Beijing Blackout

Yesterday, at 8pm Beijing time (8am EDT) the Olympic opening ceremonies took place. And here, in the United States they could not be seen on the networks that paid for the exclusive rights to broadcast the Olympics in the United States, NBC. Fortunately I had forgotten yesterday morning in the regular bustle of getting Evan ready for school, because if I had remembered to tune in I would have been angry and disappointed (as it is, I tuned in last night to catch the tape of the broadcast to be angered and disappointed that I had to listen to Bob Costas while the ceremonies were taking place). What sense does that make to delay the broadcast of the Olympic opening ceremonies by 12 hours!?!? Well to the average person who wants to watch them with the rest of the world, it make no sense. But from a business perspective and a marketing perspective, it makes plenty of sense. NBC guaranteed that the ceremonies would only be broadcast in the US at a specific time, guaranteeing a maximum number of viewers at a set time. In doing so, they could charge more for advertising during the commercial spots. It is the same adage, "Profits over People." NBC doesn't care if the citizens of the United States get to see things as they happen around the world, instead we are preempted, censored if you will, in the interests of profits. And we complain about censorship in China.

American Fans Angered by Olympic Ceremony TV Blackout (Yahoo! News)

I did not watch the entire ceremony, but what I saw was pretty impressive. The Chinese spared no expense. And the effects were spectacular!