NTN Buzztime Inc. Launches Text2TV Service Bringing a New Level of Interactivity to Buzztime Sites

CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. (AMEX: NTN) , a leading developer and distributor of Play Along TV(R) entertainment and technology, today announced the launch of the new Buzztime Text2TV(SM) mobile phone text messaging service. This new interactive service will allow mobile phone users in Buzztime locations to send text messages to Buzztime TV screens in thousands of restaurants and sports bars across the county.

Text2TV will be introduced in the U.S. during the 22nd Annual Buzztime Movie Awards game, in conjunction with the Academy Awards(R) telecast, on Sun., Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. PST. Players will have the opportunity to predict the winners of each award, answer trivia questions about the nominees, and learn related facts as they enjoy the show. And new this year, participants will be able to share their opinions with players across the country via Text2TV, thus becoming more than passive spectators by engaging them through social networking while watching the awards show.

"Introducing Text2TV at this year's Buzztime Movie Awards provides a perfect venue to maximize the exposure and highlight the capabilities of this new product while bringing the growing social network of our players.buzztime.com site to the bars," said NTN Buzztime CEO Dario Santana. "We are giving our players another platform to express themselves while inspiring the same healthy competition and interactivity that has made the Buzztime Network so popular among our millions of Buzztime players and viewers."

The Text2TV service adds a new layer of interactivity to the Buzztime Network experience while broadening the dynamic audience from active player members engaged in the various games, to all bar patrons with mobile phones and text messaging capabilities.

Players send a text message to 97777 from their mobile phones. The Text2TV service costs $.99 per text message plus standard fees charged by mobile carriers. Messages are reviewed to prevent offensive language from appearing on the TVs. The messages appear on the ticker at the bottom of the Buzztime TV screens at approximately 2,500 two-channel sites across the country enabled with the Text2TV service.

Players can create an identity and register a personal nickname up to eight characters long. The nickname will be registered and associated with the cell phone for approximately six months at the cost of $.99 (plus standard text messaging fees). Players may register for free with a guest nickname automatically assigned by the service (i.e. guest345k).

"Text2TV is the first of several services we plan to launch this year in response to the growing demand by our player members to interact socially across our international Buzztime Network," added Santana. "We believe Text2TV will be well received and will greatly enhance the player experience during our already popular Buzztime Movie Awards game."

Opt-in instructions, FAQs and full terms and conditions can be found on the Buzztime Player Web site at URL http://players.buzztime.com/text2tv.

The following carriers currently support Buzztime Text2TV: Verizon, Dobson, Sprint, Nextel, Boost, Alltel, Cingular-the new AT&T, and T-Mobile.

NTN Buzztime has partnered with MindMatics LLC, a global leader in the development and implementation of mobile services, to provide the technology necessary to receive, manage and send the Text2TV messages to the Buzztime Network. MindMatics has relationships with the majority of mobile carriers and numerous major entertainment brands through the world. For more information on MindMatics, go to http://www.mindmatics.com/.

About NTN Buzztime, Inc.

Based in Carlsbad, CA, NTN Buzztime, Inc. has been a leader in interactive television entertainment for more than 20 years and distributes its Play Along TV(R) games and technology through numerous platforms including its own Buzztime(R) iTV Network, which is available on TVs in approximately 4,000 restaurants, sports bars and pubs throughout North America and the United Kingdom, as well as cable TV, satellite TV, mobile phones, electronic games and books. For more information, please visit http://www.buzztime.com/.

About MindMatics LLC

MindMatics is a global leader in the development and implementation of mobile services and iTV-applications. As a full-service mobile solutions partner, MindMatics helps brands, TV stations, major studios and content providers successfully interact with the "Generation M" through various technologies in order to generate revenues, billings and realize new marketing potential. Clients include ABC, TBS, Disney, MTV, NBC Universal, Pro7, SonyPictures, New Line Cinema and Endemol. MindMatics currently employs a staff of 130 and has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Munich, Cologne, Vienna and London.

NTN Buzztime cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, which if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause NTN Buzztime's results to differ materially from historical results or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements may include, among others, plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements regarding proposed new products or developments, including the launch of new products or services; any statements regarding future economic conditions or financial or operating performance; statements of belief, and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual growth and results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: the rapidly changing and competitive nature of the interactive entertainment and game industry, as well as the wireless paging and software applications industries, customer acceptance and adoption of the company's products and technology, unfavorable legislative and regulatory changes in the laws and regulations that govern games of skill and chance, risks related to ownership and enforcement of intellectual property, changes in domestic and international market and political conditions, and other risks and uncertainties more fully described in NTN Buzztime's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at http://www.sec.gov/. Except as required by applicable law, NTN Buzztime, Inc. does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it was made, even if experience or future changes show that the indicated results or events will not be realized.

Buzztime, Play Along TV and Text2TV are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTN Buzztime, Inc.

  MEDIA CONTACT:
  Roxana Keikavousi
  Southard Communications
  212-777-2220, ext. 38
  roxana@southardinc.com

  INVESTOR CONTACT:
  Peter Seltzberg
  Hayden Communications, Inc.
  646-415-8972
  peter@haydenir.com

  COMPANY CONTACT:
  Kendra Berger
  Chief Financial Officer
  NTN Buzztime, Inc.
  760-438-7400
  kendra.berger@ntn.com