorded and a new cost basis in the investment is established. If
market, industry and/or investor conditions deteriorate, we may incur future
impairments.
23
Goodwill and
Other Intangible Assets—Goodwill represents the excess of costs over fair
value of assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired
in a purchase combination determined to have an indefinite useful life are not
amortized, but instead are tested for impairment at least annually in accordance
with the provisions SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets. SFAS No. 142 also requires that intangible assets with
estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives
to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment in accordance
with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.
In
accordance with SFAS No. 144, we assess potential impairments of our
long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the
asset’s carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be
recognized when the carrying amount of a long-lived asset or asset group is not
recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-lived
asset or asset group is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the
undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition
of the asset or asset group.
We
performed our annual test for goodwill impairment by calculating the fair value
for NTN Canada, Inc., as of September 30, 2008 and 2007. The
valuation methods employed to determine the fair value for NTN Canada, Inc. as
of September 30, 2008 and 2007 were (1) the market approach—guideline
company method, (2) the market approach—guideline transaction method and
(3) the income approach—discounted cash flow method.
The
market approach—guideline company method compares the business unit to guideline
publicly traded companies. Valuation multiples are calculated from selected
guideline companies to provide an indication of how much current investors in
the marketplace are willing to pay for a company with similar characteristics.
The valuation multiples are adjusted based on strengths and weaknesses of the
business unit under review relative to the selected guideline companies. The
market approach—guideline transaction method employs the same method as with the
market approach—guideline company method, however, multiples are based on actual
transactions that have taken place in the business unit’s industry. The income
approach—discounted cash flow method discounts projected cash flows and the
terminal value at a rate of return that reflects the estimated degree of
risk.
Management
considers market conditions, new product offerings, pricing and selling
strategies, revenue growth rates and additional investment needed to achieve
these growth rates. We believe the projections are reasonable based on existing
operations and prospective business opportunities. The resulting indicated value
from each approach is weighted equally and added to interest bearing debt to
arrive at the indicated fair market value of the invested capital. The resulting
value is compared against the carrying value of equity after interest bearing
debt to determine impairment.
Revenue
Recognition—Our Entertainment Division recognizes revenue from recurring
service fees earned from our Network subscribers, advertising revenues,
distribution and licensing fees from our Buzztime-branded content and related
technology to interactive consumer platforms. To the extent these arrangements
contain multiple deliverables, we evaluate the criteria in EITF Issue No. 00-21,
Revenue Arrangements with
Multiple Deliverables, to determine whether such deliverables represent
separate units of accounting. In order to be considered a separate unit of
accounting, the delivered items in an arrangement must have stand-alone value to
the customer and objective and reliable evidence of fair value must exist for
any undelivered elements. Arrangements for the transmission of our Buzztime iTV
Network contain two deliverables: the installation of equipment and the
transmission of our network content for which we receive monthly subscription
fees. As the installation deliverable does not have stand-alone value to the
customer, it does not represent a separate unit of accounting and, therefore,
all installation fees received are deferred and recognized as revenue on a
straight-line basis over 36 months, the estimated life of the customer
relationship in accordance with SAB No. 104, Revenue Recognition. As a
result, installation fees not recognized in revenue have been recorded as
deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
In
addition, the direct expenses of the installation, commissions, setup and
training are being deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis and are
classified as deferred costs on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The amortization period is 36 months for deferred direct costs that are of an
amount that is less than or equal to the deferred revenue for the related
contract. For costs that exceed the deferred revenue the amortization period is
the initial term of the contract, in accordance with SAB Topic 13(A)(3)(f),
Nonrefundable Up-Front Fees, which is generally one year.
Prior to
2007, all of our deferred direct costs were amortized over the estimated average
life of the relevant contracts, 36 months, to properly match the revenues and
respective direct costs in accordance with the provisions of FTB No. 90-1.
However, during 2007, we changed our method of accounting for deferred direct
costs to comply with SAB Topic 13(A) (3) (f). As a result, we changed our policy
to amortize deferred direct costs that exceed deferred revenue on an individual
contract basis from three years to one year, which is the initial contract
period. Additionally, in cases where an upfront installation fee was waived, we
had incrementally allocated a portion of the monthly billed subscription fee to
deferred revenue as we billed the customer over the initial contract period, and
amortized the deferred revenue over the average life of the contract of three
years. We have revised our policy to discontinue deferring a portion of the
subscription fee in cases where no upfront installation fee was
charged.
24
Advertising
and royalty revenues are recognized when all material services or conditions
relating to the transaction have been performed or satisfied.
Revenues
recognized from our Hospitality Division include revenues from NTN Wireless
consisting primarily of sales for wireless paging equipment to restaurants and
other hospitality locations and revenues earned from Software Solutions from
licensing of seating management and reservation systems software, help desk
services, outsourced software development and support and maintenance services.
The operations of the Hospitality division have been discontinued as of
December 31, 2008.
Revenues
from NTN Wireless were recognized upon the shipment of equipment to the
customer. Revenues from Software Solutions were recognized in accordance with
Statement of Position (SOP) No. 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition,
as amended. Software license fee revenue was recognized when persuasive evidence
of an arrangement existed, delivery of the product had occurred at the
customer’s location, the fee was fixed or determinable and collection was
probable—provided that vendor specific evidence exists for any undelivered
elements, namely annual support and maintenance. Along with the basic software
license, customers were provided post-contract support (PCS) for an additional
fee, which was based on a stipulated percentage of the license fee. PCS
consisted of technical support as well as unspecified software upgrades and
releases when and if made available by us during the term of the support period.
If, at the outset of an arrangement, we determined that the arrangement fee was
not fixed or determinable, revenue was deferred until the arrangement fee became
due. If, at the outset of an arrangement, we determined that collectability was
not probable, revenue was deferred until the earlier of when collectability
became probable or when payment was received. If an arrangement allowed for
customer acceptance, revenue was not recognized until the earlier of receipt of
customer acceptance or expiration of the acceptance period. Additionally, we
provided consulting and training services under both hourly-based time and
materials and fixed-priced contracts. Revenues from these services were
generally recognized as the services were performed.
Software
Development Costs—We capitalize costs related to the development of
certain software products for the Entertainment Division in accordance with SOP
No. 98-1, Accounting for
the Costs of Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use.
Amortization of costs related to interactive programs is recognized on a
straight-line basis over three years. Amortization expense relating to
capitalized software development costs totaled $366,000 and $357,000 for the
years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. As of
December 31, 2008 and 2007, approximately $404,000 and $388,000,
respectively, of capitalized software costs was not subject to amortization as
the development of various software projects was not complete.
We
performed our annual review of software development projects for the year ended
December 31, 2008, and determined to abandon various software development
projects that we determined were no longer a current strategic fit or for which
we determined that the marketability of the content had decreased due to
obtaining additional information regarding the specific industry for which the
content was intended. As a result, an impairment of $503,000 and $143,000 was
recognized for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, which was included in
our selling, general and administrative expenses.
Website
Development Costs—We capitalize web site development costs in accordance
with EITF Issue No. 00-02, Accounting for Web Site Development
Costs, and SOP No. 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Software
Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. Costs incurred during the
planning and operating stages are expensed as incurred while costs incurred
during the web site application and infrastructure development stage are
capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over their expected useful
life of three years. These costs are included in software development costs on
the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Stock Based
Compensation—We estimate the fair value of our stock options using a
Black-Scholes option pricing model, consistent with the provisions of SFAS
No. 123R and SAB No. 107, Share-Based Payment. The fair
value of stock options granted is recognized to expense over the requisite
service period. Stock-based compensation expense for all share-based payment
awards is recognized using the straight-line single-option method. Stock-based
compensation expense is reported as selling, general and administrative based
upon the departments to which substantially all of the associated employees
report.
We used
the historical stock price volatility as an input to value our stock options
under SFAS No. 123R. The expected term of our stock options represents the
period of time options are expected to be outstanding, and is based on observed
historical exercise patterns for our company, which we believe are indicative of
future exercise behavior. For the risk-free interest rate, we use the observed
interest rates appropriate for the term of time options are expected to be
outstanding. The dividend yield assumption is based on our history and
expectation of dividend payouts.
25
The
following weighted average assumptions were used for grants issued during 2008
and 2007 under the SFAS No. 123R requirements:
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||
Weighted-average
risk-free rate
|
2.97 |
%
|
4.57 |
%
|
||||||
Weighted-average
volatility
|
63.57 |
%
|
56.28 |
%
|
||||||
Dividend
yield
|
0.00 |
%
|
0.00 |
%
|
||||||
Expected
life
|
4.38 years
|
5.0 years
|
SFAS
No. 123R requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and
revised if necessary in subsequent periods if actual forfeiture rates differ
from those estimates. Forfeitures were estimated based on historical activity
for our company. For the year ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we
estimated 17.63% and 4.58% annual forfeiture rates, respectively. Stock-based
compensation expense for employees in 2008 and 2007 was $312,000 and $462,000,
respectively, and is expensed in selling, general and administrative expenses
and credited to additional paid-in-capital.
Income
Taxes—Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability
method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax
bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable
income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be
recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a
change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the
enactment date. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when,
in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or
all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
In June
2006, FASB issued Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes,” which defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax
return positions in the financial statements as “more-likely-than-not” to be
sustained by the taxing authority. A tax position that meets the
“more-likely-than-not” criterion shall be measured at the largest amount of
benefit that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
FIN 48 applies to all tax positions accounted for under SFAS No. 109,
“Accounting for Income
Taxes.” FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2006. We have reviewed our tax positions and determined that
an adjustment to the tax provision is not considered necessary nor is a reserve
for the income taxes required.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
SFAS No. 157—Fair Value
Measurements — In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157,
which establishes, among other things, a framework for measuring fair value and
expands disclosure requirements as they relate to fair value measurements. The
Company adopted this Statement on January 1, 2008 the effect of which
was not material to the financial position, results of operations or cash
flows. In October 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”)
No. FAS 157-3, Determining the Fair
Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active
(“FSP No. FAS 157-3”), which clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 in a
market that is not active. The adoption of FSP No. FAS 157-3, which was
effective upon issuance for prior periods for which the financial statements had
not been issued, did not have a material impact on our financial position,
results of operations or cash flows.
SFAS No. 159—The Fair Value
Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — In February 2007,
the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, which provides an option under which a
company may irrevocably elect fair value as the initial and subsequent
measurement attribute for certain financial assets and financial liabilities.
This fair value option is available on a contract-by-contract basis with changes
in fair value recognized in earnings as those changes occur. We adopted this
statement on January 1, 2008 which did not have a material impact on our
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
SFAS No. 141R—Business
Combinations — In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, Business Combinations. This
statement applies to all transactions or other events in which an entity obtains
control of one or more businesses, including those sometimes referred to as
“true mergers” or “mergers of equals” and combinations achieved without the
transfer of consideration, for example, by contract alone or through the lapse
of minority veto rights. This Statement will be applied prospectively to
business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the first
annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008, or
January 1, 2009 for us.
FSP No. FAS 142-3—Determination of
the Useful Life of Intangible Assets — In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP
No. FAS 142-3,
Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets (“FSP No. FAS
142-3”). FSP No. FAS 142-3 applies to recognized intangible assets that are
accounted for pursuant to SFAS No. 142. FSP No. FAS 142-3 is effective
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, or January 1, 2009
for us. The guidance for determining the useful life of a recognized intangible
asset will be applied prospectively to intangible assets acquired after the
effective date. The disclosure requirements will be applied prospectively to all
intangible assets recognized as of, and subsequent to, the effective date. We do
not expect the adoption of this FSP to have a material impact on our financial
position, results of operations or cash flows in future periods.
26
ITEM 7A. Quantitativeand Qualitative Disclosures about
Market Risk
We are
exposed to risks related to currency exchange rates, stock market fluctuations,
and interest rates. As of December 31, 2008, we owned common stock of an
Australian company that is subject to market risk. We performed an
evaluation in the second quarter of 2006 and concluded that the decline in value
of this investment was other-than-temporary and recognized an impairment loss of
$652,000 to reflect the investment at its fair value. The value of the
investment has decreased $206,000 during 2008 and is recorded as other
comprehensive income on our consolidated balance sheet. We have
reviewed the eBet investment in accordance with SFAS No. 115 to determine if the
loss is more than temporary in nature. We have determined that the loss is
temporary based on the fact that the investment appreciated in value in one of
the quarter of the year ended December 31, 2008 combined with the belief that
the decline in value is also caused by the current global economic downturn
which also is expected to be temporary in nature.
This
investment is exposed to further market risk in the future based on the
operating results of the Australian company and stock market fluctuations.
Additionally, the value of the investment is further subject to changes in
Australian currency exchange rates which would impact the value of the
investment.
Our
interest income is sensitive to changes in the general level of U.S. and
Canadian interest rates, particularly since a significant portion of our
investments are and will be in short-term marketable securities. Due to the
nature and maturity of our short-term investments, we have concluded that there
is no material market risk exposure to our principal. The average redemption
period of our investment portfolio is 30 days. A 1% change in interest rates
would have an effect of approximately $26,000 for a one year
period.
We do not
believe that inflation has had a material impact on our business or operating
results during the periods presented.
We do not
have any derivative financial instruments, nor do we have any speculative or
hedging instruments.
ITEM 8.
Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data
See
“Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule” on page F-1 for a
listing of the Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule filed with this
report.
ITEM 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with
Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Not
Applicable
ITEM 9A(T). Controls and
Procedures
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
We
maintain “disclosure controls and procedures”, as such term is defined under
Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), that are designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed, in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed,
summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules
and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our
management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosures.
In
designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, we recognized
that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can
provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives,
and we were required to apply our judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit
relationship of possible controls and procedures. We have carried out an
evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report under the
supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the
design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures.
Based on
our evaluation and subject to the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer concluded that there were no material weaknesses in our
disclosure controls and procedures and that such disclosure controls and
procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report in
providing reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and
therefore there were no corrective actions taken.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our
Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate
internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial
reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements
for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.
27
Under the
supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief
Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of
the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2008. According to the guidelines established by Internal Control—Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission, one or more material weaknesses renders a company’s
internal control over financial reporting ineffective. Based on this evaluation,
we have concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was
effective as of December 31, 2008.
This
annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered
public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered
public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report
in this annual report.
Changes
in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There was
no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the most
recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B.
Other
Information
Not
Applicable.
28
PART
III
ITEM 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and
Corporate Governance
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding our executive
officers:
Name
|
Age (1)
|
Position(s)
Held
|
Terry
Bateman
|
52
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
Kendra
Berger
|
42
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
Peter
Boylan III
|
46
|
Executive
Vice President of Sales
|
Michael
Arzt
|
42
|
Executive
Vice President of Marketing
|
Jeff
Lewis
|
43
|
Senior
Vice President of Advertising
Sales
|
_____________
(1)
|
As
of March 10, 2009.
|
The
following biographical information is furnished with respect to our other
executive officers:
Terry
Bateman was appointed our President and Chief Executive Officer in
February 2009 and has served on our Board of Directors since November
2008. Mr. Bateman has nearly 30 years executive experience in
developing, growing, managing and selling businesses. Mr. Bateman has
been a personal investor in Red Zone Capital from 2006 to the present, and in
connection with that investment activity, served as CEO of Dick Clark
Productions, a television production company, from June 2007 to February
2008. Prior to that, Mr. Bateman served as interim Chief Marketing
Officer of the Washington Redskins, a professional football team, from September
2006 to June 2007. From September 2005 to September 2006, Mr. Bateman
served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Barton Cotton, Inc., a
provider of integrated direct marketing fundraising services to non-profit
organizations, and prior to that, served as its Executive Vice President of
Fundraising beginning in 1998. He was President of Snyder
Communications' Marketing Services Division between 1994 and
1997. 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.
Kendra
Berger was appointed our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary in August
2006. Ms. Berger served on our Board of Directors and as Chairperson of our
Audit Committee from July 2005 until August 2006. From May 2005 until
August 2006, Ms. Berger was the Executive Director of Finance and Controller of
Nventa Biopharmaceuticals Corporation. Prior to that, from April 2001
until May 2005, she was the Vice President, Finance and Controller of Discovery
Partners International, Inc. Both Nventa Biopharmaceuticals and Discovery
Partners International were publicly traded biopharmaceutical companies.
Prior to joining Discovery Partners International in 2001, Ms. Berger was
the Chief Financial Officer of our Company. She is a licensed
CPA.
Peter J. Boylan
III was appointed our Executive Vice President of Sales in July
2008. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Boylan served as Vice
President of Sales from April 2007 to June 2008 and Director of Business
Development from May 2005 to April 2007 at EMN8, Inc., a software company
serving the restaurant industry. Between 1995 and May 2005, Mr.
Boylan was employed by The Coca-Cola Company, where he held increasingly
responsible executive positions, most recently serving as Director National
Sales Travel Team from December 2004 to May 2005 and Sr. National Account
Executive from August 2001 to December 2004. Mr. Boylan has over 17
years of sales, marketing and operational experience in the hospitality and
foodservice industry. Mr. Boylan is also a veteran of the U.S. Army where
he served with the 101st and
82nd
Airborne Divisions. He 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.
Michael Arzt
was appointed our Executive Vice President of Marketing in January
2009. Mr. Arzt has a background in the entertainment and competitive
video game industry, having most recently served, since January 2006, as Senior
Vice President and General Manager of The World Cyber Games (WCG), at
International Cyber Marketing, an affiliate of Samsung
Electronics. In this capacity, he established the domestic U.S.
headquarters for an online gaming event termed the "Olympics of Video Gaming,"
driving significant growth in sponsorship acquisition and media sales within the
first two years. From October 2003 to December 2005, Mr. Arzt was
Vice President, National Sales and Marketing for Live Nation Alliances (formerly
Clear Channel Entertainment), a live events company, where he spearheaded the
creation and sales of national music, sports and entertainment marketing
partnerships, media assets and customized marketing and licensing
programs. Earlier in his career, Mr. Arzt held executive positions in
New York City with Gravity Games, LLC (a joint venture between NBC and
Primedia), Petersen Publishing Company, where he was actively involved in
development of some of the action sports industry's early televised
competitions, and 3Sixty, Inc. (The Conway Corporation).
29
Jeffrey
Lewis was appointed our Executive Vice President of Advertising Sales in
December 2008. Prior to joining our Company, from June 2008 to
November 2008, Mr. Lewis served as Vice President, Sales at Ripple Networks, an
out-of-home network that broadcasts entertainment and advertisements from local
and national chains. 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. From April 2005 to
April 2006, he served as Account Manager for MTV Networks' Spike TV, a cable
television network, with responsibility for both cable and online
sales. Between May 2000 and March 2005, Mr. Lewis served as an
Account Executive with Turner Broadcasting Systems, a cable television network,
where he created specialized, integrated marketing packages and promotional
platforms. 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.
Additional
information responsive to Part III, Item 10 will be included in our proxy
statement relating to our 2009 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed by us
with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the
close of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (the “Proxy Statement”)
including under the captions entitled “Election of Directors,” “Executive
Officers,” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” and is
incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 11.
Executive
Compensation
Information
responsive to Part III, Item 11 will be included in the Proxy Statement under
the captions entitled “Executive Compensation,” and “Compensation of Directors”
and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12.
Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters
Information
responsive to Part III, Item 12 will be included in the Proxy Statement under
the captions entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management,” “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and “Compensation of
Directors” and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13.
Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions, and
Director Independence
Information
concerning certain relationships and related transactions will be included in
the Proxy Statement under the captions entitled “Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions” and “Company Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions”
and is incorporated herein by reference. Information concerning
director independence will be included in the Proxy Statement under the heading
“Election of Directors” and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and
Services
Information
responsive to Part III, Item 14 will be included in the Proxy Statement under
the caption entitled “Principal Accounting Firm Fees” and is incorporated herein
by reference.
30
PART
IV
ITEM 15.
Exhibits, Consolidated Financial
Statement Schedules
(a) The
following documents are filed as a part of this report:
Consolidated Financial Statements
and Schedule. The consolidated financial statements and schedule of the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries are set forth in the “Index to
Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule” on page F-1.
Exhibits. The following
exhibits are filed as a part of this report:
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
|
Description
|
|
2.1
|
Asset
Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2007, by and among the
Company, NTN Wireless Communications, Inc. and HME Wireless, Inc.
(20)
|
|
2.2
|
Asset
Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2007, by and among the
Company, NTN Software Solutions, Inc. and ESP Systems, LLC
(7)
|
|
3.1
|
Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended
(2)
|
|
3.2
|
Certificate
of Designations, Rights and Preferences of Series B Convertible Preferred
Stock (5)
|
|
3.3
|
Bylaws
of the Company, as amended (3)
|
|
4.1
|
Warrant
Certificate issued January 13, 2003 by the Company to Robert M. and Marjie
Bennett, Trustees, The Bennett Family Trust, dated November 17, 1986
(13)
|
|
4.2
|
NTN
Investor Rights Agreement, dated May 7, 2003, by and between the Company
and Media General, Inc. (12)
|
|
4.3
|
Buzztime
Investor Rights Agreement, dated May 7, 2003, by and among the Company,
Buzztime Entertainment, Inc. and Media General, Inc.
(12)
|
|
4.4
|
Common
Stock Purchase Warrant dated May 7, 2003 issued to Media General, Inc.
exercisable for 500,000 shares of common stock of Buzztime Entertainment,
Inc. (12)
|
|
4.5
|
Form
of Common Stock Purchase Warrant by and between Roth Capital Partners, LLC
and the Company (10)
|
|
4.6*
|
2004
Performance Incentive Plan (15)
|
|
10.1
|
Subscription
Agreement, dated January 13, 2003, by and between the Company and
Robert M. and Marjie Bennett, Trustees, The Bennett Family Trust
dated November 17, 1986 (13)
|
|
10.2
|
Securities
Purchase Agreement dated May 5, 2003 by and among the Company, Buzztime
Entertainment, Inc. and Media General, Inc. (12)
|
|
10.3
|
Office
Lease, dated July 17, 2000, by and between Prentiss Properties Acquisition
Partners, L.P. and the Company (8)
|
|
10.4
|
First
Amendment to Lease, dated October 4, 2005, by and between Prentiss
Properties Acquisition Partners, L.P. and the Company
(16)
|
|
10.5*
|
2006
Incentive Bonus Plan (17)
|
|
10.6*
|
2007
Employee Bonus Plan (21)
|
|
10.7
|
Consulting
Agreement between the Company and Victor Tyrone Lam, dated March 31,
2007 (9)
|
|
10.8*
|
Form
of Executive Employee Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the 2004
Performance Incentive Plan (4)
|
|
10.9*
|
Form
of Non-Executive Employee Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the 2004
Performance Incentive Plan (4)
|
|
10.10*
|
Form
of Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2004 Performance Incentive Plan
(4)
|
31
Exhibit
|
Description
|
|
10.11*
|
Form
of Initial Director Stock Option Agreement under the 2004 Performance
Incentive Plan (4)
|
|
10.12*
|
Form
of Annual Director Stock Option Agreement under the 2004 Performance
Incentive Plan (4)
|
|
10.13*
|
Summary
of Non-Employee Director Compensation (4)
|
|
10.14*
|
Consultation,
Retention and Release, dated February 1, 2008, by and between the Company
and Michele Richards (18)
|
|
10.15*
|
Employment
Agreement, dated May 29, 2008, by and between the Company and Michael
Fleming (2)
|
|
10.16*
|
Retention
and Severance Agreement, dated June 27, 2008, by and between the Company
and Kendra Berger (2)
|
|
10.17
|
Form
of Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2004 Performance Incentive Plan
(2)
|
|
10.18
|
Release
of Claims Agreement, dated July 9, 2008, by and between the Company and
Dario Santana (2)
|
|
10.19*
|
Amendment
to Stock Option Grants, dated October 16, 2008, by and between the Company
and Barry Bergsman (14)
|
|
10.20*
|
Consultation
Agreement, dated November 18, 2008, by and between the Company and Terry
Bateman (1)
|
|
10.21*
|
Employment
Agreement, dated February 2, 2009, by and between the Company and Terry
Bateman (11)
|
|
10.22*
|
Separation
Agreement, dated February 6, 2009, by and between the Company and Gary
Arlen (6)
|
|
14.1
|
Company
Code of Ethics (1)
|
|
21.1
|
Subsidiaries
of Registrant (1)
|
|
23.1
|
Consent
of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. (1)
|
|
31.1#
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (1)
|
|
31.2#
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (1)
|
|
32.1#
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (1)
|
|
32.2#
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002
(1)
|
______________
*
|
Management
Contract or Compensatory Plan
|
#
|
This
certification is being furnished solely to accompany this report pursuant
to U.S.C. § 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated
herein by reference into any filing of the Company whether made before or
after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in
such filing.
|
(1)
|
Filed
herewith.
|
(2)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.
|
(3)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.
|
(4)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended June 30, 2007 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(5)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 8-K filed on November 7, 1997
and incorporated herein by reference.
|
(6)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 8-K filed February 9, 2009 and
incorporated herein by reference.
|
(7)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 8-K filed October 31, 2007 and
incorporated herein by reference.
|
(8)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.
|
(9)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 8-K filed April 4, 2007 and
incorporated herein by reference.
|
(10)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 8-K filed on January 29, 2004
and incorporated herein by reference.
|
(11)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 8-K filed February 4, 2009 and
incorporated herein by reference.
|
(12)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s registration statement on Form S-3, File No.
333-105429, filed on May 21, 2003 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(13)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
March 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.
|
(14)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 8-K filed October 21, 2008 and
incorporated herein by reference.
|
(15)
|
Previously
filed as Appendix A to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
filed by NTN on September 3, 2004 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(16)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 10-K/A filed on July 12, 2006
and incorporated herein by reference.
|
(17)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended June 30, 2006 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(18)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended March 31, 2008 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(19)
|
Previously
filed as an exhibit to NTN’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended March 31, 2007 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(20)
|
Previously
filed as a description on Form 8-K filed March 16, 2007 and incorporated
herein by
reference.
|
32
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
NTN
BUZZTIME, INC.
|
|||
|
By:
|
/s/ KENDRA BERGER
|
|
Kendra
Berger
Chief
Financial Officer
(As
Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
|||
Dated:
March 24, 2009
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
/s/ TERRY
A. BATEMAN
Terry A. Bateman
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Director
|
March 24,
2009
|
||
/s/ JEFF
BERG
Jeff Berg
|
Director
and Chairman of the Board
|
March 24,
2009
|
||
/s/ JOSEPH
FARRICIELLI
Joseph
Farricielli
|
Director
|
March 24,
2009
|
||
/s/ KENNETH
KEYMER
Kenneth Keymer
|
Director
|
March 24,
2009
|
||
/s/ MARY
BETH LEWIS
Mary Beth Lewis |
Director
|
March 24,
2009
|
||
33
NTN
BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(Formerly
NTN Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries)
INDEX
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULE
Page
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
F-2
|
|
|
Consolidated
Financial Statements:
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007
|
F-3
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2007
|
F-4
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31,
2008 and 2007
|
F-5
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31,
2008 and 2007
|
F-6
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2007
|
F-7
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
F-9
|
F-1
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the
Board of Directors and Shareholders of
NTN Buzztime,
Inc.
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of NTN Buzztime, Inc. (“the
Company”) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the
years then ended. Our audit also included the financial statement schedule for
each of the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, listed in the Index at Item
15. These consolidated financial statements and the financial
statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial
statements based on our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to
have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over
financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over
financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are
appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an
opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our
opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of NTN Buzztime,
Inc. as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule referred to
above, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth
therein.
/s/ Mayer
Hoffman McCann P.C.
San
Diego, California
March 24,
2009
F-2
NTN
BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
As
of December 31, 2008 and 2007
(In
thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Current
Assets:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 3,362 | $ | 10,273 | ||||
Restricted
cash
|
- | 55 | ||||||
Accounts
receivable, net of allowances of $298 and $396,
respectively
|
636 | 1,354 | ||||||
Investment
available-for-sale (Note 6)
|
58 | 264 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
611 | 745 | ||||||
Assets
held for sale (Note 20)
|
- | 212 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
4,667 | 12,903 | ||||||
Broadcast
equipment and fixed assets, net
|
3,428 | 4,101 | ||||||
Software
development costs, net of accumulated amortization of $1,002 and
$1,071, respectively
|
860 | 895 | ||||||
Deferred
costs
|
1,383 | 1,204 | ||||||
Goodwill
|
1,032 | 1,285 | ||||||
Intangible
assets, net (Note 5)
|
185 | 318 | ||||||
Other
assets
|
107 | 154 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 11,662 | $ | 20,860 | ||||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
||||||||
Current
Liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ | 219 | $ | 831 | ||||
Accrued
expenses
|
1,169 | 901 | ||||||
Sales
tax payable
|
958 | 982 | ||||||
Accrued
salaries
|
383 | 357 | ||||||
Accrued
vacation
|
381 | 447 | ||||||
Income
taxes payable
|
18 | 36 | ||||||
Obligations
under capital leases—current portion (Note 14)
|
8 | 7 | ||||||
Deferred
revenue
|
657 | 972 | ||||||
Liabilities
of discontinued operations (Note 20)
|
- | 672 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
3,793 | 5,205 | ||||||
Obligations
under capital leases, excluding current portion
|
32 | - | ||||||
Deferred
revenue, excluding current portion
|
91 | 87 | ||||||
Total
liabilities
|
3,916 | 5,292 | ||||||
Commitments
and contingencies (Notes 14, 15 and 16)
|
||||||||
Shareholders’
equity:
|
||||||||
Series
A 10% cumulative convertible preferred stock, $.005 par value, $161
liquidation preference, 5,000,000 shares authorized; 161,000 shares issued
and outstanding
|
1 | 1 | ||||||
Common
stock, $.005 par value, 84,000,000 shares authorized; 55,727,000 and
55,640,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2008 an 2007,
respectively
|
277 | 277 | ||||||
Treasury
stock, at cost, 503,000 and 454,000 shares at December 31, 2008 and
2007, respectively
|
(456 | ) | (444 | ) | ||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
113,267 | 112,942 | ||||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(105,351 | ) | (98,870 | ) | ||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income (Note 19)
|
8 | 1,662 | ||||||
Total
shareholders’ equity
|
7,746 | 15,568 | ||||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders’ equity
|
$ | 11,662 | $ | 20,860 |
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-3
NTN
BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For
the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
(In
thousands, except per share amounts)
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 27,496 | $ | 30,542 | ||||
|
||||||||
Operating
expenses:
|
||||||||
Direct
operating costs of services (includes depreciation of $2,569 and $3,366,
respectively)
|
7,756 | 9,017 | ||||||
Impairment
of intangible asset (Note 5)
|
— | 968 | ||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
25,314 | 23,872 | ||||||
Depreciation
and amortization (excluding depreciation and amortization included
in direct operation costs)
|
532 | 566 | ||||||
Restructuring
costs (Note 21)
|
— | 478 | ||||||
Total
operating expenses
|
33,602 | 34,901 | ||||||
Operating
loss
|
(6,106 | ) | (4,359 | ) | ||||
Other
income (expense):
|
||||||||
Interest
income
|
138 | 347 | ||||||
Interest
expense
|
(5 | ) | (30 | ) | ||||
Other
income, net
|
73 | 83 | ||||||
Total
other income
|
206 | 400 | ||||||
Loss
from continuing operations before income taxes
|
(5,900 | ) | (3,959 | ) | ||||
Provision
for income taxes (Note 13)
|
(234 | ) | (332 | ) | ||||
Loss
from continuing operations
|
(6,134 | ) | (4,291 | ) | ||||
Loss
from discontinued operations, net of tax (including gain on sale of NTN
Wireless of $396 in 2007—Note 20)
|
(332 | ) | (735 | ) | ||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (6,466 | ) | $ | (5,026 | ) | ||
Net
loss per common share—basic and diluted:
|
||||||||
Loss
from continuing operations
|
$ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.08 | ) | ||
Loss
from discontinued operations
|
(0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | ||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | ||
Weighted
average shares outstanding—basic and diluted
|
55,189 | 55,154 |
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-4
NTN
BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
For
the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
(In
thousands)
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (6,466 | ) | $ | (5,026 | ) | ||
Other comprehensive (loss)
income, net of tax:
|
||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustments (Note 19)
|
(1,448 | ) | 1,534 | |||||
Unrealized
holding loss in investment available-for-sale
|
(206 | ) | (73 | ) | ||||
Other
comprehensive (loss) income
|
(1,654 | ) | 1,461 | |||||
Comprehensive
loss
|
$ | (8,120 | ) | $ | (3,565 | ) |
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-5
NTN
BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For
the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
(in
thousands)
Series
A
Cumulative
Convertible
Preferred
Stock
|
Common
Stock
|
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
|
Treasury
Stock
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
(Loss)
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances
at December 31, 2006
|
161 | $ | 1 | 54,633 | $ | 272 | $ | 111,617 | $ | — | $ | (93,561 | ) | $ | 201 | $ | 18,530 | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of stock for exercise of warrants and options
|
— | — | 991 | 5 | 646 | — | — | — | 651 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of stock in lieu of dividends
|
— | — | 16 | — | 13 | — | (13 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustment
to revalue common stock paid in lieu of dividends (see Note
12)
|
— | — | — | — | 270 | — | (270 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred
stock units granted to employees
|
— | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase
of treasury stock
|
— | — | — | — | — | (444 | ) | — | — | (444 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase
of option awards
|
— | — | — | — | (27 | ) | — | — | — | (27 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Settlement
of options
|
— | — | — | — | (54 | ) | — | — | — | (54 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-cash
stock based compensation
|
— | — | — | — | 462 | — | — | — | 462 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1,461 | 1,461 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | (5,026 | ) | — | (5,026 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances
at December 31, 2007
|
161 | $ | 1 | 55,640 | $ | 277 | $ | 112,942 | $ | (444 | ) | $ | (98,870 | ) | $ | 1,662 | $ | 15,568 | ||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of deferred stock units
|
— | — | 17 | — | (2 | ) | — | — | — | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of stock in lieu of dividends
|
— | — | 70 | — | 15 | — | (15 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase
of treasury stock
|
— | — | — | — | — | (12 | ) | — | — | (12 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-cash
stock based compensation
|
— | — | — | — | 312 | — | — | — | 312 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income (Note 19)
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | (1,654 | ) | (1,654 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | (6,466 | ) | — | (6,466 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances
at December 31, 2008
|
161 | $ | 1 | 55,727 | $ | 277 | $ | 113,267 | $ | (456 | ) | $ | (105,351 | ) | $ | 8 | $ | 7,746 |
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-6
NTN
BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For
the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
(In
thousands)
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Cash
flows (used in) provided by operating activities:
|
||||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (6,466 | ) | $ | (5,026 | ) | ||
Loss
from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
(332 | ) | (735 | ) | ||||
Loss
from continuing operations
|
$ | (6,134 | ) | $ | (4,291 | ) | ||
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
3,101 | 3,932 | ||||||
Provision
for doubtful accounts
|
557 | 356 | ||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
312 | 439 | ||||||
Impairment
of intangible asset
|
— | 968 | ||||||
Loss
(gain) from disposition of equipment and capitalized
software
|
618 | (269 | ) | |||||
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
142 | 199 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
129 | 337 | ||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
(367 | ) | (624 | ) | ||||
Income
taxes payable
|
(19 | ) | (42 | ) | ||||
Deferred
costs
|
(199 | ) | 883 | |||||
Deferred
revenue
|
(296 | ) | (1,054 | ) | ||||
Net
cash (used in) provided by continuing operations
|
(2,156 | ) | 834 | |||||
Discontinued
operations
|
(807 | ) | (1,616 | ) | ||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(2,963 | ) | (782 | ) | ||||
Cash
flows (used in) provided by investing activities:
|
||||||||
Capital
expenditures
|
(2,160 | ) | (592 | ) | ||||
Software
development expenditures
|
(835 | ) | (588 | ) | ||||
Deposits
on broadcast equipment
|
— | (161 | ) | |||||
Proceeds
from sale of equipment and other assets
|
12 | 478 | ||||||
Restricted
cash
|
51 | 13 | ||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities by continuing operations
|
(2,932 | ) | (850 | ) | ||||
Discontinued
operations
|
7 | 2,613 | ||||||
Net
cash (used in) provided by investing activities
|
(2,925 | ) | 1,763 | |||||
Cash
flows (used in) provided by financing activities:
|
||||||||
Principal
payments on capital leases
|
(12 | ) | (363 | ) | ||||
Settlement
of stock options
|
— | (94 | ) | |||||
Purchase
of treasury stock
|
(12 | ) | (444 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from exercise of warrants and options
|
— | 694 | ||||||
Net
cash used in financing activities by continuing operations
|
(24 | ) | (207 | ) | ||||
Net
(decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
(5,912 | ) | 774 | |||||
Effect
of exchange rate on cash
|
(999 | ) | 725 | |||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
10,273 | 8,774 | ||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$ | 3,362 | $ | 10,273 |
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-7
NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS—(Continued)
For
the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
(In
thousands, except share data)
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information:
|
||||||||
Cash
paid during the period for:
|
||||||||
Interest
|
$ | 5 | $ | 27 | ||||
Income
taxes
|
$ | 234 | $ | 358 | ||||
Supplemental
disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
|
||||||||
Reclass
of investment to accounts receivable
|
$ | — | $ | 69 | ||||
Reclass
of royalty receivable to prepaid maintenance contracts
|
$ | — | $ | 73 | ||||
Reclass
of deposits for equipment placed in service
|
$ | — | $ | 524 | ||||
Unrealized
holding loss on investments available for sale
|
$ | (206 | ) | $ | (73 | ) | ||
Issuance
of common stock in payment of dividends
|
$ | 15 | $ | 13 | ||||
Equipment
acquired under capital lease
|
$ | 43 | $ | — |
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-8
NTN
BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For
the Years Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
1.
Organization of Company
Description
of Business
The
Company historically has operated principally through two operating divisions:
Entertainment and Hospitality. The Entertainment division generates revenue
primarily from the Buzztime iTV Network which distributes an interactive
television promotional game network to restaurants, sports bars, taverns and
pubs in North America. Additionally, the Company generates royalty revenue by
distributing its game content and technology to other third-party consumer
platforms, including cable television, satellite television, online, retail
games and toys, airlines and books. Additionally, revenue is generated through
the sale of advertising for distribution via the Buzztime iTV
Network.
The
Hospitality division is comprised of NTN Wireless Communications, Inc. (“NTN
Wireless”) and NTN Software Solutions, Inc. (“Software Solutions”). In 2006, the
Company determined that the operation of the Hospitality division was not a
strategic fit with its core business and committed to a divestiture plan. These
operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations for all periods
presented. NTN Wireless generated revenues from producing and distributing guest
and server paging systems to restaurants and other markets. Software Solutions
developed and distributed customer management software to manage reservations
and table service in restaurants. Software Solutions also provided professional
help desk services and outsourced software development and support and
maintenance services.
On
March 30, 2007, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of the
assets of NTN Wireless. On October 25, 2007, the Company sold certain
intellectual property assets of Software Solutions pursuant to an Asset Purchase
Agreement, and in a separate agreement with a customer, the Company discontinued
the outsourced software development. Additionally, the Company completed the
wind down of its professional help desk and support and maintenance services
during the third quarter of 2008 (see Note 20).
Basis
of Accounting Presentation
In the
opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements
include all adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation for the
periods presented of the financial position, results of operations and cash
flows of NTN Buzztime, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: IWN, Inc., IWN,
L.P., Buzztime Distribution, Inc., NTN Wireless Communications, Inc., NTN
Software Solutions, Inc., NTN Canada, Inc., and NTN Buzztime, Ltd. Unless
otherwise indicated, references to “NTN,” “we”, “us” and “our” include the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
IWN, Inc.
and IWN, L.P. are dormant subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2006, the
Company’s Hospitality division was classified as discontinued operations in
accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(SFAS) No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, (see Note 20). The operating results for
these businesses have been separately classified and reported as discontinued
operations in the consolidated financial statements. Corporate expenses
previously allocated to these divisions have been reclassified to Buzztime iTV
in accordance with SFAS No. 144.
Reclassifications
Certain
reclassifications have been made to the consolidated balance sheet, statement of
operations and statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2007
to conform to the 2008 presentation.
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates
Consolidation—The
Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). All
significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation.
Use of
Estimates—The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial
statements requires it to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported
amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates
its estimates, including those related to deferred costs and revenues,
depreciation of broadcast equipment, allowance for doubtful accounts,
investments, intangible assets, goodwill and contingencies. The Company bases
its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are
believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the
basis for making judgments about significant carrying values of assets and
liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may
differ materially from these estimates.
Cash and Cash
Equivalents—SFAS No. 95, Statement of Cash Flows,
defines “cash and cash equivalents” as any short-term, highly liquid investment
that is both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their
maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of
changes in interest rates. For the purpose of financial statement presentation,
the Company has applied the provisions of SFAS No. 95, as it considers all
highly liquid investment instruments with original maturities of three months or
less or any investment redeemable without penalty or loss of interest to be cash
equivalents.
F-9
Capital
Resources —The Company is dependent upon cash on hand and cash flow from
operations to meet its liquidity needs. The Company believes existing
cash and cash equivalents, together with funds generated from operations, will
be sufficient to meet its operating cash requirements for at least the next 12
months. The Company currently has no debt obligations other than capital leases
and does not expect to incur debt in 2009. In the event that net cash
provided by operating activities and cash on hand are not sufficient to meet
future cash requirements, the Company may be required to reduce planned capital
expenses, reduce operational cash uses, sell assets or seek financing. Any
actions the company may undertake to reduce planned capital purchases, further
reduce expenses or generate proceeds from the sale of assets may be insufficient
to cover shortfalls in available funds. If the Company requires
additional capital, it may be unable to secure additional financing on terms
that are acceptable to the Company, or not at all.
Allowance for
Doubtful Accounts—The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts
for estimated losses resulting from nonpayment by its customers. The Company
reserves for all accounts that have been suspended or terminated from its
Buzztime iTV Network services and auto debit customers with balances that are
greater than 60 days past due. The Company analyzes historical collection
trends, customer concentrations and creditworthiness, economic trends and
anticipated changes in customer payment patterns when evaluating the adequacy of
its allowance for doubtful accounts for specific and general risks. Additional
reserves may also be established if specific customers’ balances are identified
as potentially uncollectible. If the financial condition of its customers were
to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments,
additional allowances may be required.
Broadcast
Equipment and Fixed Assets—Broadcast equipment and fixed assets are
recorded at cost. Equipment under capital leases is recorded at the present
value of future minimum lease payments. Depreciation of broadcast equipment and
fixed assets is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated
useful lives of the assets. Depreciation of leasehold improvements and fixed
assets under capital leases is computed using the straight-line method over the
shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease
period.
The
Company incurs a relatively significant level of depreciation expense in
relationship to its operating income. The amount of depreciation expense in any
fiscal year is largely related to the estimated life of handheld wireless
Playmaker devices and associated electronics and the computers located at its
customer’s sites. The Playmakers are depreciated over a four-year life and
associated electronics and the computers are depreciated over three or four
years. The depreciable life of these assets was determined based on
their estimated useful life, which considers anticipated technology changes. If
its Playmakers, and associated electronics and the computers turn out to have
longer lives, on average, than estimated, the Company’s depreciation expense
would be significantly reduced in those future periods. Conversely, if the
Playmakers, and associated electronics and the computers turn out to have
shorter lives, on average, than estimated, the Company’s depreciation expense
would be significantly increased in those future periods.
Investments—SFAS
No. 115, Accounting for
Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, SEC Staff Accounting
Bulletin (SAB) 59, Accounting
for Noncurrent Marketable Equity Securities, and Emerging Issues Task
Force (EITF) issue No. 03-01, Other Than Temporary Impairments,
provide guidance on determining when an investment is
other-than-temporarily impaired. Investments are reviewed quarterly for
indicators of other-than-temporary impairment. This determination requires
significant judgment. In making this judgment, the Company employs a systematic
methodology that considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence in
evaluating potential impairment of its investments. If the cost of an investment
exceeds its fair value, the Company evaluates, among other factors, general
market conditions, the duration and extent to which the fair value is less than
cost, and its intent and ability to hold the investment. The Company also
considers specific adverse conditions related to the financial health, and
business outlook of the investee, including industry and sector performance,
changes in technology, operational and financing cash flow factors, and rating
agency actions. Once a decline in fair value is determined to be
other-than-temporary, an impairment charge is recorded and a new cost basis in
the investment is established. If market, industry and/or investor conditions
deteriorate, the Company may incur future impairments.
In
November 2005, the FASB issued Staff Position (“FSP”) No. 115-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary
Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments. FSP No. 115-1
provides accounting guidance for identifying and recognizing
other-than-temporary impairments of debt and equity securities, as well as cost
method investments in addition to disclosure requirements. FSP No. 115-1 is
effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005. During
the second quarter of 2006, the Company recognized an impairment loss of
$652,000 relating to its investment in common stock of an Australian company to
reflect such investment available-for-sale at its fair value. The value of the
investment decreased $206,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008 and decreased
$73,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. These declines are
recorded as other comprehensive loss on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet
(See Note 19). The Company will continue to monitor this investment
for any indication that the additional decline in value is other-than-temporary
ultimately resulting in additional impairments. The Company has
reviewed the eBet investment in accordance with SFAS No. 115 to determine if the
loss is more than temporary in nature. Management has
determined that the loss is temporary based on the fact that the investment
appreciated in value in one of the quarter of the year ended December 31, 2008
combined with the belief that the decline in value is also caused by the current
global economic downturn which also is expected to be temporary in
nature.
F-10
Goodwill and
Other Intangible Assets—Goodwill represents the excess of costs over fair
value of assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired
in a purchase combination determined to have an indefinite useful life are not
amortized, but instead are tested for impairment at least annually in accordance
with the provisions SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets. SFAS No. 142 also requires that intangible assets with
estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives
to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment in accordance
with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.
In
accordance with SFAS No. 144, the Company assesses potential impairments of
its long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the
asset’s carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be
recognized when the carrying amount of a long-lived asset or asset group is not
recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-lived
asset or asset group is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the
undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition
of the asset or asset group.
The
Company has performed its annual test for goodwill impairment by calculating the
fair values for NTN Canada, Inc., as of September 30, 2008. The valuation
methods employed to determine the fair value for NTN Canada, Inc. at
September 30, 2008 were (1) the market approach—guideline company
method (2) the market approach—guideline transaction method and
(3) the income approach—discounted cash flow method.
The
market approach—guideline company method compares the business unit to guideline
publicly traded companies. Valuation multiples are calculated from selected
guideline companies to provide an indication of how much current investors in
the marketplace are willing to pay for a company with similar characteristics.
The valuation multiples are adjusted based on strengths and weaknesses of the
business unit under review relative to the selected guideline companies. The
market approach—guideline transaction method employs the same method as with the
market approach—guideline company method, however, multiples are based on actual
transactions that have taken place in the business unit’s industry.
The
income approach—discounted cash flow method discounts projected cash flows and
the terminal value at a rate of return that reflects the degree of
risk.
Management
considers market conditions, new product offerings, pricing and selling
strategies, revenue growth rates and additional investment needed to achieve
these growth rates. The Company believes the projections are reasonable based on
existing operations and prospective business opportunities.
The
resulting indicated value from each approach is weighted equally and added to
interest bearing debt to arrive at the indicated fair market value of the
invested capital. The resulting value is compared against the carrying value of
equity after interest bearing debt to determine impairment.
The
Company considered the need to perform an additional test of Canadian goodwill
as of December 31, 2008 due to the weakened global economy in the last three
months of 2008, but deemed the overall health of the underlying Canadian
business has remained stable since the September 30, 2008
valuation.
Assessments of
Functional Currencies—The United States dollar is the Company’s
functional currency, except for its operations in Canada where the functional
currency is the Canadian dollar. In 2008, the Company ceased its
operations in the United Kingdom. Prior to that, the British pound
was the functional currency for operations in that entity. The
financial position and results of operations of the Company’s foreign
subsidiaries are measured using the foreign subsidiary’s local currency as the
functional currency. In accordance with SFAS No. 52, Foreign Currency Translation,
revenues and expenses of its subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. dollars
at weighted average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Assets and
liabilities have been translated at the rates of exchange on the balance sheet
date. The resulting translation gain and loss adjustments are recorded as a
separate component of shareholders’ equity, unless there is a sale or complete
liquidation of the underlying foreign investments. Transaction gains and losses
that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a
currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of
operations as incurred.
Revenue
Recognition—The Company’s Entertainment Division recognizes revenue from
recurring service fees earned from its Network subscribers, advertising
revenues, distribution and licensing fees from its Buzztime-branded content and
related technology to interactive consumer platforms. To the extent its
arrangements contain multiple deliverables the Company evaluates the criteria in
EITF Issue No. 00-21, Revenue
Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables, to determine whether such
deliverables represent separate units of accounting. In order to be considered a
separate unit of accounting, the delivered items in an arrangement must have
stand-alone value to the customer and objective and reliable evidence of fair
value must exist for any undelivered elements. The Company’s arrangements for
the transmission of the Buzztime iTV Network contain two deliverables: the
installation of its equipment and the transmission of its network content for
which the Company receives monthly subscription fees. As the installation
deliverable does not have stand-alone value to the customer, it does not
represent a separate unit of accounting and, therefore, all installation fees
received are deferred and recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over 36
months, the estimated life of the customer relationship in accordance with SAB
No. 104, Revenue
Recognition. As a result, installation fees not recognized in revenue
have been recorded as deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance
sheets.
F-11
In
addition, the direct expenses of the installation, commissions, setup and
training are being deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis and are
classified as deferred costs on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The amortization period is 36 months for deferred direct costs that are of an
amount that is less than or equal to the deferred revenue for the related
contract. For costs that exceed the deferred revenue the amortization period is
the initial term of the contract, in accordance with SAB Topic 13(A)(3)(f),
Nonrefundable Up-Front
Fees, which is generally one year.
Prior to
2007, all of the Company’s deferred direct costs were amortized over the
estimated average life of its contracts, 36 months, to properly match the
revenues and respective direct costs in accordance with the provisions of FTB
No. 90-1. However, during 2007, the Company changed its method of
accounting for deferred direct costs to comply with SAB Topic 13(A)(3)(f). As a
result, the Company changed its policy to amortize deferred direct costs that
exceed deferred revenue on an individual contract basis from three years to one
year, which is the initial contract period. Additionally, in cases where an
upfront installation fee was waived, the Company had incrementally allocated a
portion of the monthly billed subscription fee to deferred revenue as we billed
the customer over the initial contract period, and amortized the deferred
revenue over the average life of the contract of three years. We have revised
our policy to discontinue deferring a portion of the subscription fee in cases
where no upfront installation fee was charged.
Advertising
and royalty revenues are recognized when all material services or conditions
relating to the transaction have been performed or satisfied.
Revenues
recognized from the Company’s Hospitality Division include revenues from NTN
Wireless consisting primarily of sales for wireless paging equipment to
restaurants and other hospitality locations and revenues earned from Software
Solutions from licensing of seating management and reservation systems software,
help desk services, outsourced software development and support and maintenance
services. The operations of the Hospitality division were substantially
discontinued as of December 31, 2007 and the Company completed this
discontinuation of operations during the second quarter of 2008.
Revenues
from NTN Wireless were recognized upon the shipment of equipment to the
customer. Revenues from Software Solutions were recognized in accordance with
Statement of Position (SOP) No. 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition,
as amended. Software license fee revenue was recognized when persuasive evidence
of an arrangement existed, delivery of the product had occurred at the
customer’s location, the fee was fixed or determinable and collection was
probable—provided that vendor specific evidence exists for any undelivered
elements, namely annual support and maintenance. Along with the basic software
license, customers were provided post-contract support (PCS) for an additional
fee, which was based on a stipulated percentage of the license fee. PCS
consisted of technical support as well as unspecified software upgrades and
releases when and if made available by the Company during the term of the
support period. If, at the outset of an arrangement, the Company determined that
the arrangement fee was not fixed or determinable, revenue was deferred until
the arrangement fee became due. If, at the outset of an arrangement, the Company
determined that collectability was not probable, revenue was deferred until the
earlier of when collectability became probable or when payment was received. If
an arrangement allowed for customer acceptance, revenue was not recognized until
the earlier of receipt of customer acceptance or expiration of the acceptance
period. Additionally, the Company provided consulting and training services
under both hourly-based time and materials and fixed-priced contracts. Revenues
from these services were generally recognized as the services were
performed.
Software
Development Costs—The Company capitalizes costs related to the
development of certain software products for the Entertainment Division in
accordance with SOP No. 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Software
Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. Amortization expense relating to
capitalized software development costs totaled $366,000 and $357,000 for the
years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. As of
December 31, 2008 and 2007, approximately $404,000 and $388,000,
respectively, of capitalized software costs were not subject to amortization as
the development of various software projects was not complete.
The
Company performed its annual review of software development projects for the
year ended December 31, 2008, and determined to abandon various software
development projects that it determined were no longer a current strategic fit
or for which the Company determined that the marketability of the content had
decreased due to obtaining additional information regarding the specific
industry for which the content was intended. As a result, an impairment loss of
$503,000 was recognized which is included in selling, general and administrative
expenses. An impairment of $143,000 was recognized for the year ended
December 31, 2007.
Website
Development Costs—The Company capitalizes web site development costs in
accordance with EITF Issue No. 00-02, Accounting for Web Site Development
Costs, and SOP No. 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Software
Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. Costs incurred during the
planning and operating stages are expensed as incurred while costs incurred
during the web site application and infrastructure development stage are
capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over their expected useful
life of three years. These costs are included in software development costs on
the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
F-12
Advertising
Costs—Marketing-related advertising costs are expensed as incurred, and
amounted to $172,000 and $575,000 in 2008 and 2007, respectively, and are
included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying
consolidated statements of operations.
Shipping and
Handling Costs—Shipping and handling costs are included in direct
operating costs in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and
are expensed as incurred.
Stock-Based
Compensation—Beginning January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the
provisions of SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No.
123R”). The Company recognizes the estimated fair value of these
compensation costs, net of an estimated forfeiture rate, over the requisite
service period of the award, which is generally the option vesting
term. The Company estimates forfeiture rates based on historical
experience.
Income
Taxes—Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability
method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax
bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable
income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be
recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a
change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the
enactment date. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when,
in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or
all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
In June
2006, FASB issued Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes, which defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax
return positions in the financial statements as “more-likely-than-not” to be
sustained by the taxing authority. A tax position that meets the
“more-likely-than-not” criterion shall be measured at the largest amount of
benefit that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
FIN 48 applies to all tax positions accounted for under SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.”
FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. We
have reviewed our tax positions and determined that an adjustment to the tax
provision is not considered necessary nor is a reserve for the income taxes
required.
Earnings Per
Share—Basic and diluted loss per common share have been computed by
dividing the losses applicable to common stock by the weighted average number of
common shares outstanding. The Company’s basic and fully diluted EPS calculation
are the same since the increased number of shares that would be included in the
diluted calculation from assumed exercise of common stock equivalents would be
anti-dilutive to the net loss in each of the years shown in the consolidated
financial statements.
Recent Accounting
Pronouncements— SFAS
No. 157—Fair Value Measurements — In September 2006, the FASB issued
SFAS No. 157, which establishes, among other things, a framework for
measuring fair value and expands disclosure requirements as they relate to fair
value measurements. The Company adopted this Statement on
January 1, 2008, the effect of which was not material to the financial
position, results of operations or cash flows. In October 2008, the
FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 157-3, Determining the Fair
Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not
Active (“FSP No. FAS 157-3”), which clarifies the application
of SFAS No. 157 in a market that is not active. The adoption of FSP No. FAS
157-3, which was effective upon issuance for prior periods for which the
financial statements had not been issued, did not have a material impact on the
Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
SFAS No. 159—The Fair Value
Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — In February 2007,
the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, which provides an option under which a
company may irrevocably elect fair value as the initial and subsequent
measurement attribute for certain financial assets and financial liabilities.
This fair value option is available on a contract-by-contract basis with changes
in fair value recognized in earnings as those changes occur. The Company adopted
this statement on January 1, 2008 which did not have a material impact on
the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash
flows.
SFAS No. 141R—Business
Combinations — In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, Business Combinations. This
Statement applies to all transactions or other events in which an entity obtains
control of one or more businesses, including those sometimes referred to as
“true mergers” or “mergers of equals,” and combinations achieved without the
transfer of consideration, for example, by contract alone or through the lapse
of minority veto rights. This Statement will be applied prospectively to
business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the first
annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008, or
January 1, 2009 for the Company.
FSP No. FAS 142-3—Determination of
the Useful Life of Intangible Assets — In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP
No. FAS 142-3,
Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets (“FSP No. FAS
142-3”). FSP No. FAS 142-3 applies to recognized intangible assets that are
accounted for pursuant to SFAS No. 142. FSP No. FAS 142-3 is effective
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, or January 1, 2009
for the Company. The guidance for determining the useful life of a recognized
intangible asset will be applied prospectively to intangible assets acquired
after the effective date. The disclosure requirements will be applied
prospectively to all intangible assets recognized as of, and subsequent to, the
effective date. The Company does not expect the adoption of this FSP to have a
material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows
in future periods.
F-13
3.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
As of
December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company has approximately $2,600,000 and
$4,500,000, respectively, in a Canadian Variable Rate Guaranteed Investment
Contract. The contract as of December 31, 2007 had an original one year
maturity date of July 31, 2008. However, the security can be redeemed at
any time without penalty or loss of interest; therefore, management has
classified this security as a cash equivalent as the security is highly liquid.
The remaining cash equivalents are deposited in an overnight interest-bearing
sweep depository account. The restricted cash balance at December 31, 2007
represents cash invested in an interest-bearing restricted account at a Canadian
bank that collateralized a letter of credit issued by that bank in favor of the
landlord of the Company’s Canadian office. The Company fulfilled its
obligation regarding the restricted cash during 2008 and does not have any
restricted cash as of December 31, 2008.
4.
Broadcast Equipment and Fixed Assets
Broadcast
equipment and fixed assets are recorded at cost and consist of the
following:
For
the year ended
December 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Broadcast
equipment
|
$ | 17,208,000 | $ | 19,550,000 | ||||
Furniture
and fixtures
|
733,000 | 733,000 | ||||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
4,768,000 | 11,908,000 | ||||||
Leasehold
improvements
|
615,000 | 1,281,000 | ||||||
Other
equipment
|
24,000 | 24,000 | ||||||
23,348,000 | 33,496,000 | |||||||
Accumulated
depreciation and amortization
|
(19,920,000 | ) | (29,395,000 | ) | ||||
$ | 3,428,000 | $ | 4,101,000 |
5.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The
Company’s goodwill balance relates to the purchase of NTN Canada. The
Company performed its annual test for goodwill impairment for NTN Canada as of
September 30, 2008 and it was determined that there were no indications of
impairment. The Company considered the need to perform an additional
test of Canadian goodwill as of December 31, 2008 due to the weakened global
economy in the last three months of 2008, but deemed the overall health of the
underlying Canadian business has remained stable since the September 30, 2008
valuation.
As of
December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company’s intangible assets were comprised
predominantly of developed technology, trivia databases and
trademarks. The weighted average useful life for the Company’s
intangibles is 7.0 years as of December 31, 2008. Amortization expense
relating to intangible assets totaled $85,000 and $426,000 for the years ended
December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
As of
December 31, 2008, intangible assets with estimable lives were comprised of
the following:
Gross Carrying
Value
|
Accumulated
Amortization
|
Net
|
||||||||||
Developed
technology
|
$ | 206,000 | $ | (206,000 | ) | $ | — | |||||
Trivia
database
|
365,000 | (184,000 | ) | 181,000 | ||||||||
Trademarks
|
67,000 | (63,000 | ) | 4,000 | ||||||||
Total
|
$ | 638,000 | $ | (453,000 | ) | $ | 185,000 |
F-14
As of
December 31, 2007, intangible assets with estimable lives were comprised of
the following:
Gross Carrying
Value
|
Accumulated
Amortization
|
Net
|
||||||||||
Developed
technology
|
$ | 206,000 | $ | (167,000 | ) | $ | 39,000 | |||||
Trivia
database
|
455,000 | (184,000 | ) | 271,000 | ||||||||
Trademarks
|
149,000 | (141,000 | ) | 8,000 | ||||||||
Total
|
$ | 810,000 | $ | (492,000 | ) | $ | 318,000 |
The
estimated aggregate amortization expense relating to the Company’s intangible
assets for each of the five succeeding years is as follows:
Year
Ending
|
Estimated
Aggregate
Amortization Expense
|
|||
2009
|
$ | 39,000 | ||
2010
|
37,000 | |||
2011
|
37,000 | |||
2012
|
37,000 | |||
2013
|
35,000 | |||
Total
|
$ | 185,000 |
SFAS
No. 144 requires a long-lived asset’s net realizable value to be tested if
there is a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which the
long-lived asset will be utilized or if there is a current expectation that,
more likely than not, a long-lived asset will be sold or otherwise disposed of
significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life.
Accordingly, the Company determined that the intangible asset in its
Entertainment division related to selected technology and content licensed from
Media General was impaired as of September 30, 2007. In May 2003, in
connection with an investment Media General made in the Company, the Company
issued 666,667 shares of unregistered shares of the Company’s common stock for
this license. The original license was for five years with an option to renew.
At that time, the Company had intended to renew for the additional five year
period, in part related to its plans to deploy the games relating to this
license as a premium subscription tier to the Buzztime cable channel. As of
September 30, 2007, the Company determined that the license agreement was
no longer a current strategic fit and did not renew it. Therefore, the Company
fully expensed the remaining net book value of the capitalized license agreement
of approximately $968,000 during the third quarter of 2007.
6.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The
carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts
receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due
to the short maturity of these instruments.
Available-for-sale
securities are recorded at fair value and unrealized holding gains and losses
are excluded from earnings and are reported as a separate component of
comprehensive income until realized. Realized gains and losses from the sale of
available-for-sale securities are determined on a specific-identification basis.
A decline in the market value of any available-for-sale security below cost that
is deemed to be other-than-temporary, results in a reduction in the carrying
amount to fair value. Any resulting impairment is charged to other income
(expense) and a new cost basis for the security is established.
The one
investment available-for-sale that the Company holds is 2,518,260 shares in its
Australian licensee eBet Limited (eBet), an Australian gaming technology
corporation. The Company’s original cost basis in the eBet shares is AUD$0.50
per share. The Company’s initial investment in 1999 was for 4,000,000 shares and
at various points in 2000, the Company sold 1,481,740 eBet shares, leaving its
existing holding of 2,518,260 shares, which represents less than 1.2% of eBet’s
current shares outstanding.
The
Company performed an evaluation in the second quarter of 2006 and concluded that
the decline in value of its investment in eBet was other-than-temporary and
incurred an impairment loss of $652,000 to reflect the investment at its fair
value which, was trading at AUD$0.09. The value of the investment
decreased $206,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008 and decreased $73,000
for the year ended December 31, 2007. These declines are recorded as
other comprehensive (loss) income on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet
(See Note 19). The Company has reviewed the eBet investment in
accordance with SFAS No. 115 to determine if the loss is more than temporary in
nature. Management has determined that the loss is temporary based on the
fact that the investment appreciated in value in one of the quarter of the year
ended December 31, 2008 combined with the belief that the decline in value is
also caused by the current global economic downturn which also is expected to be
temporary in nature.
The
Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (“SFAS
No. 157”) as of January 1, 2008. SFAS No. 157 applies to
certain assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair
value basis. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework
for measuring fair value in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. This
Statement enables the reader of the financial statements to assess the inputs
used to develop those measurements by establishing a hierarchy for ranking the
quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. The
Statement requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be
classified and disclosed in one of the following three
categories:
F-15
Level 1:
Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or
liabilities.
Level 2:
Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by
market data.
Level 3:
Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.
The fair
value of the Company’s investment in eBet Limited is determined based on quoted
market prices, which is a Level 1 classification.
7.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
At times,
the Company’s cash balances held in financial institutions are in excess of
federally insured limits. The Company performs periodic evaluations of the
relative credit standing of financial institutions and seeks to limit the amount
of risk by selecting financial institutions with a strong credit standing. The
Company believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk with respect
to its cash and cash equivalents.
The
Buzztime iTV Network segment provides services to group viewing locations,
generally restaurants, sports bars and lounges throughout North America.
Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is limited due to
the large number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base, and their
dispersion across many different geographies. The Company performs ongoing
credit evaluations of its customers and generally requires no collateral. The
Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts to provide for credit
losses.
8.
Significant Customer
For the
years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company generated approximately
12% and 11%, respectively, of revenue total from a national chain, Buffalo Wild
Wings together with its franchisees. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007,
approximately $47,000 and $193,000, respectively, was included in accounts
receivable from this customer.
9.
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
The
Company computes basic and diluted earnings per share in accordance with SFAS
No. 128, Earnings per
Share. Basic EPS excludes the dilutive effects of options, warrants and
other convertible securities. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution of
securities that could share in the Company’s earnings. Options, warrants,
convertible preferred stock, and deferred stock units representing approximately
5,954,000 and 8,917,000 shares were excluded from the computations of diluted
net loss per common share for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively, as their effect is anti-dilutive.
10.
Common Stock Options, Deferred Stock Units and Warrants
Stock
Option Plans
2004
Performance Incentive Plan
In
September 2004 at a Special Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s stockholders
approved the 2004 Performance Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”). The 2004 Plan
provides for the issuance of up to 2,500,000 shares of NTN common stock. In
addition, all shares that remained unissued under the 1995 Employee Stock Option
Plan (the “1995 Plan”) on the effective date of the 2004 Plan, and all shares
issuable upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the 1995 Plan that expire
or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full,
are available for issuance under the 2004 Plan. On the effective date, the 1995
Plan had approximately 77,000 options available for grant.
Under the
2004 Plan, options for the purchase of NTN common stock or other instruments
such as deferred stock units may be granted to officers, directors and
employees. Options may be designated as incentive stock options or as
nonqualified stock options, and generally vest over four years. At its
discretion, the Board of Directors can authorize acceleration of vesting
periods. Options under both the 1995 Plan and the 2004 Plan have a term of up to
ten years, and are exercisable at a price per share not less than the fair
market value on the date of grant. The following table summarizes the shares
available for distribution for all plans:
F-16
Available for
Distribution
|
||||
December 31,
2006
|
1,594,000 | |||
Granted
|
(1,224,000 | ) | ||
Canceled
|
1,290,000 | |||
December 31,
2007
|
1,660,000 | |||
Granted
|
(942,000 | ) | ||
Canceled
|
3,382,000 | |||
December 31,
2008
|
4,100,000 |
Special
Stock Option Plan
In 1996
the Company adopted a Special Stock Option Plan (the “Special Plan”). Options
issued under the Special Plan are made at the discretion of the Board of
Directors and are designated only as nonqualified options. The options generally
have a term of up to ten years, are exercisable at a price per share not less
than the fair market value on the date of grant, and vest over various terms.
There were 400,000 options issued, outstanding and exercisable under the Special
Plan as of December 31, 2006 and zero shares were available for future
grant. As of December 31, 2006 the Special Plan had expired and no future
grants will be made under the Special Plan.
Buzztime
Distribution Stock Incentive Plan
On
May 31, 2001, Buzztime Distribution (“Buzztime”) adopted an incentive stock
option plan. Pursuant to the plan, Buzztime may grant options to purchase
Buzztime common stock, subject to applicable share limits, upon terms and
conditions specified in the plan. There are 300,000 shares authorized under this
plan. To date, no options have been granted under the plan.
Stock-Based
Compensation Valuation Assumptions
The
Company estimates the fair value of its stock options using a Black-Scholes
option pricing model, consistent with the provisions of SFAS No. 123R and
SAB No. 107, Share-Based
Payment. The fair value of stock options granted is recognized to expense
over the requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense for all
share-based payment awards is recognized using the straight-line single-option
method. Stock-based compensation expense is reported as selling, general and
administrative based upon the departments to which substantially all of the
associated employees report.
The
Company used the historical stock price volatility as an input to value its
stock options under SFAS No. 123R. The expected term of its stock options
represents the period of time options are expected to be outstanding, and is
based on observed historical exercise patterns for the Company, which the
Company believes are indicative of future exercise behavior. For the risk-free
interest rate, the Company uses the observed interest rates appropriate for the
term of time options are expected to be outstanding. The dividend yield
assumption is based on NTN’s history and expectation of dividend
payouts.
The
following weighted-average assumptions were used for grants issued during 2008
and 2007 under the SFAS No. 123R requirements:
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Weighted-average
risk-free rate
|
2.97% | 4.57% | ||||||
Weighted-average
volatility
|
63.57% | 56.28% | ||||||
Dividend
yield
|
0.0% | 0.0% | ||||||
Expected
life
|
4.38 years
|
5.0 years
|
SFAS
No. 123R requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and
revised if necessary in subsequent periods if actual forfeiture rates differ
from those estimates. Forfeitures were estimated based on historical activity
for the Company. For the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the
Company estimated a 17.63% and 4.58% annual forfeiture rate, respectively.
Stock-based compensation expense for employees in 2008 and 2007 was $312,000 and
$462,000, respectively, and is expensed in selling, general and administrative
expenses and credited to the additional paid-in-capital account.
Stock
Option Activity
The
following table summarizes stock option activity for 2008 and 2007:
F-17
Special
Plan
|
Option
Plan
|
|||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
|
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
|
|||||||||||||
Outstanding
December 31, 2006
|
400,000 | $ | 2.81 | 8,918,000 | $ | 1.37 | ||||||||||
Granted
|
— | — | 1,209,000 | 1.04 | ||||||||||||
Exercised
|
— | — | (929,000 | ) | 0.82 | |||||||||||
Forfeited
|
— | — | (222,000 | ) | 1.62 | |||||||||||
Expired
|
(400,000 | ) | — | (1,195,000 | ) | 2.16 | ||||||||||
Outstanding
December 31, 2007
|
— | $ | — | 7,781,000 | $ | 1.30 | ||||||||||
Granted
|
— | — | 784,000 | 0.34 | ||||||||||||
Exercised
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Forfeited
|
— | — | (1,378,000 | ) | 1.13 | |||||||||||
Expired
|
— | — | (1,938,000 | ) | 1.25 | |||||||||||
Outstanding
December 31, 2008
|
— | $ | — | 5,249,000 | $ | 1.22 | ||||||||||
Vested
December 31, 2008
|
— | — | 4,517,000 | 1.31 |
The
following table summarizes options outstanding and exercisable by exercise price
range as of December 31, 2008:
Options
Outstanding
|
Options
Exercisable
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Range
of
Exercise
Prices
|
Number
Outstanding
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (in years)
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
|
Number
Exercisable
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (in years)
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Option
Plan:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$0.11-$0.98 | 2,007,000 | 3.12 | $ | 0.70 | 1,485,000 | $ | 0.82 | |||||||||||||||||||
$1.00-$1.49 | 2,016,000 | 2.62 | 1.23 | 1,807,000 | 1.23 | |||||||||||||||||||||
$1.50-$4.50 | 1,226,000 | 1.65 | 2.04 | 1,225,000 | 2.03 | |||||||||||||||||||||
5,249,000 | 2.58 | $ | 1.22 | 4,517,000 | 1.64 | $ | 1.31 |
The
aggregate intrinsic value based on a per share price of $0.14, the closing price
of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2008 as reported by the NYSE
Amex, which would have been received by the option holders had all option
holders exercised their options is $1,000 and $2,000 for the periods ended
December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value for
options outstanding for the period ended December 31, 2008 and 2007was
$2,000 and $2,000, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised
during 2007 was $496,000 and no options were exercised during 2008. The total
cash received as a result of stock option exercises during 2007 was
approximately $651,000 and no cash was received as a result of stock option
exercises during 2008.
The per
share weighted-average grant-date fair value of stock options granted during
2008 and 2007 was $0.18 and $0.55, respectively.
As of
December 31, 2008, the unamortized compensation expense related to
outstanding unvested options was approximately $599,000 with a weighted average
remaining requisite service period of 2.82 years. The Company expects to
amortize this expense over the remaining requisite service period of these stock
options. A deferred tax asset generally would be recorded related to the
expected future tax benefit from the exercise of the non-qualified stock
options. However, due to a history of net operating losses, a full valuation
allowance has been recorded related to the tax benefit for non-qualified stock
options.
Deferred
Stock Unit Activity
Grants of
deferred stock units are paid in an equal number of shares of common stock on
the vesting date of the award, subject to any deferred payment date that the
holder may elect. A stock unit award is paid only to the extent vested. Vesting
generally requires the continued employment by the award recipient through the
respective vesting date, subject to accelerated vesting in certain
circumstances. Since the deferred stock units are paid in an equal number of
shares of common stock without any kind of offsetting payment by the employee,
the measurement of cost is based on the quoted market price of the stock at the
measurement date which is the date of grant.
F-18
The
following table summarizes deferred stock unit activity during 2008 and
2007.
Outstanding
Deferred Stock
|
||||
December 31,
2006
|
110,000 | |||
Granted
|
15,000 | |||
Released
|
(61,500 | ) | ||
Canceled
|
|
(8,500 | ) | |
December 31,
2007
|
55,000 | |||
Granted
|
158,000 | |||
Released
|
(20,000 | ) | ||
Canceled
|
(52,000 | ) | ||
December 31,
2008
|
141,000 | |||
Balance
exercisable at December 31, 2008
|
20,000 |
The
Company granted 158,000 deferred stock units with performance based accelerated
vesting provisions during the year ended December 31, 2008. Those
provisions are based on certain revenue targets for the Company which could
result in accelerated vesting of up to 50% of the total award. The
Company has evaluated the likelihood of attaining the performance based targets
and they are not considered probable, therefore, accelerated expense was not
recorded. The Company will continue to monitor its revenue results
and should any estimates made regarding the satisfaction of those performances
based conditions change at any time during the estimated requisite period, an
adjustment will be calculated and recorded in accordance with SFAS No.
123R.
Warrant
Activity
The
following summarizes warrant activity during 2008 and 2007:
Outstanding
Warrants
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise Prices
|
|||||||
December 31,
2006
|
1,344,000 | $ | 2.16 | |||||
Granted
|
— | — | ||||||
Exercised
|
— | — | ||||||
Canceled
|
(441,000 | ) | — | |||||
December 31,
2007
|
903,000 | $ | 1.85 | |||||
Granted
|
— | — | ||||||
Exercised
|
— | — | ||||||
Canceled
|
(500,000 | ) | 1.15 | |||||
December 31,
2008
|
403,000 | $ | 2.71 | |||||
Balance
exercisable at December 31, 2008
|
403,000 | $ | 2.71 |
A summary
of warrants outstanding and exercisable by exercise price range as of
December 31, 2008 is as follows:
Warrants
Outstanding
|
Warrants
Exercisable
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Range
of
Exercise
Prices
|
Number
Outstanding
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (in years)
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
|
Number
Exercisable
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
|
|||||||||||||||||
$0.77-$1.15 | 166,000 | 0.73 | $ | 1.00 | 166,000 | $ | 1.00 | |||||||||||||||
$1.31-$3.91 | 237,000 | 0.08 | $ | 3.91 | 237,000 | $ | 3.91 | |||||||||||||||
403,000 | 0.35 | $ | 2.71 | 403,000 | $ | 2.71 |
F-19
11.
Common Stock
On
April 5, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a Stock
Repurchase Plan, whereby management was authorized to repurchase up to a maximum
of $3,500,000 of NTN Common Stock from time to time in the open market at
prevailing market prices, or in privately negotiated transactions over an
eighteen month period which expired on October 4, 2008. During 2008, the Company
purchased approximately 49,000 shares for a total of $12,000. In
addition, the Company purchased approximately 454,000 shares for a total
$444,000 during 2007. In total, the Company has purchased
approximately 503,000 shares for a total of $456,000.
12.
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
The
Company authorized 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The preferred stock may
be issued in one or more series. The only series currently designated is a
series of 5,000,000 shares of Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
(Series A Preferred Stock).
As of
December 31, 2008 and 2007, there were 161,000 shares of Series A Preferred
Stock issued and outstanding. The Series A Preferred Stock provides for a
cumulative annual dividend of 10 cents per share, payable in semi-annual
installments in June and December. Dividends may be paid in cash or with shares
of common stock. In 2008 and 2007, the Company issued approximately 70,000 and
16,000 common shares, respectively, for payment of dividends.
During
the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company discovered an error in recording the
issuance of common stock in lieu of dividends and revised its policy to be in
accordance with ARB No. 43, Restatement and Revision of
Accounting Research Bulletins, which requires the Company to value the
distribution of common stock in lieu of dividends to preferred stock
shareholders at the fair market value and to charge retained earnings an amount
equal to the fair value of common shares issued. Previously, the Company
recorded the issuance of common stock in lieu of dividends at par value and
charged the additional paid in capital account. The cumulative effect of
recording this amount as of December 31, 2007 is approximately $270,000.
The adjustment had no effect on reported equity, net loss, net loss per share or
cash flows for all periods presented.
The
Series A Preferred Stock has no voting rights and has a $1.00 per share
liquidation preference over common stock. The registered holder has the right at
any time to convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock into that number of
shares of common stock that equals the number of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock that are surrendered for conversion divided by the conversion rate. The
conversion rate is subject to adjustment in certain events and is established at
the time of each conversion, such that the number of shares the preferred stock
is convertible into is lower than the original conversion rate. During 2008 and
2007, there were no conversions. There is no mandatory conversion term, date or
any redemption features associated with the Series A Preferred
Stock.
13.
Income Taxes
For each
of the years 2008 and 2007, current tax provisions and current deferred
provisions were recorded as follows:
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Current
Tax Provision:
|
||||||||
Federal
|
$ | 50,000 | $ | 1,000 | ||||
State
|
15,000 | 22,000 | ||||||
Foreign
|
139,000 | 359,000 | ||||||
Deferred
Provision
|
204,000 | 382,000 | ||||||
Federal
|
— | — | ||||||
State
|
— | — | ||||||
Foreign
|
30,000 | (21,000 | ) | |||||
Total
Tax Provision
|
30,000 | (21,000 | ) | |||||
Federal
|
50,000 | 1,000 | ||||||
State
|
15,000 | 22,000 | ||||||
Foreign
|
169,000 | 338,000 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 234,000 | $ | 361,000 |
F-20
The net
deferred tax assets and liabilities have been reported in the consolidated
balance sheets at December 31, 2008 and 2007 as follows:
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||||
Current
|
Non
Current
|
Current
|
Non
Current
|
|||||||||||||
Deferred
tax assets:
|
||||||||||||||||
NOL
carryforwards
|
$ | — | $ | 21,297,000 | $ | — | $ | 22,306,000 | ||||||||
UK
NOL carryforwards
|
— | 904,000 | — | 708,000 | ||||||||||||
Legal
and litigation accruals
|
41,000 | — | 15,000 | — | ||||||||||||
Allowance
for doubtful accounts
|
126,000 | — | 126,000 | — | ||||||||||||
Compensation
and vacation accrual
|
116,000 | — | 199,000 | — | ||||||||||||
Operating
accruals
|
356,000 | — | 394,000 | — | ||||||||||||
Deferred
revenue
|
78,000 | — | 189,000 | — | ||||||||||||
Research
and experimentation credit
|
— | 9,000 | — | 186,000 | ||||||||||||
AMT
credit
|
— | 21,000 | — | 21,000 | ||||||||||||
Foreign
tax credit
|
— | 50,000 | — | — | ||||||||||||
Amortization
|
— | 524,000 | — | 514,000 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation
|
— | 983,000 | — | 804,000 | ||||||||||||
Foreign
|
— | 118,900 | — | 149,000 | ||||||||||||
Charitable
contributions
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Other
|
— | 306,000 | — | 270,000 | ||||||||||||
Total
gross deferred tax assets
|
$ | 717,000 | $ | 24,212,900 | $ | 923,000 | $ | 24,958,000 | ||||||||
Valuation
allowance
|
(717,000 | ) | (23,338,000 | ) | (923,000 | ) | (24,269,000 | ) | ||||||||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
$ | — | $ | 874,900 | $ | — | $ | 689,000 | ||||||||
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Capitalized
software
|
— | 661,000 | — | 356,000 | ||||||||||||
Deferred
revenue
|
— | 95,000 | — | 184,000 | ||||||||||||
Total
gross deferred liabilities
|
$ | — | $ | 756,000 | $ | — | $ | 540,000 | ||||||||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
$ | — | $ | 118,900 | $ | — | $ | 149,000 |
The
reconciliation of computed expected income taxes to effective income taxes by
applying the federal statutory rate of 34% is as follows:
For
the year ended
December 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Tax
at federal income tax rate
|
$ | (2,120,000 | ) | $ | (1,578,000 | ) | ||
State
tax
|
(177,000 | ) | 22,000 | |||||
Foreign
tax differential
|
(32,000 | ) | 6,000 | |||||
Foreign
losses (income) with no federal benefit
|
155,000 | 77,000 | ||||||
Change
in valuation allowance
|
(1,137,000 | ) | 939,000 | |||||
Change
in depreciable basis of fixed assets
|
— | — | ||||||
Intangibles
|
— | (127,000 | ) | |||||
Rate
adjustment
|
— | 23,000 | ||||||
Expiration
of net operating loss carryforwards
|
2,840,000 | 776,000 | ||||||
Permanent
items
|
165,000 | 163,000 | ||||||
Expiration
of research credit
|
177,000 | — | ||||||
Other
|
363,000 | 60,000 | ||||||
Total
tax provision
|
$ | 234,000 | $ | 361,000 |
F-21
The net
change in the total valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 2008 was
a decrease of $1,137,000. The net change in the total valuation
allowance for the year ended December 31, 2007 was an increase of
$939,000. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets,
management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all
of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate
realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future
taxable income during periods in which those temporary differences become
deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax
liabilities, projected future taxable income, and planning strategies in making
this assessment. Based on the level of historical operating results
and projections for the taxable income for the future, management has determined
that it is more likely than not that the portion of deferred taxes not utilized
through the reversal of deferred tax liabilities will not be
realized. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance
to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be
realized.
At
December 31, 2008, the Company has available net operating loss carryforwards of
approximately $60.0 million for federal income tax purposes, which began
expiring in 2008. The net operating loss carryforwards for state
purposes, which began expiring in 2008, are approximately $15.0
million. There can be no assurance that the Company will ever be able
to realize the benefit of some or all of the federal and state loss
carryforwards due to continued operating losses. Further, the Company
has not quantified the potential impact that Section 382 of the Internal Revenue
Code may have on the ability for us to utilize our net operating loss
carryforwards. Under this code section, the use of some or all of
those net operating losses may be limited if certain changes in ownership are
deemed to have occurred.
Under
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Sections 382 and similar state provisions,
ownership changes will limit the annual utilization of net operating
loss carryforwards existing prior to a change in control that are available
to offset future taxable income. Based upon the equity transactions that
have occurred during the Section 382 statutory "look-back" period, some or all
of the Company's existing net operating loss carryforwards may be subject
to annual limitations. The Company has not performed an analysis to
determine whether an ownership change or multiple ownership changes have
occurred for tax reporting purposes due to the complexity and cost associated
with such a study, and the fact that there may be additional such ownership
changes in the future. Such limitations would reduce, potentially
significantly, the gross deferred tax assets disclosed in the table above
related to the net operating loss carryforwards. The Company
continues to disclose the net operating loss carryforwards at their original
amount in the table above as no potential limitation has been
quantified. The Company has also established a full
valuation allowance for substantially all deferred tax assets due to
uncertainties surrounding its ability to generate future taxable income to
realize these assets. Since substantially all deferred tax assets are
fully reserved, future changes in tax benefits will not impact the
effective tax rate.
The
deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2008 include a deferred tax asset of
$1,180,000 representing net operating losses arising from the exercise of stock
options by Company employees. To the extent the Company realizes any
tax benefit for the net operating losses attributable to the stock option
exercises, such amount would be credited directly to stockholders'
equity.
14.
Commitments
Operating
Leases
The
Company leases office and production facilities and equipment under agreements
which expire at various dates through 2014. Certain leases contain renewal
provisions and escalating rental clauses and generally require us to pay
utilities, insurance, taxes and other operating expenses. Additionally, the
Company has entered into lease agreements for certain equipment used in
broadcast operations and the corporate computer network. Lease expense under
operating leases totaled $1,030,000 and $766,000 in 2008 and 2007,
respectively.
As of
December 31, 2008, future minimum lease obligations under non-cancelable
operating leases are as follows:
Year
Ending December 31,
|
Lease
Payment
|
|||
2009
|
$ | 994,000 | ||
2010
|
866,000 | |||
2011
|
404,000 | |||
2012
|
65,000 | |||
2013
|
65,000 | |||
Thereafter
|
65,000 | |||
Total
|
$ | 2,459,000 |
F-22
Sublease
In
January 2007 the Company restructured its Canadian operations to reduce costs
and streamline operations. The restructuring involved moving the operation to a
smaller facility and subleasing the previously occupied facility until the end
of the original lease, which expires in December 2014. The subtenant pays all
utilities, insurance, taxes and other operating expenses in addition to sublease
rent. The sublease includes a rent escalation clause effective for years five
through eight of the sublease. The Company’s future minimum lease
obligations noted above will be partially offset by the following future
sublease proceeds:
Year
Ending December 31,
|
Lease
Payment
|
|||
2009
|
$ | 57,000 | ||
2010
|
57,000 | |||
2011
|
61,000 | |||
2012
|
62,000 | |||
2013
|
62,000 | |||
Thereafter
|
62,000 | |||
Total
|
$ | 361,000 |
Capital
Leases
The
Company leases certain equipment under capital leases. Property held under
capital leases is as follows:
As of
December 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Broadcast
equipment
|
$ | 806,000 | $ | 828,000 | ||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
1,509,000 | 1,705,000 | ||||||
Other
equipment
|
21,000 | 24,000 | ||||||
Total
property under capital leases
|
2,336,000 | 2,557,000 | ||||||
Accumulated
depreciation
|
(2,296,000 | ) | (2,459,000 | ) | ||||
$ | 40,000 | $ | 98,000 |
Purchase
Commitments
The
Company has a commitment under a long-term agreement to purchase equipment after
the Company’s acceptance of certain milestones which occurred in or around March
2007. Issues have arisen under the terms of the agreement, which still remain
unresolved as of December 31, 2008. Under the original terms of
the agreement, the Company would be obligated to purchase $835,000 (of which
none was purchased in 2008) and $76,000 of equipment in 2008 and 2009,
respectively. However, the Company anticipates reducing or eliminating the
number of deliverables which would reduce this amount
proportionately. The Company anticipates using the equipment
purchased within the normal course of operations without incurring any
impairment losses.
15.
Satellite Agreements
On
January 20, 2005, but effective as of December 31, 2004, we amended
our agreements with our satellite services provider to extend the expiration
date on the FM2
satellite platform to February 2007 and to modify our VSAT equipment purchase
and satellite service agreements. In October 2006, we amended our agreement with
FM2
to extend the expiration date to December 2008, which went month to month and
was ultimately terminated on February 28, 2009. The modification to the
equipment purchase agreement eliminates the requirement to purchase and install
a specific amount of VSAT equipment.
The
termination of the FM2 data
transmission agreement and the revisions to the VSAT equipment purchase and
satellite service agreements allows us to implement our business strategy to
convert all customers to broadband delivery. We expect VSAT satellite
services to terminate by the end of 2009, at which point all customers are
expected to be converted to broadband delivery.
16.
Contingencies
The
Company is subject to litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of its
business. There can be no assurance that any or all of the following claims will
be decided in the Company’s favor and the Company is not insured against all
claims made. During the pendency of such claims, the Company will continue to
incur the costs of its legal defense. Other than set forth below, there is no
material litigation pending or threatened against the Company.
F-23
Recent
Legal Action
On
October 17, 2008, Trinad Capital Master Fund, Ltd. filed a “books and records”
proceeding in the Delaware Chancery Court under Section 220 of the Delaware
Corporation Law asking the Court to require us to produce certain documents and
records for inspection. Demands for information under that law must,
among other things, be made with appropriate specificity and must be for proper
purpose. The Company has moved to dismiss the
complaint. The Company intends to vigorously defend this claim with
respect to information it believes has not been requested with appropriate
specificity or for a proper purpose as required by the
law. Although the current litigation does not seek monetary
damages and we do not expect that any potential charges related to this
proceeding would ever have a material impact to the financial
statements, any expanded or further litigation might seek damages and, if
we and/or any officers or directors named as defendants were to lose, we might
have to pay damages or indemnify such officers or directors. As
of December 31, 2008, Trinad Capital Master Fund, Ltd. owned 13.8% of our common
stock.
Sales
and Use Tax
From time
to time, state tax agencies will make inquiries as to tax applicability of the
Company’s service offerings. Many states have expanded their
interpretation of their sales and use tax statues to derive additional
revenue. While in the past sales and use tax assessments have not
been significant to operations, it is likely that such expenses will increase in
the future.
The
Company evaluates such inquiries on a case-by-case basis and has favorably
resolved these tax issues in the past without any material adverse
consequences. Currently, the Company is in active settlement
discussions with the state of Texas in relation to sales tax collection and
remittance. The discussions are the result of a long on-going
evaluation that began in 2004 when the state concluded that the Company’s
services were subject to sales tax on an amusement services basis and assessed
the Company $1.1 million for the five year audit period ending December 31,
2002. The Company objected to that conclusion based on the facts of
the business and in August 2006, the Texas State Attorney indicated that the
State agreed that the Company’s services did not constitute taxable amusement
services. However, the State adopted a new position whereby it
concluded that the Company provides taxable cable television
services. The Company believes that it provides interactive game
services for the purpose of providing a vehicle for customers to promote their
business. However, based on the nebulous definition of cable
broadcast services as defined by the Texas Tax Code, the Company believes that,
if it pursued this defense all the way to a formal court procedure, the risk
that it could lose the case was great enough to enter into settlement
discussions with the state. As a result of those discussions, the
Company has recorded a liability of $515,000, which is based on the latest
settlement offer extended by the state that the Company is willing to
accept. The Company expects the formal settlement offer to be signed
in the first quarter of 2009. Further, in February 2009, the Company
began collecting and remitting sales tax in the state of Texas in accordance
with the state tax statutes.
The
Company is involved in ongoing sales tax inquiries, including certain
formal assessments of $601,000, with a few other states. As a result
of those inquiries and the Texas liability discussed above, the Company recorded
a total liability of $867,000 and $833,000 as of December 31, 2008 and
2007. Based on the guidance set forth by SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies,
management has deemed the likelihood that it will be forced to pay an assessment
as reasonably possible.
17.
Retirement Savings Plan
In 1994
the Company established a defined contribution plan, organized under
Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, which allowed employees who
have completed at least one month of service and have reached age 18 to defer up
to 50% of their pay on a pre-tax basis. Effective April 1, 2007, the
Company began to match 50% of the first 6% of employee contributions up to a
maximum of $2,000 per employee. For the year ended December 31, 2008 and
2007, the Company contributed $158,000 and $145,000, respectively.
18.
Related Parties
On
February 4, 2005, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with
Intura Solutions LP (Intura), a Texas limited partnership, pursuant to which the
Company sold the point-of-sale software products developed and maintained by its
Software Solutions segment. Gary Peek, the former Vice President and General
Manager of the Software Solutions segment, is a member of Intura Management,
LLC, General Partner of Intura Solutions LP. In accordance with the asset
purchase transaction, Gary Peek terminated his position as Vice President and
General Manager of the Software Solutions segment and immediately thereafter
commenced his position with Intura to oversee business operations. The Company
received a non-dilutable 10% partnership interest in Intura in the transaction.
On May 23, 2007, the Company entered into an agreement with Gary Peek to
purchase the Company’s limited interest in Intura for approximately $76,000
payable in equal monthly installments, effective June 23,
2007.
In
connection with restructuring its Canadian operations, on February 13, 2007
the Company sold certain assets to a former employee and granted a license for
the related licensed material for $100,000 whereby the Company recognized a gain
of $81,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007.
On
November 18, 2008, the Company entered into executive advisory agreement with
Terry Bateman, a member of its Board of Directors. Under the terms of
this agreement, the Company engaged Mr. Bateman to serve as a consultant and to
assist it with a strategic analysis of our operations and to advise and assist
the Company’s management team as we seek to identify and employ a permanent
chief executive officer. The initial term of the agreement was
90 days and the Company agreed to pay Mr. Bateman $20,000 per
month. The agreement terminated on February 2, 2009 when Mr. Bateman
was appointed as the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer.
F-24
The
Company entered into a three month consulting engagement with Kenneth Keymer, a
member of the Company’s Board of Directors, in the first quarter
of 2009. Mr. Keymer will be compensated $20,000 a month for his
services. The Company will be utilizing Mr. Keymer’s business
experience to analyze and improve certain business processes.
19.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Accumulated
other comprehensive income (loss) is the combination of accumulated net
unrealized gains or losses on investments available-for-sale and the accumulated
gains or losses from foreign currency translation adjustments. The Company
translated the assets and liabilities of its Canadian and United Kingdom
statements of financial position into U.S. dollars using the period end exchange
rates. Revenue and expenses were translated using the weighted-average exchange
rates for the reporting period.
During
the third quarter of 2007, the Company recorded the cumulative effect of a
foreign currency translation error, in the amount of $614,000. The error, of
which $385,000 related to periods prior to December 31, 2006, has been
reflected in comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2007. The
Company has determined that the cumulative adjustment is immaterial to all
periods effected and does not have any effect on net loss, retained earnings nor
loss per share. As a result, the Company concluded that it is not necessary to
amend prior filings; however, the Company has adjusted comprehensive loss for
the year ended December 31, 2007 to recognize the cumulative
effect.
The
carrying value of the Company’s Australian investment, eBet, has fluctuated and
the respective unrealized gains and losses are recorded in accumulated other
comprehensive loss. For the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the
components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows:
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Beginning
balance
|
$ | 1,662,000 | $ | 201,000 | ||||
Unrealized
loss on investment available-for-sale
|
(206,000 | ) | (73,000 | ) | ||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustments
|
(1,448,000 | ) | 1,534,000 | |||||
Ending
balance
|
$ | 8,000 | $ | 1,662,000 |
For the
years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the comprehensive losses were as
follows:
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (6,466,000 | ) | $ | (5,026,000 | ) | ||
Comprehensive
(loss) income
|
(1,654,000 | ) | 1,461,000 | |||||
Comprehensive
net loss
|
$ | (8,120,000 | ) | $ | (3,565,000 | ) |
20.
Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale
In
November 2006 the Company began to actively pursue the sale of its Hospitality
division comprised of NTN Wireless and Software Solutions. In the fourth quarter
of 2006, the Company applied the provisions of SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, to certain of its assets which were held
for sale. SFAS No. 144 requires that a long-lived asset classified as held
for sale, be measured at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value, less
costs to sell, and that the Company ceases depreciation, depletion and
amortization. As of December 31, 2006, the Hospitality division’s assets
were classified as held for sale and the respective assets were revalued as of
December 31, 2006 (see Note 5). Depreciation on these assets ceased
effective December 31, 2006. Additionally, corporate expenses previously
allocated to the discontinued operations have been reclassified to Buzztime iTV
in accordance with SFAS No. 144.
On
March 30, 2007, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of the
assets of NTN Wireless for $2.4 million and recognized a gain, net of tax, of
approximately $396,000. On October 25, 2007, the Company sold certain
intellectual property assets of Software Solutions pursuant to an Asset Purchase
Agreement, and in a separate agreement with a customer, the Company discontinued
the outsourced software development it was providing. The Company wound down the
professional help desk and support and maintenance services as the Company
fulfilled its obligations under existing customer agreements. The intellectual
property sold constituted substantially all of the remaining operating assets of
the Company’s Hospitality Division, which had originally consisted of its
Software Solutions and Wireless communications businesses.
F-25
The
operating results for the Hospitality division have been separately classified
and reported as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of
operations as follows:
For the year
ended December 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Operating
revenues
|
$ | 21,000 | $ | 4,825,000 | ||||
Operating
expenses
|
530,000 | 5,919,000 | ||||||
Operating
loss
|
(509,000 | ) | (1,094,000 | ) | ||||
Other
Income
|
177,000 | 388,000 | ||||||
Loss
before income taxes
|
(332,000 | ) | (706,000 | ) | ||||
Income
tax expense
|
— | 29,000 | ||||||
Loss
from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
$ | (332,000 | ) | $ | (735,000 | ) |
The
Company accounted for the dissolution of the help desk and support and
maintenance operation pursuant to the provisions of Statement of SFAS
No. 146, Accounting for
Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities. SFAS No. 146
requires that a liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity
be recognized when the liability is incurred, as opposed to when there is a
commitment to disposing a business segment. Severance for involuntary employee
terminations is expensed over the requisite service period in which it is earned
as certain employees are required to continue to render service until the
Company has fulfilled its obligations under existing customer contracts. Moving,
relocation and other associated costs related to the dissolution are expensed as
incurred. The Company did not incur severance expenses for involuntary employee
terminations after the quarter ended June 30, 2008 and incurred $52,000 for
2008, and approximately $37,000 was accrued as of December 31,
2007. There were no additional costs accrued as of December 31,
2008.
The
Company recorded $177,000 of other income during 2008 due to the reversal of
certain customer and warranty related reserves that management deemed no longer
necessary based largely on historical claim activity. As the Company
concluded its wind down activities in 2008, it does not expect to incur any
additional expenses related to the help desk and support and maintenance
function in subsequent periods.
The
Company does not have components of assets and liabilities of discontinued
operations on NTN Buzztime’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31,
2008. A summary of the components of assets and liabilities of
discontinued operations on NTN Buzztime’s consolidated balance sheets as of
December 31, 2007 is as follows:
2007
|
||||
Assets
held for sale:
|
||||
Current
assets
|
$ | 192,000 | ||
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
20,000 | |||
Total
assets of discontinued operations
|
212,000 | |||
Liabilities
of discontinued operations:
|
||||
Current
liabilities
|
672,000 | |||
Total
liabilities of discontinued operations
|
672,000 | |||
Net
assets of discontinued operations
|
$ | (460,000 | ) |
21.
Restructuring of Canadian Operations
In
January 2007 the Company restructured its Canadian operations to reduce costs
and streamline operations. The restructuring involved a reduction of six
employees, moving the operation to a smaller facility and subleasing the
previously occupied facility until the end of the original lease term. Along
with the restructuring, the Company sold certain assets and granted a license
for the related licensed materials of its Interactive Events business to a
former employee (see Note 18). The communication date to the employees was
January 11, 2007. The Company accounted for restructuring costs pursuant to
the provisions of Statement of SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with
Exit or Disposal Activities. SFAS No. 146 requires that a liability
for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the
liability is incurred, as opposed to when there is a commitment to a
restructuring plan. Severance for involuntary employee terminations was accrued
as of the communication date and the costs to exit certain lease obligations
were accrued as of March 31, 2007. Moving, relocation and other associated
costs related to the restructuring are expensed as incurred. The restructuring
costs are comprised of the following for the year ended December 31,
2007:
2007
|
||||
Severance
for Involuntary Employee Terminations
|
$ | 337,000 | ||
Costs
to Exit Certain Contractual and Lease obligations
|
99,000 | |||
Moving,
Relocation, and Other Associated Costs
|
51,000 | |||
Total
Restructuring Costs
|
$ | 487,000 |
F-26
Approximately
$9,000 was capitalized as leasehold improvements. Costs to exit lease
obligations include the difference in the net present value of the lease
payments in excess of the sublease payments to be received. The
Company had a reserve of approximately $44,000 and $50,000 as of December 31,
2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company expects to complete the
utilization of the reserve related to this restructuring by December 2014, the
date the lease expires. The restructuring accrual is included in accrued
expenses.
22. Geographical
Information
In
2007, the Company had two reportable segments within the Entertainment division;
Buzztime iTV Network and Buzztime Distribution. In 2008, the Company
changed the method in which the chief decision makers evaluated the business and
began making operational and strategic decisions based on the Entertainment
division as a whole. As such, the Company no longer has multiple
reporting segments.
In
2007 and the first half of 2008, the Company marketed its products in the United
States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The table below contains
information about these geographical areas in which the Company
operated. Long-lived assets are based on location of
domicile. In the third quarter of 2008, the Company ceased its
operations in the United Kingdom.
For the year
ended December 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
United
States
|
$ | 23,946,000 | $ | 26,335,000 | ||||
Canada
|
3,373,000 | 3,768,000 | ||||||
United
Kingdom
|
177,000 | 439,000 | ||||||
Total
Revenue
|
$ | 27,496,000 | $ | 30,542,000 |
As of
December 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
United
States
|
$ | 6,936,000 | $ | 11,075,000 | ||||
Canada
|
4,726,000 | 8,936,000 | ||||||
United
Kingdom
|
- | 637,000 | ||||||
Total
Assets
|
$ | 11,662,000 | $ | 20,648,000 |
23.
Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (amounts in thousands,
except per share data)
The
following table presents selected unaudited financial results for each of the
eight quarters during the two year period ended December 31, 2008. In the
opinion of management, this unaudited information has been prepared on the same
basis as the audited information and includes all adjustments (consisting of
only normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair statement of the
financial information for the periods presented, however, in the fourth quarter
of 2007, two corrections were identified and made in the fourth quarter relating
to the recognition and amortization of deferred revenue and amortization of
deferred costs.
In
accordance with SAB Topic 13(A)(3)(f), Nonrefundable Up-Front Fees,
which requires deferred costs in excess of the respective deferred revenue to be
amortized over the initial contract period, we have revised our policy from
amortizing excess deferred costs on an individual site basis from three years to
one year which is the initial contract period. Additionally, we have revised our
policy to discontinue deferring a portion of the subscription fee in cases where
no upfront installation fee was charged.
The
cumulative effect of the change in accounting policy for deferred revenue and
deferred costs for the year ended December 31, 2007, was a charge of
approximately $635,000. The effect of this change in accounting policy was
offset by the effect of correcting two other errors from a prior period,
resulting in an understatement of our current year audit fees by approximately
$292,000 and an understatement of our current year stock based compensation
expense by approximately $140,000. If not for the correction of the errors in
the fourth quarter, revenue for the quarter would have been $7,469,000, loss
from continuing operations would have been $1,353,000, net loss would have been
$1,739,000 and net loss per share would have remained at $0.03. For the year
ended December 31, 2007, revenue would have been $30,352,000, loss from
continuing operations would have been $4,088,000, net loss would have been
$4,823,000, and net loss per share would have remained at $0.09. The Company has
determined that the effect of the error on prior periods and the effect of
recording the cumulative adjustment in the current period are immaterial to all
periods affected. The error had no effect on reported cash flows in any
period.
F-27
Three Months
Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Mar
31,
2008
|
Jun
30,
2008
|
Sep
30,
2008
|
Dec
31,
2008
|
Total
2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | 7,182 | $ | 7,017 | $ | 6,772 | $ | 6,525 | $ | 27,496 | ||||||||||
Operating
loss
|
(2,301 | ) | (2,108 | ) | (1,056 | ) | (641 | ) | (6,106 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss
from continuing operations
|
(2,283 | ) | (2,129 | ) | (1,032 | ) | (690 | ) | (6,134 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss
(income) from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
(291 | ) | (216 | ) | 175 | — | (332 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
(2,574 | ) | (2,345 | ) | (857 | ) | (690 | ) | (6,466 | ) | ||||||||||
Per share
amounts:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Loss
from continuing operations
|
$ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | |||||
Loss
from discontinued operations
|
$ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | |||||
Net
loss
|
(0.05 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.12 | ) | ||||||||||
Weighted-average
shares outstanding—basic and diluted
|
55,187 | 55,203 | 55,196 | 55,170 | 55,189 |
Three Months
Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Mar 31,
2007
|
Jun 30,
2007
|
Sep 30,
2007
|
Dec
31,
2007
|
Total
2007
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
$ | 7,733 | $ | 7,640 | $ | 7,476 | $ | 7,693 | $ | 30,542 | ||||||||||
Operating
loss
|
(812 | ) | (381 | ) | (1,686 | ) | (1,480 | ) | (4,359 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss
from continuing operations
|
(763 | ) | (377 | ) | (1,617 | ) | (1,534 | ) | (4,291 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss
from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
(4 | ) | (177 | ) | (168 | ) | (386 | ) | (735 | ) | ||||||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (767 | ) | $ | (554 | ) | $ | (1,785 | ) | $ | (1,920 | ) | $ | (5,026 | ) | |||||
Per share
amounts:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Loss
from continuing operations
|
$ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.08 | ) | |||||
Loss
from discontinued operations
|
$ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | |||||
Net
loss
|
(0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.09 | ) | ||||||||||
Weighted-average
shares outstanding—basic and diluted
|
54,754 | 54,691 | 56,000 | 55,170 | 55,154 |
F-28
SCHEDULE
II
NTN
BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
VALUATION
AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Years
Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
Allowance
for
Doubtful
Accounts
|
Balance
at
Beginning
|
Additions
Charged to
Expense
|
Deductions (a)
|
Balance
at
End
of
Period
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
$ | 396,000 | 557,000 | (655,000 | ) | $ | 298,000 | |||||||||
2007
|
$ | 571,000 | 356,000 | (531,000 | ) | $ | 396,000 |
_____________
(a)
|
Reflects
trade accounts receivable written off during the year, net of amounts
recovered.
|
See accompanying report of
independent registered public accounting firm.
F-29