Increasing NTN Play (Part II)

In Part I, we explored some of the things that an NTN location, particularly one that has just gotten in the system, can do to increase its player base (and therefore revenue). The following errors must be avoided:

THINGS NOT TO DO

1. Treat NTN as an activity farther down on the ladder than viewing sports.

There's nothing that will drive away a team faster than a television being turned off in the middle of Spotlight because a non-playing customer wants to see the baseball game and won't go across the room to catch it on another screen. While reasonable accommodations can be made depending on the customer base, NTN players should be entitled to have one television tuned to the network.

2. Provide poor or insensitive service.

Fortunately for the locations, NTN players like to eat and drink while punching their keyboards. Sites that provide efficient service (i.e. the drinks that don't have to be hunted down) get high marks. However, servers must be sensitive to game concerns. Players get very upset with servers who block the view by standing in front of NTN screens or attempt to settle bills or engaged in conversation in the middle of a game.

3. Fail to listen to suggestions by experienced players.

Many folks have been playing NTN since its inception. Others have logged in five or more years. Even though of us who have no technical wizardry have learned a lot of things about how the system operates. Also, players with cellphones often find out from other sites whether scores are "going out" or whether other problems exist. Many of these problems can be fixed through rebooting, calls to the NTN service department, etc. Yet some places have viewed this player input as trouble-making.

4. Make players pay for boxes.

A few years ago, locations were able to get away with this. Now virtually no one does, making it very difficult for a newbie location to impose a fee unless it is the only site within hundreds of miles. Even if geography does make it possible, it still doesn't make economic sense. If the cost is high, fewer people will participate. Even a small cost will deter those from participating as often as they might otherwise. When NTN successfully draws and retains customers, the increased sales revenue should more than offset any "rental fees" on the boxes without driving customers who refuse to pay.

. 5. Renege on prizes and incentives.

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