Exhibit 4.5
                                                            
                                GENERAL RELEASE
                                ---------------


     1.  Parties.  The parties to this General Release ("Release") are NTN
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Communications, Inc. ("Company") and Michael J. Downs, an individual ("M.
Downs").

     2.  Background and Consideration.  Company and M. Downs entered into a
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Resignation and General Release Agreement (the "Agreement") pursuant to which
Company agreed, inter alia, to execute and deliver this Release to M. Downs.
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     In consideration of the promises made herein and for other good and
valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties
hereby agree as set forth below.

     3.  General Release.  Except as to Company's rights under the Agreement,
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Company  for itself, its employees, agents, attorneys, joint venturers,
successors and assigns, hereby discharges and releases M. Downs and his
employees, agents, joint venturers, successors and assigns from any and all
claims, damages, actions, judgments, obligations, attorneys' fees, indemnities,
subrogation, duties, demands, controversies and liabilities of every nature, at
law or in equity, known or unknown, matured or unmatured, foreseeable or
unforeseeable which Company now has, ever had, or may have, against M. Downs by
reason of any matter whatsoever occurring or existing up to the date of this
Release, and except insofar as may be necessary for Company to enforce its
rights pursuant to the Agreement.  Company hereby covenants with M. Downs that
it will forever refrain from instituting, pursuing, or in any way aiding any
claim or demand arising out of, in any way related to, or hereafter to arise out
of, any matters hereinbefore referred to and that this Release may be pleaded as
a full and complete defense to any claim, demand, action or other proceeding
which may be brought by, or on behalf of, Company against M. Downs.

     4.  Unknown Claims.  It is understood and agreed that this Release extends
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to all claims of every nature and kind whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected
or unsuspected, and all rights under Section 1542 of the California Civil Code
are hereby expressly waived.

     Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, referred to above, reads as
follows:

         "A general release does not extend to claims which 
         the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his 
         favor at the time of executing the release, which if 
         known by him must have materially affected his
         settlement with the debtor."

     5.  Enforcement of Release.  If any action at law or in equity, including
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an action for declaratory or injunctive relief, is brought to enforce or
interpret the provisions of this Release, the prevailing party shall be entitled
to costs in bringing and prosecuting said action, including a reasonable amount
for attorneys' fees.

                                      1.

 
     6.   Governing Law.  California law will govern this Release.
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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto affixed our signatures
this _____ day of February 1997.

                                           NTN COMMUNICATIONS, INC.



                                           By: 
                                              ----------------------------------



                                           -------------------------------------
                                           MICHAEL J. DOWNS

                                      2.

 
                                SETTLEMENT TERMS
                                ----------------

MIKE DOWNS (Complete Termination)
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1.   Pay out remainder of term of contract through October 31, 1998 over 22
     months ($12,500.00 per month in 1997, and $12,500 per month through October
     31, 1998).

2.   Pay out accrued vacation of $19,352 over 22 months @ $879.67 per month.

3.   Pay COBRA coverage through April 30, 1997.

4.    Mutual Release

5.   Return the following options to NTN for cancellation:

 
 
 
     No. of Shares        Exercise Price  Expiration Date
     -------------        --------------  ---------------
                                    
       30,000                   $7.25          8/11/98
       35,000                   $4.75          1/5/98
       70,000                   $7.25          8/11/98
       50,000                   $5.75          4/1/99
       25,000                   $6.375         7/5/01


6.   Keep the following warrants:

          25,000 warrants @ $4.75 to 1/15/98

                                      3.