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Wednesday August 9, 2006

China says no TV delay for Olympics

BEIJING: China will televise the 2008 Beijing Olympics live to the world without the brief delay normally used in Chinese broadcasting, an official said yesterday.

“It will be live. It won't be delayed by several seconds,” said Wang Wei, executive vice-president and secretary-general of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

Wang was speaking at a news conference held exactly two years to the date of the opening ceremony of the Games on August 8, 2008.

Chinese broadcasts – from political speeches to entertainment – are often delayed by a few seconds.

The practice is believed to be partly aimed at preventing unplanned, anti-government content or unfavorable surprises, such as protest signs, being beamed to Chinese audiences.

Incidents of China's Communist Party rulers manipulating the nation's media to preserve a good image of the government have occasionally made international news.

State-run television's coverage of President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States in April cut out scenes of a member of the Falungong spiritual group heckling Hu as he gave a speech on the White House lawn. – AFPpic

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