Will China ban live broadcasts from Tiananmen Square during the 2008 Summer Olympics ?

What do you mean when you say "from"?

usually the broadcster will state that they are broadcasting "from" somewhere
ie "live from my livingroom this is meanderingsearcher......"

We are all so pleased to know that our dear friend is broadcasting live from his livingroom (with duckie)...Consider the alternative: LIVE from Mao Tse Tung's tomb...Maybe Nigel will sponsor you as hubdub's man in Beijing...But you and duckie must promise not to blow out the torch...

snickers at randburg

will this be settled as of day 1 of the olympics or as of the last day...i.e. what if they allow them at first, but then ban them because of protests during?

i figure there won't be any broadcasts from there

It's nice that we all have fun together.

Actually this is a fascinating question: compliments to meanderingsearcher.

The real question here might be: Will a diehard communist nation relax staunch authoritarian principles to attract western democratic countries and citizens -- as well as western democratic CURRENCY -- to The Olympics? Pride and "saving face" is EVERYTHING to the asian countries. China knows that -- for the Olympics to be successful -- they must APPEAR more western, while enforcing communist tenets in the background.

It's like the arcade game: hammering heads that pop up. Tibet is already popping up all over the place and various countries -- like France -- are already hinting at threats to the Olympics. Any relaxation of communist authority will set a precedent. Will they allow this kind of precedent? And if they allow a precedent of this nature -- i.e. Tiananmen Square -- will they later go back on this precedent? Will they maintain contol of the populace in the process?

meanderingsearcher's prediction is really an enormous question with astounding possibilities, and will be worth following LONG after this question has been settled...

Great reference to "whack a mole" randberg
this is a compelling question as well

simple question, big impact
the notariety of Tiananmen Square puts china on the spot as randburg says

This question has been unsuspended. Although the news reports say that China has officially agreed to permit live broadcasts, this question will remain open until suspend date as there is potential that the Chinese will change their mind.

Lesley
Hubdub Category Manager

What way will this be settled if china suddenly censors a live broadcast from Tiananmen Square?

Yes, it does not seem clear. It does not specify them terminating a single broadcast, but what if they "Ban" broadcasts from there.

China to Limit Web Access During Games

BEIJING — The Chinese government has confirmed what journalists arriving at the lavishly outfitted media center here have suspected: contrary to previous assurances by Olympic and government officials, the Internet will be censored during the upcoming Games.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/31/sports/olympics/31china.html?hp>

"Broadcasters are not allowed to do interviews in the square and are permitted to conduct only live stand-ups, which Beijing considers to be safe."

<http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24099768-7582,00.html>

Sounds like a ban to me ....

@newswrangler..ZDF German television asked that restrictive hours permitted for live broadcasts in Tiananmen Square be extended beyond 6am-10am and 9pm-11pm, especially on the night of the opening ceremony on August 8. Beijing refused.

sounds like a partial ban. there will be live broadcast, but limited. i have no money in this question. goodluck betters and admin.

@ dieseldog -- Good point (as usual ;-) I expressed those very sentiments in a flag when I suspended this question ... as I wondered if this was a "ban", a "partial ban" -- and was it a change in position from the date this market was created. I also referenced this link in my flag <http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSPEK10686920080709>.

There is not enough evidence to say that China have 'banned' live broadcasts. They have restricted hours, but there are conflicting reports as to whether live broadcasts are or are not 'allowed'. Market reopened until more conclusive evidence is found.

ps - as an unofficial comment, from reading the articles, it seems pretty likely to me that there won't be an official 'ban' on live broadcasts, but rather a campaign of harrassment for networks that do try and broadcast live...

The Beijing Olympics - Are They A Trap?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqNaAU2vXlI

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102280.html

Live broadcasts but restricted hours, no live interviews. Enough to not constitute a ban, but we'll wait for the weekend to settle, just in case something changes.

Hahaha. All you haters can suck it, the game was a complete success.