Hello -- old timer here who logged on today to report this very same issue.
I live in both Maine and Massachusetts, and my Maine location (a franchise BWW) dropped Buzztime a couple of weeks ago. I received conflicting information at first (one server said it was all the franchise store, one said it was just a test). The MAssachusetts site (BWW Danvers) still has Buzztime.
When I went to the Bangor BWW to play a few weeks ago, the Buzztime screen had something else on it and there were lovely new tablets on the bar. I was excited (the new tablets are really nice!), and asked for the Buzztime feed. I was told that they were part of the "experiment" and that the game was unavailable. I logged onto the mobile app and saw that I was getting the signals to answer questions, so I asked if the video feed was still available -- and it was. They put it on the usual screen and I played.
I filled out two surveys (BWW's own as well as iDine) and received a prompt reply from the franchisee. Here is her reply:
Quote:
Dear Dinner: I just wanted to reach out to you to let you know that we have not removed Buzztime completely or permanently. We are one of nearly 30 location nationwide that is testing new and different tablet options. During this test, we are collecting feedback from our guests about the new tablets and about missing Buzztime. We actually do still have the Buzztime tablets available to our guests upon request only. This is done so as to encourage our guests to interact with new tablets, but still be able to accommodate valued guests like you who wish to play Buzztime. I urge you to reconsider your loyalty to my restaurant as we can still offer you the Buzztime you love. I will pass your feedback along regarding how important Buzztime is to you and we will keep collecting the data. Once the test is over in September, Buzztime will return like normal until a final decision is made later this year. Please feel free to reach out to me if there is anything else I can do for you. Thanks again for your feedback and we do hope to see you again soon!
Of course, the scientist in me immediately sees the experimental-design problem here... if they see no revenue drop during their experiment because all we trivia fanatics are asking to play, then they might conclude that Buzztime isn't worth it and they will drop it.
I plan to return tonight or tomorrow to see who, if anyone, is playing I may or may not play there -- there is another Bangor location that is less convenient to me (I live north of Bangor, and the BWW is at the northern edge of town, whereas the other one Seadog Brew Pub, is at the south side of downtown. Besides, even though Seadog is a microbrewer of long standing, I don't think their brews are all that good, so I actually prefer the much more diverse selection of craft brews at BWW, which some of my fellow craft-brew aficionados fail to understand.)
Anyway, to return to matters Buzztime - the franchisee's response doesn't clarify whether or not this is a chain-wide decision. One server told me that it was just to see if some of the franchses want to leave the Buzztime universe, which Corporate did not allow. Another told me that BWW Corporate was going to make a decision, too. The annual contract with Buzztime is renewed in September, or so I was told, so we all should know more then.
Nobody at the Danvers BWW had heard a thing about this.
There is nothing on the Googles that sheds any light, either. I checked Buzztime stock prices and there seems to be no worries, so the investor community seems unaware. But if BWW leaves the Buzztime universe, I am sure NTN stock prices will take a hit.
That's my $0.04.