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Is China controlling NBC's Olympics broadcast?

whit979

whit979

This is just my opinion and I would love to hear if others have seen the same thing...

I have watched a lot of NBC's Olympics coverage ever since they got on their current streak back in 1996. What I have seen this year is, to me, noticeably different coverage than in previous Games. Bob Costas, who has anchored NBC's Olympics coverage for years, seems stiff and uncomfortable in some segments. Perhaps this is just the tuning of my TV but his eyes have appeared bloodshot throughout the Beijing Games. Other commentators shy away from negative commentary towards China, heaping praises upon their athletes and their nation whenever they win an event. One thing that surprised me was when Costas interviewed Bela Karoyli (sp?) in the middle of the women's team gymnastics final. Bela was outraged that China's gymnasts were clearly underage. When Bela commented about it, Costas tried to stop him from continuing to talk about it, abruptly changing the subject during the segment. All the gymnastics commentators ever said was "judge for yourself."

We already know from several reports from Beijing that China has blocked Internet access to anti-Chinese and anti-Communist websites. My question, perhaps a long shot, is this. Could China be controlling what NBC puts on the air, or could they be threatening NBC to try to broadcast a "pro-China" viewpoint during the Games?
 
This is the impression that I get as well. I know that NBC is probably operating under a corporate mandate with putting a smiley face on everything having to do with the games, but the cheerleading is ridiculous. When there is obvious manipulation by the Chinese "hosts" it ends up being another network who breaks the story.

So, yes I agree with you.

This years' games are reminiscent of the 1936 games - except that most visitors to Beijing seem too dumb to realize it.
 
I've been noticing this as well, and what has really struck me is how homogenized and purified the images we are getting from China are.

What I mean is...in all of NBC's coverage, we really aren't being shown ANYTHING outside of the Olympic venues, other than some aerial shots of the stadiums and Beijing. No live shots from any of Beijing's landmarks and attractions, no interviews with the public, no scenes from Beijing's busy streets. Even the shots of spectators in the stands seem to be fleeting and limited at best. By contrast, in Athens, Sydney and Atlanta, NBC really seemed to get into the "vibe" of the games and the city that was hosting them a lot more. In Athens, I recall the Today Show had a booth right in the middle of the Olympic Stadium complex, that was surrounded by passers-by. It seems that sort of "freedom" isn't part of this year's coverage.
 
BRNout said:
This years' games are reminiscent of the 1936 games - except that most visitors to Beijing seem too dumb to realize it.
Click to expand...

I agree. This years' Olympics have that eerie feeling. World War III is just around the corner then.;D

Everyone looks tense and mindful like they are being watched (by censors) in the studio--kind of like a hostage tape. Bob looks really stressed!
 
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