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Eterna Therapeutics Inc. - Quarter Report: 2008 September (Form 10-Q)

ntn_10q-093008.htm
 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

 
FORM 10-Q
 

 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008
 
Commission file number 001-11460
 

NTN Buzztime, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 

 
DELAWARE
31-1103425
(State of incorporation)
(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)
 

 
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 such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES  x    NO  ¨
 
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 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 (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨    NO  x
 
As of November 6, 2008 the registrant had outstanding 55,652,908 shares of common stock, $.005 par value.
 
 


 
 
 
 
NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Item
 
Page
PART I
 
     
1.
Financial Statements
 
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2008 (unaudited) and December 31, 2007
1
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)
2
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)
3
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)
4
     
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
6
     
2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
15
     
3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
24
     
4.
Controls and Procedures
25
   
PART II
 
     
1.
Legal Proceedings
25
     
1A.
Risk Factors
25
     
2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
26
     
3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
26
     
4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
26
     
5.
Other Information
26
     
6.
Exhibits
26
     
 
Signatures
27

 
 

 

PART I
 
ITEM 1.
 
NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share data)
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 5,257     $ 10,273  
Restricted cash
    36       55  
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $279 and $396, respectively
    862       1,354  
Investments available-for-sale
    87       264  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    592       745  
Assets held for sale (Note 14)
    -       212  
Total current assets
    6,834       12,903  
Broadcast equipment and fixed assets, net
    3,659       4,101  
Software development costs, net
    983       895  
Deferred costs
    1,397       1,204  
Goodwill
    1,215       1,285  
Intangible assets, net
    234       318  
Other assets
    146       154  
Total assets
  $ 14,468     $ 20,860  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 739     $ 831  
Accrued expenses
    1,379       908  
Sales tax payable
    1,122       982  
Accrued salaries
    518       357  
Accrued vacation
    408       447  
Income tax payable
    58       36  
Deferred revenue
    810       972  
Liabilities of discontinued operations (Note 14)
    -       672  
Total current liabilities
    5,034       5,205  
Deferred revenue, excluding current portion
    82       87  
Total liabilities
    5,116       5,292  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
               
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 at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007
    1       1  
Common stock, $.005 par value, 84,000,000 shares authorized; 55,657,000 and 55,640,000 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively
    277       277  
Treasury stock, at cost, 503,000 shares at September 30, 2008 and 454,000 shares at December 31, 2007
    (456 )     (444 )
Additional paid-in capital
    113,200       112,942  
Accumulated deficit
    (104,646 )     (98,870 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 11)
    976       1,662  
Total shareholders’ equity
    9,352       15,568  
Total shareholders’ equity and liabilities
  $ 14,468     $ 20,860  
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
1

 
NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share data)
 
   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
 
Revenues
  $ 6,772     $ 7,476     $ 20,971     $ 22,849  
Operating expenses:
                               
Direct operating costs (includes depreciation and amortization of $619 and $879 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and depreciation and amortization of $2,004 and $2,577 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively)
    1,971       2,249       6,095       6,675  
Impairment of intangible asset
    -       968       -       968  
Selling, general and administrative
    5,724       5,816       19,941       17,186  
Depreciation and amortization (excluding depreciation and amortization included in direct operating costs)
    133       129       400       421  
Restructuring costs (Note 13)
    -       -       -       478  
Total operating expenses
  $ 7,828     $ 9,162     $ 26,436     $ 25,728  
Operating loss
  $ (1,056 )   $ (1,686 )   $ (5,465 )   $ (2,879 )
                                 
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
    27       107       129       253  
Interest expense
    (4 )     (5 )     (4 )     (26 )
Other income
    69       2       69       83  
Total other income
  $ 92     $ 104     $ 194     $ 310  
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
  $ (964 )   $ (1,582 )   $ (5,271 )   $ (2,569 )
Provision for income taxes
    68       35       173       188  
                                 
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (1,032 )   $ (1,617 )   $ (5,444 )   $ (2,757 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax (including gain on sale of NTN Wireless of $396 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007)
    175       (168 )     (332 )     (349 )
Net loss
  $ (857 )   $ (1,785 )   $ (5,776 )   $ (3,106 )
                                 
Net loss per common share
                               
Loss from continuing operations, basic and diluted
  $ (0.02 )   $ (0.03 )   $ (0.10 )   $ (0.05 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, basic and diluted
  $ 0.00     $ 0.00     $ (0.01 )   $ (0.01 )
Net loss
  $ (0.02 )   $ (0.03 )   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.06 )
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding
                               
Basic and diluted
    55,196       56,000       55,195       55,148  
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
2

 

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
 
Net loss
  $ (857 )   $ (1,785 )   $ (5,776 )   $ (3,106 )
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
                               
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (177 )     501       (509 )     1,464  
Unrealized holding loss on investment available-for-sale
    (58 )     (48 )     (177 )     (24 )
Other comprehensive (loss) income
  $ (235 ­­­­)   $ 453     $ (686 )   $ 1,440  
Comprehensive loss
  $ (1,092 )   $ (1,332 )   $ (6,462 )   $ (1,666 )
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
3

 

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
     
Nine months ended
 
     
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
 
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities:
             
Net loss
    $ (5,776 )   $ (3,106 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
      332       349  
Loss from continuing operations
    $ (5,444 )   $ (2,757 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
                 
Depreciation and amortization
      2,404       2,998  
Provision for doubtful accounts
      463       284  
Impairment of intangible asset
      -       968  
Stock-based compensation
      260       466  
Loss (gain) from disposition of equipment and capitalized software
      384       (171 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                 
Accounts receivable
      31       283  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
      154       280  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
      268       (789 )
Income taxes payable
      2       (12 )
Deferred costs
      (198 )     265  
Deferred revenue
      (564 )     (658 )
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities from continuing operations
      (2,240 )     1,157  
Discontinued operations
      9       (1,501 )
Net cash used in operating activities
      (2,231 )     (344 )
Cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities:
                 
Purchases of broadcast equipment and fixed assets
      (1,759 )     (383 )
Software development expenditures
      (649 )     (432 )
Deposits on broadcast equipment
      -       (161 )
Proceeds from sale of equipment and other assets
      -       363  
Restricted cash
      16       6  
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations
      (2,392 )     (607 )
Discontinued operations
      20       2,397  
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
      (2,372 )     1,790  
Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities:
                 
Principal payments on capital lease
      (11 )     (351 )
Settlement of stock option
      -       (40 )
Purchases of treasury stock
      (12 )     (444 )
Proceeds from exercise of warrants and options
      -       651  
Net cash used in financing activities
      (23 )     (184 )
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
      (4,626 )     1,262  
Effect of exchange rate on cash
      (390 )     735  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
      10,273       8,774  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
    $ 5,257     $ 10,771  
                     
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
                 
Cash paid during the period for:
                 
Interest
    $ 4     $ 25  
Income taxes
    $ 163     $ 283  
 
4

 
NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
(continued)
 
     
Nine months ended
 
       
September 30,
2008 
     
September 30,
2007 
 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
                 
Reclassification of investment to accounts receivable
    $ -     $ 69  
Reclassification of royalty receivable to prepaid maintenance contracts
    $ -     $ 73  
Reclassification of deposits for equipment placed in service
    $ -     $ 524  
Unrealized holding loss on investments available-for-sale
    $ (177 )   $ (24 )
Equipment acquired under capital lease
    $ 43     $ -  
Sale of certain assets of Interactive Events business in lieu of severance payment
    $ -     $ 100  
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
5

 

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
(1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
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 from advertising revenues sold for distribution via the television 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 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, 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 14).
 
Basis of Accounting Presentation
 
In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed 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 Entertainment, Inc., NTN Wireless Communications, Inc., NTN Software Solutions, Inc., NTN Canada, Inc., and NTN Buzztime, Ltd. Interim results are not indicative of fiscal year-end results. Unless otherwise indicated, references to “Buzztime”, “we”, “us” and “our” include the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
 
IWN, Inc., IWN, L.P. and Buzztime Entertainment, Inc. 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 Discontinued Operations—Note 14). The operating results for these businesses have been separately classified and reported as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be anticipated for the entire year ending December 31, 2008, or any other period.
 
Reclassifications
 
Certain reclassifications have been made to the consolidated balance sheet and statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, to conform to the 2008 presentation. The company reclassified the consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 to conform to the 2008 presentation.

 
6

 
 
(2) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (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.
 
As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had approximately $3,656,000 and $4,587,000, respectively, in Canadian dollars invested in a Canadian Variable Rate Guaranteed Investment Contract. The contract, when initiated, had a one year term, 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 September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 represents cash invested in an interest-bearing restricted account at a Canadian bank that collateralizes a letter of credit issued by that bank in favor of the landlord of the Company’s Canadian office.
 
(3) COMMON STOCK
 
On April 5, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a Stock Repurchase Plan, whereby management is authorized to repurchase up to a maximum of $3,500,000 of the Company’s 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 quarter ended September 30, 2008, the Company purchased approximately 49,400 shares for a total of $12,250.  In addition, the Company purchased approximately 454,000 shares for a total of $444,000 during 2007.  In total, the Company has purchased approximately 503,000 shares for a total of $456,000.
 
(4) EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
The Company computes basic and diluted earnings per share in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, Earnings per Share. Basic earnings per share excludes the dilutive effects of options, warrants and other convertible securities. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilutions of securities that could share in our earnings. Options, warrants, convertible preferred stock and deferred stock units representing approximately 7,055,000 and 9,363,000 as of September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, were excluded from the computations of diluted net loss per common share as their effect was anti-dilutive.
 
(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, using a test approach consistent to that used as of September 30, 2007, which is described in the 2007 10-K.  It was determined that there were no indications of impairment at September 30, 2008.
 
(6) INVESTMENTS AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE
 
Investment securities consist of equity securities, which are classified as available-for-sale securities. 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 a 2,518,000 share investment 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 1,481,000 eBet shares, leaving its existing holding of 2,518,000 shares, which represents less than 1.0% 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 $58,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and decreased $177,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.  These declines are recorded as other comprehensive income (loss) on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (see Note 11).  The Company will continue to monitor this investment for any indications that the additional decline in value is other-than-temporary ultimately resulting in additional impairments.
 
7

 
(7) FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
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:
 
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. The Company records the investment on the balance sheet at fair value with changes in fair value recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated balance sheet (see Note 11).
 
(8) 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 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 $87,000 and $104,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $267,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.  As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, approximately $405,000 and $388,000, respectively, of capitalized software costs was not subject to amortization as the development of various software projects was not complete.
 
The Company performed quarterly reviews of software development projects to determine if any impairment exists.  In March 2008, the Company decided to abandon various software development projects that were determined to no longer fit with the current strategy or for which it was 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 $292,000 was recognized which was included in selling, general, and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.  There were no such impairments for the three months ended September 30, 2008.  The Company incurred an $11,000 impairment during the three months ended September 30, 2007 and $140,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
 
(9) STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
The Company records stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS No. 123R and SAB No. 107, Share Based Payment. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of stock options granted is recognized as 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.
 
The Company uses the historical stock price volatility as an input to value its stock options under SFAS No. 123R. The expected term of stock options represents the period of time options are expected to be outstanding, and is based on observed historical exercise patterns of 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 the Company’s history and expectation of dividend payouts.
 
Stock Option Activity
 
The following table summarizes stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2008:
 
   
Shares
   
Weighted average
exercise price
 
Outstanding as of December 31, 2007 
    7,781,000     $ 1.30  
Granted
    667,000          
Exercised
             
Forfeited or expired
    (2,097,000 )        
                 
Outstanding as of September 30, 2008
    6,351,000     $ 1.19  
 
8

 
The weighted-average fair value per share of the options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007, respectively, as computed using the Black-Scholes pricing model were $0.18, $0.51, $0.20 and $0.56, respectively. The following weighted-average assumptions were used for grants issued for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, under the SFAS No. 123R requirements:
 
   
Three months ended
September 30,
   
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Weighted average risk-free interest rate
    2.94%       4.52%       3.21%       4.60%  
Weighted average volatility
    67.12%       55.66%       60.58%       56.39%  
Forfeiture rate
    17.63%       0.00%       17.63%       1.30%  
Expected life
 
4.61 years
   
5 years
   
4.49 years
   
5 years
 
Dividend yield
    0.00%       0.00%       0.00%       0.00%  
 
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. Stock-based compensation expense for employees was $41,000 and $260,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, and $174,000 and $507,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses based upon the departments to which substantially all of the associated employees report.
 
As of September 30, 2008, the Company had $717,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to outstanding unvested options, net of estimated forfeitures, to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.76 years.
 
Deferred Stock Unit Activity
 
The Company granted 137,000 deferred stock units with performance based accelerated vesting provisions during the quarter ended September 30, 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 performance based conditions change at any time during the estimated requisite period, an adjustment will be calculated and recorded in accordance with SFAS No. 123R.
 
(10) CONTINGENCIES
 
The Company is subject to litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of 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.

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 the Company 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 a proper purpose.  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. As of September 30, 2008, Trinad Capital Master Fund, Ltd. owned 12.2% of our common stock.
 
Sales and Use Tax
 
From time to time, state tax authorities will make inquiries as to whether or not a portion of our services require the collection of sales and use taxes from customers in those states. Many states have expanded their interpretation of their sales and use tax statutes to derive additional revenue. While in the past our sales and use tax assessments have not been significant to the Company’s operations, it is likely that such expenses will increase in the future.
 
9

 
The Company evaluates such inquiries on a case-by-case basis and has favorably resolved tax issues in the past without any material adverse consequences. During 2003, the state of Texas, our largest state in terms of Buzztime iTV Network sites, began a sales tax audit. It concluded that the Company’s services are subject to sales taxes on an amusement services basis. On January 12, 2004, the state assessed the Company for approximately $1,115,000 for the five year audit period ended December 31, 2002. The Company has objected to this approach since its services are provided to the consumers for free as a promotional service, which the Company believes falls outside the definition of amusement services as defined by the Texas Tax Code. In August 2006 the Company received a written response from the State Attorney’s office indicating that the State agreed that the Company’s services do not constitute taxable amusement services. However, the State adopted a new position whereby it concluded that the Company provides taxable cable television services.   Based on that new position, on December 4, 2007, the Company received a second assessment of approximately $715,000 based on an audit covering the period January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2007.  The Company continues to believe that it provides interactive game services for the purpose of providing a vehicle for its customers to promote their businesses. The Company also believes that these services do not constitute cable broadcast services.  However, due to the broad definition included within the Texas Tax Code to determine what types of activities fall into that definition, the Company has been engaged in ongoing settlement discussions with Texas.  The Company believes it has adequately reserved for its exposure and further believes a settlement will be reached by December 31, 2008.
 
The Company is currently undergoing sales tax audits in several States. As a result of those audits, the Company has received assessments in the aggregate of $601,000 from the states of Minnesota and Ohio. The Company has received assessments in the past from certain states, including Ohio, and successfully defended its position resulting in little or no tax liability. 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.
 
Based on the Company’s assessment of its total sales tax exposure, the Company has recorded a $1,036,000 sales tax reserve which is included in the Company’s sales tax payable account as of September 30, 2008. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had recorded an $883,000 sales tax reserve which was included in the Company’s sales tax payable account.
 
(11) ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income 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 rate. 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 income for the year ended December 31, 2007. The Company has determined that the cumulative adjustment is immaterial to all periods affected and does not have any effect on net loss, retained earnings nor earnings per share. As a result, the Company concluded that it is not necessary to amend prior filings; however, the Company has adjusted accumulated other comprehensive income for the quarters ended March 31 and June 30, 2007. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the components of accumulated other comprehensive income were as follows:
 
   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
 
Beginning balance
  $ 1,211,000     $ 1,188,000     $ 1,662,000     $ 201,000  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (177,000 )     501,000       (509,000 )     1,464,000  
Unrealized loss during period in investment available-for-sale 
    (58,000 )     (48,000 )     (177,000 )     (24,000 )
Ending balance
  $ 976,000     $ 1,641,000     $ 976,000     $ 1,641,000  
 
(12) RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
In September 2006 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. SFAS No. 157 provides a definition of fair value, establishes acceptable methods of measuring fair value, and expands disclosure for fair value measurements. The principles apply under accounting pronouncements which require measurement of fair value and do not require any new fair value measurements in accounting pronouncements where fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. On February 12, 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157-2 deferring the effective date of SFAS No. 157 to November 15, 2008 for non financial assets and liabilities. The adoption of SFAS No. 157-2, ultimately deferring the adoption of SFAS No. 157, has not had a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements (see Note 7).
 
 
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In February 2007 the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—including an amendment of SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, which applies to all entities with available-for-sale and trading securities. This Statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. This Statement is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of a fiscal year that begins on or before November 15, 2007, provided the entity also elects to apply the provisions of SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. The adoption of SFAS No.159 has not had a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In December 2007 the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, a revision of SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations, which applies to all acquiring entities. This Statement establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer is to recognize and measure in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, and how to recognize and measure the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase. The objective is to improve the relevance, representational faithfulness, and comparability of the information that a reporting entity provides in its financial reports about a business combination and its effects. This Statement applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS No. 141R on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
Also, in December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, which applies to all entities that prepare consolidated financial statements that have an outstanding noncontrolling interest in one or more subsidiaries or that deconsolidate a subsidiary. The objective is to improve the relevance, comparability, and transparency of the financial information that a reporting entity provides in its consolidated financial statements. The Statement requires entities that have noncontrolling interests to clearly identify in the financial statements their noncontrolling interest and the respective net income. Additionally, the provision requires that all changes in ownership of noncontrolling interests be treated as equity transactions and any subsidiaries that are deconsolidated are required to be measured at fair value and such valuation is to be used in determining the gain or loss on the deconsolidation. This Statement is applied prospectively and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company currently does not have any noncontrolling interests in its subsidiaries.
 
In April 2008 the FASB posted FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 142-3, Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets. This FSP amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FASB No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. The intent of this FSP is to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FASB No. 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under FASB No. 141R, Business Combinations, and other U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. This FSP is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is in the process of determining the effect, if any, the adoption of the FSP will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In March 2008 the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133, which requires companies to provide additional disclosures about its objectives and strategies for using derivative instruments, how the derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, and related interpretations, and how the derivative instruments and related hedged items affect the Company’s financial statements. SFAS No. 161 also requires companies to disclose information about credit risk-related contingent features in their hedged positions. SFAS No. 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008 and is required to be adopted by the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Although the Company will continue to evaluate the application of SFAS No. 161, management does not currently believe adoption will have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or operating results.
 
11

 
In May 2008 the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, (“SFAS No. 162”), which becomes effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) amendments to US Auditing Standards (“AU”) Section 411, The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. SFAS No. 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with US GAAP. This standard is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flow.
 
In June 2008 the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 08-3, Accounting by Lessees for Maintenance Deposits under Lease Agreements (“EITF No. 08-3”). EITF No. 08-3 provides that all nonrefundable maintenance deposits paid by a lessee, under an arrangement accounted for as a lease, should be accounted for as a deposit. When the underlying maintenance is performed, the deposit is expensed or capitalized in accordance with the lessee’s maintenance accounting policy. Once it is determined that an amount on deposit is not probable of being used to fund future maintenance expense, it is recognized as additional rent expense at that time. EITF No. 08-3 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting EITF No. 08-3 on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
In June 2008 the EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 08-4, Transition Guidance for Conforming Changes to EITF Issue No. 98-5, Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios (“EITF No. 08-4”). Subsequent to the issuance of EITF No. 98-5, certain portions of the guidance contained in EITF No. 98-5 were nullified by EITF Issue No. 00-27, Application of EITF Issue No. 98-5, ‘Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios’ (“EITF No. 00-27”). EITF No. 08-4 specifically addresses the conforming changes to EITF Issue No. 98-5 and provides transition guidance for the conforming changes. EITF No. 08-4 is effective for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting EITF No. 08-4 on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
(13) RESTRUCTURING
 
In January 2007 the Company restructured its Canadian operations to reduce costs and streamline operations. The restructuring involved a reduction of 10 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, the Company sold certain assets and granted a license for the related licensed materials of its Interactive Events business to a former employee. The communication date to the employees was January 11, 2007. The Company accounted for restructuring costs pursuant to 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 were expensed as incurred. The restructuring costs are comprised of the following for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007:
 
   
Three months
ended
   
Nine months
ended
 
   
September 30,
2007
   
September 30,
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  
 
 
12

 
 
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 has a reserve of approximately $45,000 and $50,000 as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 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.
 
During the quarter ended September 30, 2008, the Company ceased its operations in the United Kingdom which involved the termination of six employees, relocation of nearly all assets to the United States and disposal of certain other assets. The communication to the employees occurred in July 2008. In accordance with SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities, nearly all costs incurred as a result of this exit activity were reflected in the quarter ended September 30, 2008.  The Company recorded severance costs of approximately $150,000 and expects to incur an additional $15,000 to relocate the assets remaining in the UK, as of September 30, 2008, and cover other minimal expenses.  No additional expenses are expected in any future periods.
 
(14) 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 have been classified as held for sale and the respective assets were revalued as of December 31, 2006. Depreciation on these assets ceased effective December 31, 2006.
 
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 completed its wind down of the professional help desk and support and maintenance services during the third quarter of 2008. 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. The Company has accounted for its Hospitality division as a reportable segment and presented its operations as discontinued operations since the fourth quarter of 2006. The Company recognized approximately $65,000 in other income related to discontinuing the outsourcing of software development and a loss of approximately $62,000 for the sale of the Company’s intellectual property assets during the fourth quarter of 2007. The Company does not expect to incur any additional expenses related to the help desk and support and maintenance function in subsequent periods.
 
The operating results for the Hospitality division have been separately classified and reported as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations as follows:
 
   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
 
Operating revenues
  $ -     $ 910,000     $ 21,000     $ 4,414,000  
Operating expenses
    2,000       1,078,000       530,000       5,127,000  
Operating loss
  $ (2,000 )   $ (168,000 )   $ (509,000 )   $ (713,000 )
Gain on sale of assets
    -       -       -       396,000  
Other income (expense)
    177,000             177,000       (3,000 )
Income (loss) before income taxes
  $ 175,000     $ (168,000 )   $ (332,000 )   $ (320,000 )
Income tax expense
    -       -       -       29,000  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
  $ 175,000     $ (168,000 )   $ (332,000 )   $ (349,000 )
 
The Company accounted for the dissolution of the help desk and support and maintenance operation pursuant to the provisions 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 during the three months ended September 30, 2008 and incurred $60,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, and approximately $37,000 was accrued as of December 31, 2007.  There were no additional costs accrued as of September 30, 2008.
 
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The Company recorded income from discontinued operations, net of tax, of approximately $175,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2008.  That income was substantially due to the reversal of certain customer and warranty related reserves that management deemed no longer necessary, based largely on historical claim activity indicating that the probability of the Company realizing these reserves in future periods is remote.
 
A summary of the components of assets and liabilities of discontinued operations on NTN Buzztime’s consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is as follows:
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
 
Assets held for sale:
           
Current assets
  $ -     $ 192,000  
Broadcast equipment and fixed assets
    -       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 )
 
(15) GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
 
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. Revenues are attributed to the Buzztime iTV Network in these areas. Long-lived assets are based on location of domicile. In December 2003 the Company began operations in Canada by acquiring most of the operating assets, certain liabilities and the operations of NTN Interactive Network, Inc, its Canadian licensee, from its parent, Chell Group Corporation Inc. In March 2005 the Company launched the Buzztime iTV Network product in the United Kingdom under the brand Buzztime Network.  In the third quarter of 2008, the Company ceased its operations in the United Kingdom.
 
   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
 
Revenues by geographical area:
                       
United States
  $ 5,952,000     $ 6,455,000     $ 18,142,000     $ 19,745,000  
Canada
    820,000       908,000       2,652,000       2,789,000  
United Kingdom
    -       113,000       177,000       315,000  
Total revenue
  $ 6,772,000     $ 7,476,000     $ 20,971,000     $ 22,849,000  
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
 
Assets by geographical area:
           
United States
  $ 7,636,000     $ 11,075,000  
Canada
    6,649,000       8,936,000  
United Kingdom
    183,000       637,000  
Total assets
  $ 14,468,000     $ 20,648,000  
 
(16) SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER
 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company generated approximately 11% and 12% of revenue from a national chain, Buffalo Wild Wings together with its franchises. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company generated approximately 11% and 10% of revenue from that chain. As of September 30, 2008 and 2007, approximately $158,000 and $96,000, respectively, were included in accounts receivable from this customer.
 
14

 
Item 2.
 
CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements reflect future events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities, including statements related to our strategic plans, capital expenditures, industry trends and financial position of NTN Buzztime, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and our current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industries in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of management. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “could,” “targets,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “would,” variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements which refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in our businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances, are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that may be difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, under the section entitled “Risk Factors,” and in Item 1A of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and in other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason.
 
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 television, satellite television, online, retail games and toys, airlines and books. Additional revenue is generated from advertising revenues sold for distribution via the 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, the Company completed the wind down of its 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.

 
15

 
 
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 September 30, 2008, nearly all activities related to this closure had taken place and nearly all costs directly related to the closure of operations had been incurred.  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 maintained a unique and preemptive position in the hospitality industry for over 20 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 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 September 30, 2008, we had 3,438 United States Network subscribers and 307 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, Applebee’s 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 earns revenue from 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 incremental licensing revenue derived from cable television, satellite television, mobile phones, home electronic games, cards and books. The game content is designed for broad audiences and includes trivia quiz shows, real-time sports prediction games that are played along with live televised sporting events, multi-player card and billiard games as well as single-player card, arcade, puzzle and board games.
 
Our games have been available as a two-way cable TV game service since June 2002. Currently, our games (including trivia, Texas Hold’em, Buzztime Billiards and assorted single-player games) are licensed to eight cable systems including Comcast and Blue Ridge Communications and are 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. We also have license arrangements with Cadaco for retail electronic and card games and Square One Publishers for the Buzztime Trivia Book Series. 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 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 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.
 
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, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act and certain other filings as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

 
16

 
 
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.
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our condensed 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, the provision for income taxes including the valuation allowance, bad debts, 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 from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. 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 that the estimates, assumptions and judgments involved in the accounting policies described in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K have the greatest potential impact on our financial statements, so we consider these to be our critical accounting policies.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
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 condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
Results of Continuing Operations
 
Three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2007
 
Continuing operations, which consists of the Entertainment division, generated a net loss of $1,032,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008, compared to net loss of $1,617,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007.
 
Revenue
 
Revenue from continuing operations decreased $704,000 or 9%, to $6,772,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 from $7,476,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007, due to a reduction in our site count predominately driven by the closure of our UK operations, the Chapter 7 filing of the company owned 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 September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
United States
    3,438       3,488  
Canada
    307       316  
United Kingdom
    -       68  
Total
    3,745       3,872  
 
 
17

 

Direct Costs and Gross Margin
 
The following table compares the direct costs and gross margin from continuing operations for 2008 and 2007:
 
   
Three months ended
September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Revenue
  $ 6,772,000     $ 7,476,000  
Direct costs
    1,971,000       2,249,000  
Gross margin
  $ 4,801,000     $ 5,227,000  
Gross margin percentage
    71%       70%  
 
Gross margin as a percentage of revenue improved to 71% for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to 70% in the prior year period. The one point increase in the gross margin percentage is primarily the result of a reduction in depreciation expense as equipment became fully depreciated.
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $92,000 or 2%, to $5,724,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 from $5,816,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased due to several factors.  Marketing expenses decreased $478,000 due to an overall reduction in advertising, trade shows and outsourced marketing services.  These decreases were offset by several factors.  Severance expenses increased $231,000 due to severance arrangements entered into with senior management and UK employees in connection with the termination of their employment.  Legal expenses increased $62,000 related to corporate governance matters as well as an ongoing trademark infringement case we initiated.  Lease expenses increased $50,000 due to operating leases acquired in the current year.  Bad debt expense increased $37,000 related to customer cancellations and the Chapter 7 filing of the company owned Bennigan’s restaurant chain. 
 
Interest Income and Expense
 
Interest income decreased $80,000, to $27,000 in 2008 from $107,000 in the prior year. The Company’s average cash balance invested in interest bearing securities decreased which resulted in less interest income.  Interest expense in 2008 remained consistent with the prior year period.
 
Income Taxes
 
We expect to report a U.S. tax loss for the year ending 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 $68,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008. This was a $33,000 increase compared to the $35,000 provision for income taxes recorded for the three months ended September 30, 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.
 
Results of Discontinued Operations
 
Three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2007
 
Discontinued operations generated net income of $175,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to a net loss of $168,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007. The operating results of the discontinued operations are as follows for 2008 and 2007:
 
   
Three months ended
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
 
Operating revenues
  $ -     $ 910,000  
Operating expenses
    2,000       1,078,000  
Operating loss
  $ (2,000 )   $ (168,000 )
Other
    177,000       -  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
  $ 175,000     $ (168,000 )
 
 
18

 
 
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 have accounted for our Hospitality division as a reportable segment but we have presented its operations as discontinued operations since the fourth quarter of 2006. We do not anticipate any further costs related to the dissolution of the professional help desk and support and maintenance services.
 
The Company recorded income from discontinued operations, net of tax, of approximately $175,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2008.  That income was substantially due to the reversal of certain customer and warranty related reserves that management deemed no longer necessary, based largely on historical claim activity indicating that the probability of the Company realizing these reserves in future periods is remote.
 
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.
 
The following table reconciles our consolidated net loss per GAAP to EBITDA:
 
   
Three months ended
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
 
Net loss per GAAP
  $ (857,000 )   $ (1,785,000 )
Interest income, net
    (23,000 )     (102,000 )
Depreciation and amortization
    752,000       1,008,000  
Income taxes
    68,000       35,000  
EBITDA
  $ (60,000 )   $ (844,000 )
 
Our operations generated EBITDA levels as presented below:
 
   
Three months ended September 30, 2008
 
   
Entertainment
   
Discontinued
operations
   
Total
 
Net loss (income) per GAAP
  $ (1,032,000 )   $ 175,000     $ (857,000 )
Interest income, net
    (23,000 )           (23,000 )
Depreciation and amortization
    752,000             752,000  
Income taxes
    68,000             68,000  
EBITDA
  $ (235,000 )   $ 175,000     $ (60,000 )
 
   
Three months ended September 30, 2007
 
   
Entertainment
   
Discontinued
operations
   
Total
 
Net loss per GAAP
  $ (1,617,000 )   $ (168,000 )   $ (1,785,000 )
Interest income, net
    (102,000 )           (102,000 )
Depreciation and amortization
    1,008,000             1,008,000  
Income taxes
    35,000             35,000  
EBITDA
  $ (676,000 )   $ (168,000 )   $ (844,000 )
 
 
19

 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2008 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2007
 
Continuing operations, which consists of the Entertainment division, generated a net loss of $5,444,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 compared to net loss of $2,757,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
 
Revenue
 
Revenue from continuing operations decreased $1,878,000 or 8%, to $20,971,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 from $22,849,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, due to a reduction in our site count predominately driven by the closure of our UK operations, the Chapter 7 filing of the company owned Bennigan’s restaurant chain and changes in our pricing strategy. Comparative site count information for the Buzztime iTV Network is as follows:
 
   
Network subscribers
As of September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
United States
    3,438       3,488  
Canada
    307       316  
United Kingdom
    -       68  
Total
    3,745       3,872  
 
Direct Costs and Gross Margin
 
The following table compares the direct costs and gross margin from continuing operations for 2008 and 2007:
 
   
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Revenue
  $ 20,971,000     $ 22,849,000  
Direct costs
    6,095,000       6,675,000  
Gross margin
  $ 14,876,000     $ 16,174,000  
Gross margin percentage
    71%       71%  
 
Gross margin as a percentage remained stable at 71% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $2,755,000 or 16%, to $19,941,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 from $17,186,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased due to several factors.  Consulting expenses increased $1,010,000 as the company utilized the services of external consultants on a number of initiatives.  Severance expense increased $996,000 as a result of the elimination of 22 positions, closing of the UK office and the departure of the former CEO.  Salary expense increased $368,000 due to changes in the employee mix and related compensation levels.  Legal expenses increased $224,000 related to corporate governance matters as well as an ongoing trademark infringement case we initiated.  Additionally, bad debt expense increased $178,000 related to customer cancellations and bankruptcies.  Software disposal expenses increased $152,000 due to impairments on certain projects that were deemed to no longer fit with our current strategy.
 
  The above increases were offset by a $275,000 decrease in marketing expenses due to an overall reduction in advertising, trade shows, and outsourced marketing services.
 
Restructuring Costs
 
We recorded restructuring charges totaling $478,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 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 leased space. 

 
20

 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
Depreciation and amortization not related to direct operating costs decreased $21,000 or 5%, to 400,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 from $421,000 in 2007 due to various fixed assets becoming fully depreciated, thereby reducing our depreciation in 2008.
 
Interest Income and Expense
 
Interest income decreased $124,000, to $129,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 from $253,000 in the prior year due to a decrease in our average cash balance invested.  Interest expense decreased $22,000 to $4,000 in 2008 from $26,000 in 2007 due to a decrease in unamortized capitalized leases.
 
Income Taxes
 
We expect to report a U.S. tax loss for the year ending 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 $173,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. This was a $15,000 decrease compared to the $188,000 provision for income taxes recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 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.
 
Results of Discontinued Operations
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2008 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2007
 
Discontinued operations generated a net loss of $332,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 compared to a net loss of $349,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The operating results of the discontinued operations are as follows for 2008 and 2007:
 
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
 
Operating revenues
  $ 21,000     $ 4,414,000  
Operating expenses
    530,000       5,127,000  
Operating loss
  $ (509,000 )   $ (713,000 )
Gain on sale of assets
          396,000  
Income tax expense
          (29,000 )
Other
    177,000       (3,000 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
  $ (332,000 )   $ (349,000 )
 
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 Company completed the wind down of its professional help desk and support and maintenance services during the third quarter of 2008.  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 have accounted for our Hospitality division as a reportable segment but we have presented its operations as discontinued operations since the fourth quarter of 2006. We do not anticipate any further costs related to the dissolution of the professional help desk and support and maintenance services.
 
Moving, relocation and other associated costs related to the dissolution are expensed as incurred. Severance expense for involuntary employee terminations was approximately $60,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.
 
The Company recorded a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of approximately $332,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2008.  That loss was substantially due to the wind down activities associated with the discontinuation of those operations.

 
21

 
 
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.
 
The following table reconciles our consolidated net loss per GAAP to EBITDA:
 
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
September 30,
2007
 
Net loss per GAAP
  $ (5,776,000 )   $ (3,106,000 )
Interest income, net
    (125,000 )     (227,000 )
Depreciation and amortization
    2,404,000       2,998,000  
Income taxes
    173,000       217,000  
EBITDA
  $ (3,324,000 )   $ (118,000 )
 
Our operations generated EBITDA levels as presented below:
 
   
Nine months ended September 30, 2008
 
   
Entertainment
   
Discontinued
operations
   
Total
 
Net loss per GAAP
  $ (5,444,000 )   $ (332,000 )   $ (5,776,000 )
Interest income, net
    (125,000 )           (125,000 )
Depreciation and amortization
    2,404,000             2,404,000  
Income taxes
    173,000             173,000  
EBITDA
  $ (2,992,000 )   $ (332,000 )   $ (3,324,000 )
 
   
Nine months ended September 30, 2007
 
   
Entertainment
   
Discontinued
operations
   
Total
 
Net loss per GAAP
  $ (2,757,000 )   $ (349,000 )   $ (3,106,000 )
Interest income, net
    (227,000 )           (227,000 )
Depreciation and amortization
    2,998,000             2,998,000  
Income taxes
    188,000       29,000       217,000  
EBITDA
  $ 202,000     $ (320,000 )   $ (118,000 )
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
As of September 30, 2008, we had cash and cash equivalents of $5,257,000 and working capital (current assets in excess of current liabilities) of $1,800,000, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $10,273,000 and working capital of $7,698,000 as of December 31, 2007. Net cash used in operating activities was $2,231,000 and $344,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase in cash used in operating activities is principally due to the net loss generated in the first nine months of 2008.
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, net cash used in investing activities was $2,372,000 compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $1,790,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The cash provided by investing activities in 2007 was primarily due to the proceeds received from the sale of the NTN Wireless.  In addition, cash used in investing activities for capital expenditures increased $1,593,000 to $2,408,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 from $815,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
 
Net cash used in financing activities was $23,000 and $184,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The cash used in financing activities decreased in 2008, largely due to a decrease in the number of treasury shares purchased, as well as a decrease in payments against capital leases, offset by the lack proceeds from the exercise of options and warrants in 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.
 
22

 
We believe existing cash and equivalents, together with funds generated from operations, will be sufficient to meet our operating cash requirements for the next 12 months. We have no debt obligations other than capital leases.
 
We currently anticipate investing approximately $300,000 to $400,000 in the fourth quarter of 2008 for capital equipment necessary to support future growth. Our actual future capital requirement will depend on a number of factors, including our success in increasing sales, competition and technological developments as well as subscriber conversions from satellite to broadband.
 
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements— In September 2006 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. SFAS No. 157 provides a definition of fair value, establishes acceptable methods of measuring fair value, and expands disclosure for fair value measurements. The principles apply under accounting pronouncements which require measurement of fair value and do not require any new fair value measurements in accounting pronouncements where fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. On February 12, 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157-2 deferring the effective date of SFAS No. 157 to November 15, 2008 for non financial assets and liabilities. The adoption of SFAS No. 157-2, ultimately deferring the adoption of SFAS No. 157, has not had a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In February 2007 the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—including an amendment of SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, which applies to all entities with available-for-sale and trading securities. This Statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. This Statement is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of a fiscal year that begins on or before November 15, 2007, provided the entity also elects to apply the provisions of SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. The adoption of SFAS No.159 has not had a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In December 2007 the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, a revision of SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations, which applies to all acquiring entities. This Statement establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer is to recognize and measure in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, and how to recognize and measure the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase. The objective is to improve the relevance, representational faithfulness, and comparability of the information that a reporting entity provides in its financial reports about a business combination and its effects. This Statement applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS No. 141R on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
Also, in December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, which applies to all entities that prepare consolidated financial statements that have an outstanding noncontrolling interest in one or more subsidiaries or that deconsolidate a subsidiary. The objective is to improve the relevance, comparability, and transparency of the financial information that a reporting entity provides in its consolidated financial statements. The Statement requires entities that have noncontrolling interests to clearly identify in the financial statements their noncontrolling interest and the respective net income. Additionally, the provision requires that all changes in ownership of noncontrolling interests be treated as equity transactions and any subsidiaries that are deconsolidated are required to be measured at fair value and such valuation is to be used in determining the gain or loss on the deconsolidation. This Statement is applied prospectively and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. We currently do not have any noncontrolling interests in our subsidiaries.
 
In April 2008 the FASB posted FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 142-3, Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets. This FSP amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FASB No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. The intent of this FSP is to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FASB No. 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under FASB No. 141R, Business Combinations, and other U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. This FSP is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are in the process of determining the effect, if any, the adoption of the FSP will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
23

 
In March 2008 the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133, which requires companies to provide additional disclosures about its objectives and strategies for using derivative instruments, how the derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, and related interpretations, and how the derivative instruments and related hedged items affect the Company’s financial statements. SFAS No. 161 also requires companies to disclose information about credit risk-related contingent features in their hedged positions. SFAS No. 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008 and is required to be adopted by the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Although we will continue to evaluate the application of SFAS No. 161, management does not currently believe adoption will have a material impact on our financial condition or operating results.
 
In May 2008 the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, (“SFAS No. 162”), which becomes effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) amendments to US Auditing Standards (“AU”) Section 411, The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. SFAS No. 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with US GAAP. This standard is not expected to have an impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flow.
 
In June 2008, the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 08-3, Accounting by Lessees for Maintenance Deposits under Lease Agreements (“EITF No. 08-3”). EITF No. 08-3 provides that all nonrefundable maintenance deposits paid by a lessee, under an arrangement accounted for as a lease, should be accounted for as a deposit. When the underlying maintenance is performed, the deposit is expensed or capitalized in accordance with the lessee’s maintenance accounting policy. Once it is determined that an amount on deposit is not probable of being used to fund future maintenance expense, it is recognized as additional rent expense at that time. EITF No. 08-3 is effective for us on January 1, 2009. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting EITF No. 08-3 on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
In June 2008 the EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 08-4, Transition Guidance for Conforming Changes to EITF Issue No. 98-5, Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios (“EITF No. 08-4”). Subsequent to the issuance of EITF No. 98-5, certain portions of the guidance contained in EITF No. 98-5 were nullified by EITF Issue No. 00-27, Application of EITF Issue No. 98-5, ‘Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios’ (“EITF No. 00-27”). EITF No. 08-4 is effective for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting EITF No. 08-4 on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
Item 3.
 
We are exposed to risks related to currency exchange rates, stock market fluctuations, and interest rates. As of September 30, 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 $177,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and is recorded as other comprehensive income on our consolidated balance sheet.
 
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 $75,000 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.
 
24

 
Item 4.
 
EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
As of the end of the period covered by this report, our management evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as to whether such disclosure controls and procedures were effective in providing reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and ensuring that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on our evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
During the period convered by this report, we have had no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.
 
As of the end of the period covered by this report, there were no known material legal proceedings of the kind which would be required to be reported. However, we are subject to litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of our business.
 
Item 1A.
 
Risk Factors That May Affect Future Results
 
An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described under Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 together with all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this report before you decide to invest in our common stock. Other than the additional risks addressed below, the risks described in our annual report have not materially changed. If any of the risks described in our annual report or in this report actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations and our future growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected. Under these circumstances, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
 
We have incurred litigation and may incur additional litigation or other challenges related to company control.
 
Trinad Capital Master Fund, Ltd., which beneficially owned 12.2% of our common stock as of September 30, 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.
 
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 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.
 
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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, 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.
 
Our management transition creates uncertainties.
 
Dario Santana, our former CEO and President, separated from the Company in May 2008. Currently Michael Fleming is serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer. 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.

 
Item 2.
 
On April 5, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a Stock Repurchase Plan, whereby management is authorized to repurchase up to a maximum of $3,500,000 of the Company’s 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 quarter ended September 30, 2008, the Company purchased approximately 49,400 shares for a total of $12,250.  In addition, the Company purchased approximately 454,000 shares for a total of $444,000 during 2007.  In total, the Company has purchased approximately 503,000 shares for a total of $456,000.
 
Following is a summary of stock repurchases made during the three month period ended September 30, 2008:
 
Period
  
Total Number of
 Shares Purchased
  
Average
 Price Paid
 Per Share
  
Total Number of
 Shares Purchased as
 Part of Publicly
 Announced Plans
  
Maximum Dollar Value
 of Shares that May Yet Be
 Purchased under the Plan
July 1, 2008 – July 31, 2008
  
  
 
  
  
$
3,056,000
August 1, 2008 – August 31, 2008
  
                   —
  
$
         —
  
                       —
  
$
3,056,000
September 1, 2008 – September 30, 2008
  
49,400
  
$
0.25
  
49,400
  
$
3,043,750
Total
  
49,400
  
$
0.25
  
49,400
  
$
3,043,750
 
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
 
None
 
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
 
None
 
Item 5.
Other Information.
 
None
 
Item 6.
Exhibits.
 
Exhibit Index
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description
     
31.1
 
Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
     
31.2
 
Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
     
32.1
 
Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) / 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
32.2
 
Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to 13a-14(b) / 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
NTN BUZZTIME, INC.
     
Date: November 7, 2008
By:
/s/ Kendra Berger
   
Kendra Berger
   
Chief Financial Officer
   
(on behalf of the Registrant, and as its Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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