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Monday, February 13, 2006

Buzztime Launches Nation's First Multiplayer Texas Hold'em and Billiards Games to Cable iTV Subscribers

Buzztime Launches Nation's First Multiplayer Texas Hold'em and Billiards Games to Cable iTV Subscribers

Games are Debuted with Blue Ridge Communications, Buzztime's 10th Cable System Deployment to Date, Increasing Buzztime's Cable iTV Reach to over 300,000 Digital Cable TV Subscribers.

New iTV Games are First in U.S. to Feature Buzztime's Live, Head-to-Head Game Room Technology for Digital Cable TV Subscribers.

CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. (AMEX:NTN) announced today that the Buzztime Network cable iTV game service, including the new multi-player Buzztime Texas Hold'em and Billiards games, is now available and being played by Blue Ridge Communications, Inc.'s digital cable subscribers in western Pennsylvania. Blue Ridge's more than 30,000 digital cable TV subscribers are the first to play along with Buzztime's new multi-player Texas Hold'em and Billiards games which enable the subscribers to compete in head-to-head competitions on their television using only their cable TV remote control.

"We are pleased to be the first cable operator in the U.S. to offer head- to-head iTV games -- especially those as popular as Texas Hold'em and Billiards," said Mark Masenheimer, general manager of Blue Ridge Communications. "Buzztime's new games are exciting to play, and give us a unique advantage of two-way game play. We are delighted to break this new ground with Buzztime who has built a reputation as the innovator in iTV entertainment and promotion."

In 2005, approximately 90 million hands of multi-player Buzztime Texas Hold'em were played on the company's out-of-home Buzztime Network in subscribing restaurants and sports bars in North America, drawing a huge following of poker players.

"The launch of multiplayer Texas Hold'em to digital cable TV is an exciting addition to the game's current availability in restaurants and sports bars," said Phil Gordon, World Poker Tour Champion, host of Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown and world-renown poker analyst and commentator. "This debut marks an exciting time for poker fans nationwide, who can now participate in the first multi-site poker tournament of its kind from their couch. I'm pleased to be associated with NTN Buzztime, both as a spokesperson and co- developer of the game."

"Multi-player Texas Hold'em and Billiards are two of the most highly- played games on the Internet today. After just the first few days of deployment, thousands of Blue Ridge cable subscribers are already playing these games while waiting for their favorite TV shows, without having to leave their sofa and log on to their PC," said Tyrone Lam, president of Buzztime Entertainment, a subsidiary of NTN Buzztime, Inc. "With this first-time introduction to U.S. cable television, Buzztime has launched a triple-play in iTV gaming: Massively multiplayer trivia game shows, addictive single-player games and now head-to-head game rooms with virtual game tables -- all combined with Buzztime's reputation for compelling player promotions. Blue Ridge has shown their innovation in the cable industry by being the first to offer Texas Hold'em and Billiards. While other iTV game companies are talking about multiplayer iTV games, Blue Ridge subscribers are playing ours today."

Buzztime's Texas Hold'em seats up to ten cable subscribers at a virtual poker table or two Billiards players at each pool table, both having an unlimited number of simultaneous game-room competitions. The Buzztime Network cable iTV game service available through Blue Ridge also includes the popular Buzztime Trivia Channel and Buzztime's Single Player Games -- both with Buzztime Player Leader Boards.

The Buzztime Trivia Channel presents six continuous categories of multiplayer game show content where Blue Ridge digital subscribers compete in real-time Buzztime Trivia competitions against other digital cable subscribers in certain Comcast, Time-Warner and Susquehanna systems. The Buzztime Single Player game offering rotates six popular games at time, such as Solitaire, Checkers, Jungle Bop(TM) and Hexagone(TM), where players can post their high scores for other players to beat.

Buzztime Texas Hold'em was created for advanced and beginner poker players alike, and follows the same rules as the popular No-Limit Texas Hold'em. Players are seated at a virtual table, which appears -- along with their pocket cards, the community cards, and point totals -- on their television screen at all times. Players use their digital cable remote control to play along. Additionally, each player's turn is timed to maintain the game's pace. Players receive two pocket cards and use five community cards to form the best five-card poker hand. Blinds are set at 10 points and 20 points. Buzztime Texas Hold'em gives each new player the virtual amount of 2000 points when they join a table. Individual participation continues until a player's points run out. The player may then enter into another table, again receiving a 2000 point credit, and start game play anew. Credits do not transfer from table to table or game to game. Buzztime Texas Hold'em games on digital cable have no set time limit; game play continues as long as players have credits and remain at the table. Continuing Buzztime's tradition of player recognition onscreen, point leaders and round winners are displayed after every hand. No prizing or awards are offered for this product to comply with individual state gaming regulations.

Buzztime Billiards follows standard 9-Ball pool rules and enables two players in two different cable homes to compete in real-time using a virtual billiards table. The players see a top-down view of a pool table and players control the direction and force of their on-screen cue stick via the directional keypad on their standard remote control. Buzztime's technology allows the maximum flexibility for aiming the pool cue and creating a realistic and mathematically accurate simulation of ball collisions. Buzztime Billiards includes realistic sounds affects to enhance game play on the TV.

About Blue Ridge Communications

Blue Ridge Communications is the nation's 20th largest cable TV provider and a wholly owned subsidiary of Pencor Services, Inc. Pencor is a leader in the development and introduction of media and communications technology throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. Pencor companies provide new media content and advertising services via cable TV, newspapers and the Internet. For additional information on Blue Ridge Communications go to www.brctv.com.

About NTN Buzztime, Inc.

Based in Carlsbad, CA, NTN Buzztime, Inc. has been a leader in interactive television entertainment technology and content for over 20 years. The company develops and distributes its Play Along TV(R) games through numerous platforms including cable TV, satellite TV, mobile phones, electronic games as well as its own NTN Buzztime Network which is available on TVs in over 4,000 restaurants and sports bars throughout North America. NTN Buzztime is also the parent corporation of NTN Wireless Communications, Inc., and NTN Software Solutions, Inc. that develop and market technology solutions to the hospitality industry. For more information, please see www.buzztime.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements which reflect management's current views of future events and operations including but not limited to trends in subscriber preference and engagement and results of marketing strategies. These statements are all based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include the risk of changing economic conditions, failure of product demand or market acceptance of both existing and new products and services and the impact of competitive products and pricing. Other important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements are discussed in the "Risk Factors" section and other sections of NTN's Form 10- K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. These statements speak only as of the date hereof, and NTN does not undertake to publicly update or revise any of its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes show that the indicated results or events will not be realized.

For further information, please contact:

Andy Wrobel
Chief Financial Officer
NTN Buzztime, Inc.
(888) 752-9686
Andy.Wrobel@ntnbuzztime.com

Source: NTN Buzztime, Inc.

CONTACT: Andy Wrobel, Chief Financial Officer of NTN Buzztime, Inc., +1-
888-752-9686, Andy.Wrobel@ntnbuzztime.com

Web site: http://www.buzztime.com/
http://www.brctv.com/

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