http://olympics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/09/nbc-gets-record-rating-for-tape-delayed-opening-ceremony/
August 9, 2008, 12:12 pm
NBC Gets Record Rating for Tape-Delayed Opening Ceremony
By RICHARD SANDOMIR
The tape-delayed opening ceremony of the Beijing Games attracted an average of 34.2 million viewers Friday night, nine million more than the figure for the Athens Olympics on the comparable night in 2004.
At 34.2 million, it is the most on record for an Olympics televised in the United States from a foreign country. Before Athens, the average viewership for the 2000 Sydney Games was 27.3 million, for Barcelona in 1992 it was 21.6 million, and for Seoul in 1988 it was 22.7 million.
The Beijing figure fell 5.6 million viewers short of the 39.8 million who watched the live broadcast of the 1996 opening ceremony from Atlanta. And NBC’s opening-night viewership nosed out the 33.8 million who watched the 1994 Lillihammer Winter Games on CBS.
More recently, the opening ceremony of the 2002 Winter Games from Salt Lake City, which was carried live, averaged 45.6 million viewers.
Although Nielsen Media does not post Olympic ratings data earlier than 1972, NBC said that the 18.6 national rating from Beijing was the highest-rated Summer Games opening ceremony since CBS generated an 18.1 at the Rome Olympics in 1960, which were hosted by Jim McKay.
NBC’s performance Friday offered tangible evidence that it had not been hurt by those who watched live, unauthorized online streaming feeds of the opening ceremony on Web sites like the ARD German TV network’s.
NBC’s Web site, NBCOlympics.com, generated 70 million page views on Friday, nearly 10 times the traffic on the comparable day in Athens four years ago, and 4.2 million unique users, an increase of about six times.
E-mail this Share
Beijing Olympics 2008, Beijing, China, Olympics, opening ceremony, television
Related
The Starting Line: Add One More to the Opening Ceremony Guest List
The BBC's Journey to the East
Thoughts From an American Descendant of the Dragon
NBC's Time Warp in Full Effect
203 comments so far...
1. August 9th,
2008
12:41 pm
will the opening ceremonies be shown again? when?
— Posted by donald krebes
2. August 9th,
2008
12:41 pm
I hope NBC is smart enough to produce a general release of the opening to movie theaters with 3D and large screens. This was an experience that everyone should have the opportunity to see properly. There has NEVER been a show this spectacular, no Super Bowl Halftime, Academy Awards, Vegas Extravaganza or other Olympics Opening- ever! I pity London as they try to follow this act in 2112.
— Posted by William Bergmann
3. August 9th,
2008
12:47 pm
Be great if you could provide a pronuciation guide for NBC commentators. It’s painful to listen to Brian Williams pronounce Kyrgyzstan as Kergeeshstan, Ossetia as Oseesha, and Belorussian as Beloroooshan.
— Posted by krasnaya
4. August 9th,
2008
12:50 pm
I have to say that this opening ceremony was the most impressive I have EVER seen. Leave it to the chinese to create awe and an massive inspiring event.
— Posted by Shawn
5. August 9th,
2008
12:56 pm
China’s opening ceremony was so Spectacular that it makes all other Sports event openers look like Trailer Trash Monster Truck Rallies. Poor merry OLD England in 2012! China outdid all expectations and the people of China should be Proud despite political adversities to freedoms. Only Peter Jackson or Steven Spielberg could come close to their innovative Opener. LA and/or Chicago better be paying close attention. Poor London!
— Posted by (Just) Mike
6. August 9th,
2008
1:05 pm
It’s always agonizing to watch NBC’s telecast of the Opening ceremony. One day we may be able to watch programs like this without commercials every 10 minutes. In America we have no idea of how much more beautiful and engrossing an uninterrupted ceremony is. In 1988 in Korea, I watched the opening ceremony on TV with two sets side by side. One was tuned to the NBC telecast through Armed Forces network, and the other was tuned to the Korean Broadcasting company telecast. The Korean broadcast was seamless and captured almost the entire pageant from beginning to end without any interruptions. It was possible to really get into the flow of the activities and get a full appreciation of the drama, action, beauty. The NBC telecast, on the other hand, was more about Bryant Gumbel being able to dialog with mic wearing Carl Lewis down on the field. “Wow” it’s wonderful said Carl or something to that effect. After being surfeited with mealy mouthed Bryant Gumbel and his inane, meant to be funny, quips, I shut off the volume and just watched the whole thing chopped up by NBC commercial TV. This year’s broadcast was pretty much the same, chopped liver with Bob Costas. After a while Bob Costas’s chatter got to be too much. But we get what we get.
— Posted by GEEP
7. August 9th,
2008
1:08 pm
I agree that the ceremonies were impressive and awe-inspiring. So many memorable moments and beautiful feats. Lovely. But one thing I missed was a sense of the history of *sport* and of the Olympics. Usually Opening Ceremonies mention each of the former host cities and we learn something about Olympic history and Olympians. The spectacles include athletes or scenes from sports. Until the athletes entered the stadium, I didn’t see how this was a *sporting* event. But maybe that’s a positive thing? It was certainly very innovative, a new way of conceiving of the Opening Ceremony.
— Posted by Luke
8. August 9th,
2008
1:12 pm
I REALLY hate NBC. They should have carried it live or online like the rest of the world. So many people had to go dig through other sites so they could catch it live.
— Posted by Kev Ricardo
9. August 9th,
2008
1:19 pm
This is such an insult.
Short of being there,live,where else could I have watched ?
High ratings indeed for a tape delayed ceremony…this would be funny if it were not so sad… Creating a ‘captive’ audience, NBC achieved its goal. Thanks, but no thanks….The opening ceremony demands LIVE coverage.
livefromja
— Posted by jamaicajp
10. August 9th,
2008
1:23 pm
The release right for DVD should belong to China. It will be on the best seller’s list worldwide.
— Posted by LR
11. August 9th,
2008
1:29 pm
We are really fed up with all those talk about human rights or political systems and so so.
— Posted by Nash
12. August 9th,
2008
1:35 pm
So…they didn’t need Steven Spielberg after all. It was truly amazing in a riveting, once-in-a-lifetime way. Cirque de Soleil multiplied 2008 times.
— Posted by Royi
13. August 9th,
2008
1:45 pm
NBC is the bigger loser already in the olympics. It is an insult for China, they did these effort to show these beautiful ceremony, as audience we deserve to see it LIVE, The bigger sponsors like Coca Cola should not spend money with NBC anymore.
We demand Respect.
— Posted by Jorge Gaviria
14. August 9th,
2008
1:45 pm
The opening ceremony can be viewed at the CCTV’s website (http://www.cctv.com/english/special/opening/02/index.s html). You need to click on the chinese link to download a player. I watched the truely spectacular ceremony last night on NBC and therefore I didn’t download the player myself. I suppose you can set a restore point on your PC to make sure the player can be uninstall later.
— Posted by TT
15. August 9th,
2008
1:46 pm
The opening ceremonies were a big bore with each part dragging out like any negotiations involving the Chinese. The Taiwan flag issue proves once again that the IOC is made up of a bunch of pandering wimps.
— Posted by Frank A. Langheinrich
16. August 9th,
2008
1:50 pm
Great show put on by the Chinese. Couldn’t NBC figure out how to air this historic event without 5 minutes of commercials after every 3 minutes of the ceremony? The constantly repeating ads we pitiful and annoying.
— Posted by GL
17. August 9th,
2008
1:52 pm
While it’s great to watch the Olympic opening ceremony albeit tape-delayed. I find NBC draconian rights enforcement stifling and forcing Americans to use Silverlight on computers is an appalling measure while there are numerous players that should be allowed to access NBC videos.
Thanks to the NYT for its photos and uncluttered coverage of the Olympic games. I have loved watching the Olympics since my teens and will continue to follow all kinds of sports that are not usually marquee sports among Americans.
— Posted by AllsportsNYC
18. August 9th,
2008
1:54 pm
The release right for the DVD should belong to NBC, since they own the exclusive broadcasting rights. As cool as it was though, who is really going to want to buy that and watch it more than once?
— Posted by Mark G
19. August 9th,
2008
1:56 pm
NBC cut some of the segments (e.g. the beijing opera with opera muppets). I hope they release a full DVD version, so we can see the whole uninterrupted.
— Posted by LZ
20. August 9th,
2008
1:59 pm
I don’t mind the tape delay, if they had shown the ceremony properly. They butchered the dramatic transitions by inserting excessive commercials, and squashed any hope for the viewer to experience the beauty and magic of the performance with non-stop “morning show” style drivel chatter. An absolute travesty. They even had to make a special thread for negative commentary on their boards: http://boards.nbc.com/nbc/index.php?showtopic=800173 because all the comments were negative. I am not one to write forum posts but I have to say that NBCs butchery of this unique event was so outrageous that I had to speak up. Please someone fix American media. We are not a nation of blithering uncultured idiots only our mass media treats us that way.
fuming…
— Posted by nbcshame
21. August 9th,
2008
2:08 pm
Yes, the opening event was spectacular, but I wish that NBC had limited the commentary, and I especially wish there were not so many commercials. I was frustrated when the great fireworks displays were on and we couldn’t see them, and we did not see parts of the acts. General Electric got a bit too greedy.
— Posted by Gary Farland
22. August 9th,
2008
2:16 pm
Glad I bought a DVR to record the show. It was stunning even I watch it the second time.
— Posted by Rick Bujak
23. August 9th,
2008
2:31 pm
That was a great show, the best. I am waiting for DVD. Who gets the right for DVD?
— Posted by kyt
24. August 9th,
2008
2:36 pm
Hi Rick Bujak,
You should sell those DVDs. I would buy a copy!
— Posted by mefeelsoolympics
25. August 9th,
2008
2:45 pm
The ceremony was awesome, but the NBC coverage was just okay. Not terrible but nothing special. Why didn’t they have a Chinese person in the booth with them to lend greater cultural context to the play by play? Major oversight in my opinion. Another pet peeve-they kept referring to the fact that the countries were not in alphabetical order….and mentioned the characters/# of radicals determining the sequence. I wanted to see the characters! NBC could have easily included them at the bottom of the screen along with the english name, map graphic etc. Characters are cool, interesting and beautiful….and relevant considering the millions of overseas Chinese watching the broadcast. Seems like a no brainer to me.
— Posted by Patrick
26. August 9th,
2008
2:50 pm
4 hours of TV program
2 hours for the opening ceremony
2 hours for commercials…
— Posted by CS
27. August 9th,
2008
2:51 pm
The show was spectacular. Zhang Zhimou was able to translate his cinematic brilliance to a live spectacle.
I found myself exited and a little unnerved at times as the spectacle displayed not so subtle militaristic elements. I couldn’t help but think this is what nations do when they have ambitions of global dominance.
I loved it and hated it at the same time.
— Posted by GG
28. August 9th,
2008
2:56 pm
C’mon folks. While I recognize that there are some people far more interested in the spectacle of parade, costuming, fireworks and pageantry that is the opening ceremony, who could care less about track and boxing and gymnastic competition.To each his or her own but If commercial interuption is so important to you….
Buy a DVR.
The anti-U.S. business, whiney why-don’t-we-get-it-for-free-and-uninterrupted complaints here ignore the fact that the Chinese charge NBC billions and NBC is charging advertiser’s billions and a DVR costs less than $150. and tickets + airfare to see live costs $2000.00.
So whiners: Grow up, open up your wallet just like NBC did.There is no constitutional right to watch anything you want for free.
— Posted by Allan S.
29. August 9th,
2008
3:00 pm
Have never seen anything like this: condensing 5000 years of history into a two-hour performance with beauty, charm, and grandeur. I would see it second and third time.
Anyone saying it is a bore just reflected his/her own ignorance about history, culture, art, and beauty–it has nothing to do with the awe-inspiring ceremony.
— Posted by Wendy
30. August 9th,
2008
3:15 pm
I agree with you, Patrick, NBC should have shown the Chinese characters side-by-side with the nations’ English names, so that the audience have a better idea how the nations were ordered in that particular sequence. It’s actually pretty intuitive when you can see it.
— Posted by Lawrence
31. August 9th,
2008
3:20 pm
Didn’t anyone notice: Hitler’s Nazi Germany all over again! Look at old clips of Nazi Germany’s displays and you will find a frightening echo of China’s display yesterday.
— Posted by Lou
32. August 9th,
2008
3:22 pm
The opening ceremony was dignified and artistically majestic - I wish I were there to see it in person. Zhang Zhimou did an incredible job. Glad that Spielberg dropped out - he would have turned it into an American-style blockbuster, typically juvenile and bombastic.
# 27 writes, “I found myself exited and a little unnerved at times as the spectacle displayed not so subtle militaristic elements.” You mean like the military jet flyovers at American sporting events?
— Posted by Greg
33. August 9th,
2008
3:22 pm
I can just picture the London Olympics organizing committee scratching their heads to figure out what show to put on 4 years from now. The bar is just too high now. They secretly must be wishing that New York got the Olympics.
China put on a show that was beyond spectacular. Now we got to wait and see whether they will top the medal charts.
— Posted by Pratti
34. August 9th,
2008
3:25 pm
Why couldn’t the NBC announcers just let the event unfold without their banal commentary? The opening ceremonies don’t need a play-by-play; Matt Lauer and Bob Costas turned into that annoying couple that sits behind you at a Broadway show and reiterates loudly what just happened on stage.
— Posted by Phuz01
35. August 9th,
2008
3:27 pm
The opening ceremony was one of the most spectacular live events I’ve ever seen. Elegant, sophisticated and quite stunning. Kudos to the Chinese.
— Posted by Kris
36. August 9th,
2008
3:30 pm
Only NBC and that non-stop-babbling-idiot Costas would cut to comercials in the middle of one of the biggest and best fireworks displays in history! Bravo!
— Posted by RGM
37. August 9th,
2008
3:32 pm
It’ll be a great idea to release a full coverage DVD version of this fantastic show without abridgement and Ad interruption.
— Posted by Sam
38. August 9th,
2008
3:32 pm
Matt Lauer and Bob Costas commentary was straight out of the movie Dodgeball.
— Posted by Dodgeball
39. August 9th,
2008
3:32 pm
Unbelievable, wonderful display and presentation! New York City forget about going for the Olympics until we commit to a public works standard set by China and Dubai. Without a mayor the quality of Bloomberg the odds are against us.
— Posted by difilip
40. August 9th,
2008
3:33 pm
Since the entire opening ceremony was pre-recorded, WHY was it necessary to edit out bits of the opening ceremony? The commercials every 5 minutes were annoying enough… but trimming the entrances and exits during the ceremony to accommodate them added insult to injury.
— Posted by Jessica
41. August 9th,
2008
3:40 pm
#31
I’m unnerved by flyovers too…
— Posted by gg
42. August 9th,
2008
3:47 pm
I appreciate the fact that NBC covered the opening ceremony, however, the constant interruption with commercials and constant chatter over the musics and sounds of each segment drove me up the wall. We never got to see even one complete event! I hope that someone somewhere filmed the entire ceremony and will offer it on DVD or in a special televison event. The sounds should have been experienced along with the visual, but the commentators droned on over the beautiful productions oblivious to their destruction of the entire scene. I agree that this was unique and amazing. Everyone should see it.
— Posted by Sheila Karlson
43. August 9th,
2008
3:52 pm
Do we know if they skipped over parts? Because if it was taped, they could’ve stopped the action between ads and picked it up on the other side. On the other hand, if the actual show did last more than 4 hours, that wouldn’t work. Oh, well. I would like to see the uninterrupted show (minus the athlete parade) in HD, but this was better than nothing.
— Posted by Uosdwis
44. August 9th,
2008
3:54 pm
I’m a Chinese currently living in US. Thank all of you for the attention to this show and very sincere praise. I feel all the efforts of Chinese for this show are very worth it. It was 2 years’s preparation and training, thousands of performers’ hard work and creative ideas from Chinese culture and arts experts and movie directors that delivered this show. Why Chinese spent so much money and efforts on the 2008 Olympic? Because it’s a rare opportunity for Chinese to show foreigners those they can’t see on their media about China. The paintings, dancing, Taichi etc. you saw in the show are so common and familiar parts in Chinese’s life. When I came to US three years ago, I was amazed to see the China some media presents to people are very tiny pieces which are actually far away from Chinese people’s real life. Some are very negative, some are very much untrue. Now China was given this opportunity to speak for ourselves with the only one hour show. For Chinese, there’re too many stories behind this show. The 2008 drummers you saw at the beginning are all soilders because ordinary people can’t handle this kind of hard work. e.g. You could see 2008 arms lift up at the same time and looks like just one line from each angle. It looks simple but took lots lots of practice. Some of them passed out in the rehearsal but kept going after wake up. Lots of performers didn’t drink any water that day because there was no way for them to go to bathroom during the show. Anyway, thanks for watching and the respect for the hard work. Special thanks to those who say no to polytics involved in Olympics!
— Posted by Annie Z
45. August 9th,
2008
3:56 pm
I’m a Chinese currently living in US. Thank all of you for the attention to this show and very sincere praise. I feel all the efforts of Chinese for this show are very worth it. It was 2 years’ preparation and training, thousands of performers’ hard work and creative ideas from Chinese culture and arts experts and movie directors that delivered this show.
Why Chinese spent so much money and efforts on the 2008 Olympic? Because it’s a rare opportunity for Chinese to show foreigners those they can’t see on their media about China. The paintings, dancing, Taichi etc. you saw in the show are so common and familiar parts in Chinese’s life. When I came to US three years ago, I was amazed to see the China some media presents to people are very tiny pieces which are actually far away from Chinese people’s real life. Some are very negative, some are very much untrue. Now China was given this opportunity to speak for ourselves with the only one hour show.
For Chinese, there’re too many stories behind this show. The 2008 drummers you saw at the beginning are all soldiers because ordinary people can’t handle this kind of hard work. e.g. You could see 2008 arms lift up at the same time and looks like just one line from each angle. It looks simple but took lots lots of practice. Some of them passed out in the rehearsal but kept going after wake up. Lots of performers didn’t drink any water that day because there was no way for them to go to bathroom during the show.
Anyway, thanks for watching and the respect for the hard work. Special thanks to those who say no to politics involved in Olympics!
— Posted by Annie Z
46. August 9th,
2008
3:56 pm
NBC had better replat the opening! Otherwise the FCC ought to be involved. All other sites are shut down for replay so at least the lawyers know how popular this was. Jeez we Americans are dopes for allowing NBC exclusive rights What better coverage we should have. How disappointing! Vote for a late night replay this weekend! NBC not accepting e-mail or calls.
— Posted by Nitpicker
47. August 9th,
2008
3:58 pm
Despite NBC’s decision to tape-delay (sigh), and despite bob costas talking too much, and despite too many commercial breaks… That was an absolutely spectacular opening ceremony.
— Posted by LeeJohnson
48. August 9th,
2008
4:03 pm
i couldn’t understand why they didn’t show the ceremony in its entirety. they already taped the thing for primetime broadcast shouldn’t they have edited it properly. it would have been understandable if you missed parts of it because they had to go to a commercial break IF they showed it live. but they didn’t. so why did they cut out some parts?? that was dumb nbc. the summer olympics only happens every 4 years.
— Posted by mari from buffalo
49. August 9th,
2008
4:06 pm
Trying to capture some of the entirety of the opening ceremony, searched and searched on the sties. Many postings have been blocked.
Are we facing a new kind of censorship in the US? Had a strange experience earlier on, I was able to access BEIJING OPENING CEREMONY - Part 2 (no problem with part 1) on youtube, few minutes later, it was gone.
Hey, NBC, CBS, ABC … if there is going to be another such sought after world event like this one — quite unlikely for some years to come, fundraise from the viewers like Obama did, then you can ’serve’ the American public better, and you don’t need to censor us like you did, and continue to do so.
— Posted by getting mad
50. August 9th,
2008
4:07 pm
I don’t understand WHY, after that 12 hours delay in televising the opening, they cannot find time to insert the commercial while including the whole ceremony!
Why did NBC felt a need to still leave part out when they have plenty of time to edit the raw tape!
Shame on you NBC. You have butchered a perfectly good opening. It is like watching a film and the editor cut out all the kissing and cuddling part!
— Posted by carol g
51. August 9th,
2008
4:14 pm
From what COULD be seen from the NBC braodcast with running mouth commentary, (some of it interesting factoids but much NOT) the ceremoney was indeed spectacular (reminde me of Cirque duSOleil performance art) Too bad they did NOT find a way to have it present ed COMMERCIAL free, the constant commercial interruptions (and so out of place that McCain political attack ad) had they presented it UNINTERRUPTED , then listed the COMMERCIAL SPNSORS and used the coomericial footage elsewise…The opeing was important enough they should have figured a way to so accomplish and would have received very high marks for such coverage !!!
— Posted by Bozzy54
52. August 9th,
2008
4:19 pm
The word “awesome” is so overused, that when something like this comes along, we are at a loss for a descriptive word that does it justice. The Opening Ceremony was so spectacular that it will stay in our minds for a long time. I agree with all the negative comments about the Commentary….
I never heard such stupid blather in my life..
whatever amount these guys were paid, they should give it all back. They reflected very poorly on NBC as well as our whole country. However, as regards the commercials, we can’t forget that because those companies are willing to foot the bill, we can sit in our living rooms and watch the entire Olympics, free…which is very nice ! But they seem to forget that we resent the commercial interrupting the scene…which is no way to build up sales !
Grandma
— Posted by Grandma
53. August 9th,
2008
4:21 pm
AS long as NBC has had the franchise on US broadcast rights to the Olympic Games, they have managed to turn the single most transcendent event on Planet Earth into a vapid quadrennial display of crass commercialism. And to further besmirch an already tasteless performance, the smug — and ceaseless — blather of Costas and Lauer contributed immensely to my gratitude that online streaming video will soon liberate us all from network nabobs controlling and exploiting the free flow of information.
— Posted by JLincoln
54. August 9th,
2008
4:22 pm
If the anchorman (Costas, his name?) had any understanding of Chinese history/culture beyond the stalest banalities, he did a good job hiding it. Zhang knows his audience will be broad and international. As such, the scale and nuance of his vision is meant to be accessed through the primary senses.
How is the audience supposed to get this when their visual and musical senses are forced into battle with a determined soundtrack of off-keyed analysis and crude misinterpretations?
Couldn’t NBC have just translated what little displayed/spoken Chinese with subtitles or are they just absolutely convinced that the average American will get lost without their own familiar voice explaining away every image that appears before them?
— Posted by Christine
55. August 9th,
2008
4:24 pm
The Chinese have given a new meaning to the word “spectacular”. Unfortunately having to wade through a swarm of ugly commercials spoiled the whole affect. The first hour had almost 25 minutes of commercials or promos and the ugly NBC logo was attached to the screen in the upper right corner like a gigantic tick sucking the lifeblood out of the picture.
It was without a doubt the most extraordinary event I have seen in more than my 80+ years on the earth. The opening drumming was eyepopping and the ending was without equal in any exhibition I have ever witnessed.
I was in China 20 years ago this month and the progress they have made during the last 20 years is staggering. I think we have just seen the opening shot in their dominance of the world stage. The USA is about to become an also ran thanks to the buffoons in Washington.
— Posted by JonJon
56. August 9th,
2008
4:25 pm
I feel so lucky to live close enough to Canada to have seen the ceremony *live* on CBC Friday morning. It started at 7:00 AM PT and was replayed again later in the afternoon with relatively little commentary and commercial interruption. Yes, there was a bit of ogling once the Canadian team entered the stadium, but they had a split screen so that viewers could still see the remaining teams enter and be recognized. It was like a breath of fresh air after years of listening to Costass and Co. Thanks, Northern Neighbors!
— Posted by ML
57. August 9th,
2008
4:26 pm
Of course NBC had record ratings. This is what happens when you allow a monopoly on coverage of the most amazing show of this decade. (Hearty congratulations to the Chinese, you should be very proud)
I am struck by the irony of the media situation in the US. Americans are quick to criticize the Chinese government for censorship and other restrictions on media and internet sources of information. Yet we ride right along as NBC effectively censors the Olympics, choosing not only when we see the events but which events and athletes we will be able to watch. We will be shown only the athletes deemed marketable by NBC execs - while many remarkable efforts by many remarkable people will be invisible in the USA.
If our government exercised the same control over the viewing options there would be riots in the streets. Yet, we remain complacent when one network controls the information and earns millions in the process. Is censorship somehow acceptable as long as someone is making money?
— Posted by Corinna
58. August 9th,
2008
4:28 pm
I watched about 5 minutes total of the NBC broadcast during commercial breaks from CBC’s live coverage last night. I was struck by the need of NBC’s commentator to talk over the children’s choir singing the Olympic Anthem during the flag raising ceremony. Rude, insensitive, arrogant, disrespectful — Take your pick. CBC had the class to let the choir sing uninterrupted when it broadcast the same ceremony 15 hours earlier.
— Posted by Chris in WA
59. August 9th,
2008
4:29 pm
Amazing!Awesome!Spectacular!Incredible!
Stunning!Brilliant!Sophisticated!Elegant!
I think this show has been and it will be the
most incredible show ever in television
history!!!
Posted by Tony, Puerto Rico
— Posted by Juan Diaz
60. August 9th,
2008
4:30 pm
In many ways the opening ceremonies were spectacular, and one couldn’t help but consider that the Chinese were making a point to the world about what they are capable of in this young century.
The constant interruptions for commercials were maddening, but, when a company spends hundreds of millions to present the event that is the inevitable result. Capitalism in all it’s imperfect glory.
The chatter of the commentators is also inevitable. When you spend that kind of dough, hire those kind of talents, charge them to load up on countless bits of excruciating minutiae, that is what you’ll get. Give a leader an army or an egomaniac a forum and they will be used at some point whether the need is there or not.
What drove me to distraction however, was the music. An endless dirge of saccharin, pseudo-classic bilge, it sucked the joy out of the incredible visuals and drove me towards a narcoleptic episode. It became apparent that, excepting the historical tribal rhythms at the start of the ceremony, anything with a discernible beat is considered verboten by the party elite who control the games.
The lack of anything remotely resembling a modern rhythm to accompany the stunning opening ceremony speaks volumes about the conservative, controlling mindset of the Chinese leaders. So intent on impressing the world with their current great leap forward, they betrayed their repressive world view by presenting a ceremony devoid of any musical style more current than a John Philip Sousa march.
I don’t recall. Was their any Wagner in there anywhere?
— Posted by The Shadow
61. August 9th,
2008
4:35 pm
$300M for one of the most boring events I’ve ever witnessed. Just another nationalistic orgy of self-congratulation–it was obscene. What a shame that money couldn’t have been spent on a more worthy cause–like addressing hunger in Darfur, for example. Now, China has been introduced to the world stage as just one more industrialized nation pillaging world resources and trying to catch up to the consumption habits of the U.S. and Europe. Hooray!
— Posted by Joem
62. August 9th,
2008
4:37 pm
I watched the whole ceremony on France 2 (Sarkozy is busy trying to undermine the state broadcasting system) without interruption, and reflected again on one of the most momentous “road less traveled” events in the history of the United States of America. In the 1920s there were two men of genius behind the development of broadcasting in the two dominant English-speaking nations - Reith in the U.K. and Paley in the U.S. One saw the medium as a fabulous force for education, the other saw it as a fabulous way to make money. They were both right; the difference 80 years later is that whereas broadcasting in the U.K., and all the other industrialized democracies, is a balanced mixture of “Reith” and “Paley,” in the United States the mixture is like an elephant-and-mouse pie - one of each under the pastry. If the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in the United States was funded to the same level as the BBC, its annual budget would not be the $140,000,000 (140 million dollars) it is currently, but $30,000,000,000 (30 billion dollars.)
The BBC took the road less traveled by, and that did, in fact, make all the difference.
— Posted by old-timer
63. August 9th,
2008
4:47 pm
I enjoyed the comments by Costas, Lauer, and their guest. The guest was quite knowledgeable and added to my understanding and pleasure in watching the event.
I don’t understand all the complaints.
I only hope some talented people had the foresight to do a movie length DVD on this event.
And, I hope they can make money off of it. Somehow, without money, you can’t produce a quality product. Unless you can figure out another way of doing things, the proit motive has to be in the equation.
— Posted by Maggie
64. August 9th,
2008
4:54 pm
Did anyone else find it jarring that right in the middle of this beautiful uplifting event we were subjected to yet another angry negative McCain ad?
Classy.
Shame on John McCain.
— Posted by Sid
65. August 9th,
2008
4:56 pm
What a beautiful opening the chinese people put on. I could hardly leave my tv while it was on. I never seen such a opening and probably never will again. I don’t think any country can out do this opening.
— Posted by phyl
66. August 9th,
2008
5:01 pm
Somehow, the sound effect from NBC is too bad. I could hear clearly the voices of commentator, but not the sound from ceremony
— Posted by Alfred J
67. August 9th,
2008
5:01 pm
I really hates those commercials. Could I have a COMPLETE OLYMPICS OPENING? I was looking photos at yahoo on Friday morning while people all over the world are watching it LIVE. We deserve LIVE. I just don’t get it. Is that so hard to have a live in the morning and have replay in the prime time? Really, really pissed.
BTW, it’s really spectacular. Everyone must see it. I hope NBC won’t get exclusive broadcasting on London Olympics.
— Posted by Kelvin from Ohio
68. August 9th,
2008
5:04 pm
Beautiful, ethereal, amazingly brilliant theatre; the several instances of goose-stepping very offputting, considering that people who disagrees with the Chinese government have a way of disappearing; and here’s hoping that idiotic and embarassing Bob Costas is stricken with laryngitis every time he opens his mouth in the future.
— Posted by JTG
69. August 9th,
2008
5:06 pm
Chinese didn’t spend money addressing worthy cause? When did US do it? US spent tons of money on starting a war in Iraq, killed lots of people.
— Posted by LA
70. August 9th,
2008
5:07 pm
i watched the live broadcasting by CBC, then watched again the NBC tape thing…i somehow find NBC’s one is little bit better than canadian one, they got better angle…more close up shot…(of course, many close up shot of US athelet, but there are many super stars in US team so i don’t mind), and i think some host’s introduction about each country is good, like one country is right on time zone, there is 23 hr time difference within one country and stuff….
— Posted by wang
71. August 9th,
2008
5:14 pm
Bravo for Beijing. Boo for NBC. I had high hopes with the Lauer/Costas team but they were no match for their surroundings. Let the story do the talking. I was interested to hear the reception for the US team but Costas talked over it. Lauer was intent on telling us how large the LED screen was (”and it’s going to get bigger!…). Blah, blah, blah…
— Posted by jr
72. August 9th,
2008
5:14 pm
Olympics hosting always costs money, unless Olympics is cancelled then the money can be put on hungry people. Better than spending on war like US did !
— Posted by LA
73. August 9th,
2008
5:16 pm
This year’s opening ceremony was nothing short of spectacular. I really do agree about the commercials - It really trips my trigger. However, the show reminded me of a Cirque de Soleil performance - very artsy yet sophisticated. The Chinese were able incorporate a great deal of history into the show, and the fireworks were truly spectacular. It truly celebrated what the Chinese culture was about by revealing all the innovations of the nation.
If you are interested in sports from a different perspective check out my sports blog at:
http://talkaboutsport.blogspot.com/
— Posted by Sanjeev's Awesome Blog
74. August 9th,
2008
5:22 pm
OK NBC - do you get it now?
1. Banal irritating chatter during the show - I bet Costas talks on his cellphone in theaters.
2. Too many commercials, too often. Do you realize how much goodwill you AND your advertisers get with “limited commerical interruptions”?
3. Lousy camera work - it’s like your control-room people decided to be part of the show! You never settled on a single camera for more than six seconds at a time. Shame on your producers for thinking they were the artisitic and creative people of the Opening Ceremonies.
4. Live, Live, Live!
5. As I found out from reading the posts here - you LEFT OUT large parts of the ceremonies. How dare you decide what is worth seeing and what is not.
God how I miss Jim McKay and ABC Wide World of Sports.
— Posted by C. Reaves
75. August 9th,
2008
5:22 pm
I missed it and people are saying it was the best ever! I’m so mad at myself.
Youtube has removed it also. Where can I see a replay?
— Posted by JN
76. August 9th,
2008
5:27 pm
#61: “another nationalistic orgy of self-congratulation–it was obscene”
Why shouldn’t China celebrate, when it has a $600 billion budget surplus and $1.7 trillion in forex reserves?
Meanwhile, US has a $400 billion budget deficit, thanks in part to America’s democratic government spending a trillion dollars on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
— Posted by Don
77. August 9th,
2008
5:40 pm
In the future every exclusive broadcast contract should have a non-performance clause. Any broadcaster who fails to produce adequate coverage should have to pay a penalty. In NBC’s case, I’d suggest a 50% penalty of about $450 million.
— Posted by C. Reaves
78. August 9th,
2008
5:42 pm
I agree with #68. Costas “the sniveling toady” almost ruined the coverage of the 2008 Olympics opening ceremony:
“As for Costas, he earned another black mark when he clumsily injected a plug for one of NBC’s most terrible and reprehensible prime-time shows, ‘Fear Factor.’ Mentioning the show made Costas seem like a sniveling toady.”
- Washington Post article on Winter Olympics (2/9/2002)
— Posted by Terrence R
79. August 9th,
2008
5:46 pm
NBC missed out on a golden opportunity when it chose NOT to air such a SPECTACULAR event on live TV. NBC is out of touch with how fast the global audience gets news: the opening ceremonies were impressive and by noon on Opening Day eastern standard time, millions of people had seen live broadcasts on non-NBC/non-English speaking websites.
NBC can bet on one sure thing: millions of would’ve-been viewers are now seeking alternative ways to view the CLOSING ceremonies in real time.
Hey, NBC: your audience won’t wait!
— Posted by M-Lou
80. August 9th,
2008
5:54 pm
It’s been said by others, but this was by far the most spectacular televised ceremony I have ever seen.
I made most of what we’ve produced in the past look like child’s play at best.
It also made me wonder how soon the Chinese will be running the worldwide show of shows.
— Posted by Frieda
81. August 9th,
2008
6:09 pm
The ceremony was spectacular!! It was breathtaking. But I so agree with Post #74. What is up with these fast moving camera shots? NBC, do you think our attention is that short? Is it too difficult to keep the camera lens focused on one scene for more than 5 seconds? NBC, is it too hard for the announcers to respectfully stay quiet during such a beautiful performance? Do some explaining, give some relevant commentary, but dispense with the rest of the drivel. NBC, did we need to see that many commercials? And you better believe I’m not voting for McCain. I surely didn’t need to see HIM during the opening ceremony! ANYWAY - the Chinese went over the top and I thank them for it!
— Posted by Ann
82. August 9th,
2008
6:18 pm
Call me an ethnocentrist, but I found the Athens opening ceremony and its presentation of Greek civilization and Western history much more compelling and stirring than the Beijing ceremony, and on a more intimate scale, if one can call any Olympic opening ceremony “intimate”. The staggering size of the Beijing event with its 15,000 participants, seemed over-done, and although the precision of the participants was amazing, it seemed soulless to me. It also went on for too long. I must admit, however, that the ceremonies did what they were intended to do, which was to impress and inspire awe, and the lighting of the flame was truly amazing.
I agree with everyone who felt that Bob Costas, who I normally admire as a commentator, was abysmal, and the constant interruptions with commercials was horrible. Shame on NBC!
— Posted by Jim
83. August 9th,
2008
6:42 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with all the above comments regarding commercials and commentary. Although I disagree strongly with China’s Human Rights issues, the individual people who contributed to last nights event did an outstanding and beautiful job.
NBC’s presentation was disappointing. Hope the sponsors are happy.
— Posted by ed
84. August 9th,
2008
6:47 pm
@2,4,5 et al:
The Beijing ceremony was awesome and beautiful. But really, go back and look at the Athens ceremony on YouTube. Many of the memorable elements of the Beijing ceremony were previously done, to greater effect, in Athens. For example, flying torchbearers! Overall, the Beijing ceremony thematically was very focused on China. What made the Athens ceremony more appealing and more mysterious, ultimately, was its modernity and its humanism — tying together mythological themes with science and rationality, and bringing the Olympic games into an overall interpretive context having to do with ‘Man’ and the meaning of humanity (reason, love, eros, science, self-awareness). The Beijing ceremony was simply about ‘China’ and its success. So although the Beijing show was ‘bigger’ and had ‘more,’ it was ultimately smaller and less ambitious. Ultimately, both Athens and Beijing have really raised the bar of what it means to host the Olympic games.
— Posted by Bears are Fat
85. August 9th,
2008
7:02 pm
It would have been great had someone taken the control box away from the director. I got dizzy trying to keep up with all the fast switching of the camera shots. It was horrible. Why couldn’t they hold a shot longer than 3 seconds. I felt cheated. While we were constantly being shown close-up after close-up of someone’s face we were missing the overall shot of what the event was trying to show. Totally messed-up and almost unwatchable !!!! Shame, Shame Shame on NBC !!!
— Posted by Jim
86. August 9th,
2008
7:09 pm
Having watched it in China with no commercial interruptions alI I can tell the American audience is that corporate control, media manipulation, dis-information, propaganda, censorship and brainwashing are the foundations of your supposedly free press. Wake up and do something about it instead of being the passive sheep you are. Write to the FCC, GE and NBC. Boycott their advertisers. Do anything but sit their like the overstuffed, in-debt, unthinking creatures you’ve become.
If the FCC were 10% as concerned about media manipulation as Janet Jackson’s left nipple you’d probably not have a war in Iraq today. And there would be 600,000 more Iraqi’s alive right now.
— Posted by Rob Lowe
87. August 9th,
2008
7:17 pm
I always look forward to the Opening Ceremonies with GREAT anticipation. Last night I had a hard time getting emotionally charged, the broadcast by NBC just didn’t do it for me; it fell flat. The ceremonies themselves were spectacular, maybe the DVD will provide me the uninterrupted joy that was missing. Hope NBC covered their expenses.
— Posted by E Paul Lian
88. August 9th,
2008
7:32 pm
I was truly impressed by the Opening Ceremoniy. I was particularly impressed by EVERYTHING. I agree that the announcers should not have been talking over the children’s choir singing their National Anthem. It was rude and disrespectful. I don’t believe announcers talk over our National Anthem when it is played. What was the reason for the announcers anyway? Granted, there is much we don’t know about China, but give us the imformation, then shut up. It seems that many broadcasters are afraid of silence on their part. A good announcer knows when to be quiet and let history happen.
— Posted by patsijean
89. August 9th,
2008
7:32 pm
The ceremony showed only a very tiny portion of the very profound chinese culture so the people at china say it’s an average. Anyway, one hour of 5000 years of history is definitly the most challenge ever.
— Posted by Chinese fish
90. August 9th,
2008
7:36 pm
I have read most of the comments posted here…
I live in China, and watched the opening ceremonies on CCTV1, uninterrupted (uninterrupted by commercials) and some 4 hours in length.
Also, I worked on 3 Olympic Games coverage, for ABC Sports (I loved the line, ‘Oh how I miss Jim McKay and ‘Wide World of Sports’).
First of all, NBC paid almost $1 billion U.S. just for the rights. Of course, they’re going to load up the telecast with commercials (NBC, owned by G.E., likes to make a profit). This is all about capitalism, which most of you like). If you don’t like the situation in the U.S.I suggest you move to another country, like China (where you can watch the Opening Cermonies uninterrupted). You can’t have your cake and eat it too!
Greetings from Xining, China!
— Posted by F.A. Hutchison, China
91. August 9th,
2008
7:42 pm
I went to see the dress rehearsal on August 5,2008 and the effect could not be simply described by the word spectacular. The Chinese Culture indeed deserve he world, especially friends in America to learn. Harmony and peace is highly valued in the Chinese Culture. If you study China more, You will find that most of the negative propaganda in the Western media are unjustified and unfair to China.
Those who tried to boycott (or boycotted) the Beijing Olympic games should feel sorry (if not ashamed)for themselves.
— Posted by One from Beijing, China
92. August 9th,
2008
8:03 pm
I was exasperated after the 1st half-hour and was trying to find another channel to watch. NBC wasted precious airtime on propaganda about China, disasters, and individual athletes. They advertised they were covering the Opening Ceremonies, but it was past 7 pm CST before we saw any of it.
I thought Bob Costas and Matt Lauer had left their notes at home, they were so terrible, it was embarrassing! Why couldn’t we have someone from China’s production team explain the meaning of the different sequences, the significance of each scene, and the history of China that produced the development of the spectacular ceremony? I would love to have heard from a woman about the design and meaning of the costumes.
Everyone talks about China and its infringement of human rights, we better start worrying about our freedoms here first. We can’t even watch what we want and we’re paying for cable TV.
WE WERE ROBBED!
— Posted by Natalie
93. August 9th,
2008
8:03 pm
NBC, for all its hype about online, live videos is STILL tape delaying some sports. The 400 IM is over. But it is going to be aired tonigt. They women’s team gymnastics qualifying is starting tonight. It cannot be accessed. They are still cherry picking what they want to show to us. The “Prime time” stuff is delayed and chopped up for commercials. So much for the unprecedented coverage.
— Posted by George NY
94. August 9th,
2008
8:38 pm
@93 - “The 400 IM is over”.
No, it’s not; the final is scheduled for 10:03am Beijing time, which is 10:03pm in New York. NBC had the swimming finals moved so that they could be shown live in primetime.
— Posted by expat
95. August 9th,
2008
9:03 pm
Saw the ceremony on YouTube in its entirety (broadcasted by CCTV, the Chinese station) before the NBC broadcast. Unfortunately, YouTube has removed all of those uploads, thanks to NBC.
— Posted by Jen
96. August 9th,
2008
9:05 pm
#28, I Tnk Chinadid not take NBC’s money for the authorize to televise he program, it is IOC..to other two posts, the director’s name is Zhang Yimou.
— Posted by Tiger
97. August 9th,
2008
9:37 pm
Of all the things that NBC omitted to show, the most unforgivable was the scene of the athletes taking the Olympic oath. Oh! Excuse me! For a moment I thought this was a genuine global sporting event, not a made-for-TV entertainment package.
— Posted by Joon
98. August 10th,
2008
12:09 am
“The opening ceremonies were a big bore with each part dragging out”
Thank you, Frank A. Langheinrich! I thought I was the only one who felt this way.
— Posted by MB
99. August 10th,
2008
12:09 am
Yes, the ceremony had dazzle, power and might….but to me it lacked the energetic soul and spontaneous human elements of Sydney, Athens and Barcelona. …More akin to something from a special effects movie from any cinema. The world’s largets LCD TV screen–big deal, no innovation there. I am tired of feeling like China is trying to buy admiration when they should just try to earn it from who they are–not this illusive PR campaign that is at odds with the nation’s true identity of control and repression vs. open creativity and collective cultural expression. Someone before in this blog sequence mentioned a remarkable similarity to the Berlin 1936 Games orchestrated by the Nazis. I agree. Did you see the Chines flag go up with those mechanically synchronized military soldiers in SS-like uniforms?….that was a chilling image. I’ll take an inspired, home-spun and soulful celebration of global humanity coming together any day before a mega expression of technology, electricity, overboard control and excessive bragging receipts.
— Posted by Mercury
100. August 10th,
2008
12:36 am
I loved the opening ceremony, especially the end. The pure amount of fireworks that were shot into the sky was impressive by itself. I don’t know why, but to me the ceremony was full of emotional value.. Just think about how long the performers must have practiced just for those few minutes that they’re on stage.
My eyes were glued to the screen the whole time. Bravo China! And by the full time, I meant the full four hours. Thank you CBC!
— Posted by Allen
101. August 10th,
2008
12:48 am
TO #88
Ya, they should not have interrupted. Just one thing, it was not Chinese anthem, it was a song from Greek.
— Posted by QH
102. August 10th,
2008
12:55 am
The awesome opening ceremony can be watched in hi-resolution on
http://www.nbcolympics.com/index.html
— Posted by George
103. August 10th,
2008
1:31 am
For those of you who assumed that the opening ceremony is a symbolic beginning of China’s world domination – RELAX. We Chinese put on a good show for all mankind to enjoy a peaceful sports event. You’re over thinking it. If you’re really concerned over world peace, do something about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has cost too many lives already. And for what cause?
One of the key messages of the show is harmony/peace. War-minded ones would probably never be capable of this level of understanding.
— Posted by Wenlian
104. August 10th,
2008
2:42 am
Without exception, every TV channel was blamed after broadcasting, live or not, since none of them could show all the wonders of the opening ceremony.
For way out, buy or download all the DVD versions from NBC,BBC CCTV, etc. — DB
— Posted by Jiefu
105. August 10th,
2008
4:46 am
I am shocked by some comments about the Beijing ceremony having no soul. Were we watching the same program? Think about all the time, effort, training and artistry that went into the ceremony! You could see the pride, joy and soul beaming from all the performers’ faces. The fact that they can do everything in synch shouldn’t be a detriment to them.
I also agree that the Beijing opening ceremonies leaned heavily on China’s history and culture, but that’s probably because it’s so mysterious to most of us. We know so much about most Western/European host countries/cities (Athens? Come one, we learn about Greek culture and how it is the basis of Western civilization as soon as we start school), but how many of us are familiar with Chinese culture? Certainly not the US athletes who, when asked what their favorite Chinese foods were, answered General Tsao chicken and fortune cookies. Why can’t we treat this as a fantastic opportunity to learn about a largely unknown country?
Also, the opening ceremonies showed me how much the Chinese (and Asian cultures in general) value teamwork. I remember Anthony Bourdain once said in a trip to Japan that baseball players in the US are all about boosting their own personal batting averages while Japanese baseball players will make sacrifices for the team. Watching the tai-chi performers line up just by looking at their neighbors made me understand that we don’t know the definition of teamwork at all. Just another cultural difference that struck me while I was watching the ceremonies.
I agree, I want a DVD of the Beijing Olympic ceremonies uninterrupted by commercials or commentaries. Maybe they can include the commentaries under the special features. Oh, I also want some kind of behind the scenes of the making of the Beijing ceremonies, with lots and lots of interviews with Zhang Yi Mou.
— Posted by Tiffany from Seattle
106. August 10th,
2008
4:58 am
As I watched the time-delayed opening ceremony on Friday night, how I wished that my television were capable of muting the so-called commentary of Costas, Lauer, et al., so that I could hear only the sounds of the drummers, the music, the voices speaking in French and Chinese. Could the blather by Lauer & Costas have been more insipid? I think not. Pity there’s no C-SPAN for the Olympics.
— Posted by CLD
107. August 10th,
2008
5:54 am
For #60: The music reflected the culture of China, one of the world’s oldest civilizations. They have their own classical music, and did not need the overplayed Wagnerian overtures to lend any sophistication to the musical score.
And while the presentation was superb, flawless and executed with needlepoint precision, it was quite obvious that this was China’s “coming out party” on the world stage, and was a well orchestrated, chilling display pf China’s military might and the control it exercises over a population of 1.3 million.
— Posted by ellie
108. August 10th,
2008
7:29 am
just a test.
气势磅礴
— Posted by Zhu .mx
109. August 10th,
2008
7:41 am
welcome to china~~~ha
— Posted by lulu - china
110. August 10th,
2008
8:21 am
oh hi.I from china.It’s seemed most of you like the ceremony.It’s inclued so much cultrue of China.Did anyone notice the musical instrument that appeared At The Beginning(not the drumer).we call it “Guqin”.It’s history is more than 2000 years.I think it’s very intresting to hear the sound from 2000 years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW7ikqi9kQA&feature=rela ted
Here is a music from Youtube.It’s about a story of a assassin used ten years to kill a king in ancient China about 2500 years ago.Of course,The music is wrote at 1400 years ago.
— Posted by zhu.mx -china
111. August 10th,
2008
8:40 am
Good Golly, NBC ruined the opening ceremony (AGAIN)!!!
The endless commercials for My Name Is Earl and other equally important messages were interrupted every 3 to 4 minutes with those unnecessary spectacular displays of quality showmanship and production levels unmatched in the superior western world. The NBC Television Director needs to be fired because he ALMOST let the American audience see how GREAT of a show those “Others” could put on. The only thing I didn’t understand is that for the entire four and a half hours I was not given one single dose of my required Viagra reminders. Someone dropped the ball(s) there.
— Posted by Johnny
112. August 10th,
2008
10:00 am
I am shocked to see two readers had compared China 2008 with Germany in 1936. In what sense? China was invaded, divided, raped, bullied by the British imperialists, by 8 western foreign countries in the last century and by the Japanese imperialists in World War II…… China has gone through a lot of difficult times within their own country. NOW, gone forever are those times!!! China is no longer the China before. For those people to compare China and Germany, it is very disturbing.
— Posted by ali from NY
113. August 10th,
2008
10:29 am
I’m still thinking about how embarrassed I was by the color commentary from Costas and Lauer. I watched the Opening Ceremony with my French husband, two Australians and an Irish friend. I could not believe that the ugly Americans on TV made fun of other countries’ uniforms, complained about how hard it is to find Malaysia on a map, and misinformed viewers that the Jewish Sabbath started at midnight Friday night rather than sundown (when noting that Prime Minister Olmert was staying at a hotel within walking distance). Not to mention the fact that NBC showed President Bush looking bored and checking his watch… Ugh!
— Posted by GSS
114. August 10th,
2008
11:11 am
i’m a chinese.i hate cctv and bob the same! the cameraman almost destory the show!
— Posted by sunshine
115. August 10th,
2008
11:25 am
Is there any time that the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies will be broadcast? Not necessarily the parade, but the actual amazing entertainment with the whale video, globe of gymnists, etc.
That specific time at the ceremonies was the most amazing, and spectacular entertainment that I have ever witnessed.
Classy, Amazing!
S.
— Posted by Syndi McLeland
116. August 10th,
2008
11:41 am
For those who believe the soldiers’ demonstration were chilling, I just believe this is aftermath of the brain-washing of the media. Everytime when some journalists wanted to show this country is police controlled, they show the picture of one of two police wandering around. It is quite likely for some to have a sense of 1989 incident coming back or human rights violations as soon as they see the soldiers and police. But which country doesn’t have a soldier or police? Never forget US troops shot the pre-democracy students union in demonstration in the 80s in south korea. But look at the image of the soldiers in Iraq and Afganistan. Brave, handsome, dauntless, isn’t that one of the most chilling pictures for the families whose relatives died due to this capitalist war?
[NYT ed.: Not to support or dispute your argument, Jervice, but there is no evidence that US troops shot Korean student demonstrators in what has come to be known as the Kwangju Massacre in 1980. However, there is evidence that the US knew of and supported the Korean military government’s potentially violent decision to move troops against the demonstrators.]
— Posted by Jervice
117. August 10th,
2008
11:45 am
I never know people are censoring this place. God. I should really believe in Conspiracy Theories!
— Posted by jervice
118. August 10th,
2008
11:52 am
Hello my American friends.
As a Chinese I am very happy to see that you love the Beijing 2008 opening ceremony. We wish you could enjoy the joy of the Olympics.And we also welcome you to come to China to see the great changes in our country.
欢迎来到中国，愿您愉快!
Welcome to China , best wishes!
Anything to tell me : mysou@163.com
— Posted by Guan Yun
119. August 10th,
2008
11:54 am
北京欢迎您！
Welcome to BeiJing!
— Posted by CN_P
120. August 10th,
2008
11:59 am
Perfect,Bejing Olympic!
— Posted by 王顺吉
121. August 10th,
2008
12:07 pm
welcome to beijing
— Posted by bonney
122. August 10th,
2008
12:09 pm
our chidren and grandchildren missed beijing opening ceremonies. can they be replayed during day time hours suitable for young ones?
— Posted by ev.laflamme
123. August 10th,
2008
12:15 pm
北京欢迎你
— Posted by 格格达
124. August 10th,
2008
12:37 pm
Can anyone please provide me a link where I can watch the Opening Ceremony? I cannot find it on the NBC Olympics site nor can I seem to find it anywhere on the net.
Thanks
— Posted by Tom Vlasic
125. August 10th,
2008
12:51 pm
谢谢支持哦！～
— Posted by wangqian
126. August 10th,
2008
12:51 pm
Poor GB has to face the greatest challenge
— Posted by alston
127. August 10th,
2008
12:52 pm
NYT: sorry for the wrong message. You are right. The US government were alleged to have known of the massacre plan befre the incident but no evidence shown yet for US soldiers shooting students. But the government’s support for the atrocious south korea military government was really an unclean page behind the iron curtain.
— Posted by Jervice
128. August 10th,
2008
1:36 pm
http://www.cctvolympics.com/main.php?type=guest
— Posted by gyt
129. August 10th,
2008
2:03 pm
NBC, just get the Openning Ceremony DVD published ASAP or I’ll be so ticked-off!
— Posted by Dexter
130. August 10th,
2008
2:39 pm
Amazing!!!
— Posted by Zerone
131. August 10th,
2008
2:40 pm
NBC’s good at catching the whole theme and views at least.CCTV just failed to do so although they do not interrupt the ceremony.
— Posted by linyunf
132. August 10th,
2008
3:48 pm
welcome to china
chinese people welcome everyone
— Posted by chinese people
133. August 10th,
2008
4:32 pm
I found it amazing that CBC seemed to be the only channel that showed it live. It was in HD and it was STUNNING.
CBC seems to be airing more of the Olympics and China than NBC. CBC is also the least biased amongst most of the major networks in the West.
— Posted by Curt
134. August 10th,
2008
6:12 pm
I just wanted to comment that NBC have so many OLD WHITE MEN commenting (like this site) that I thought I was at a John McCain rally. The Olympics Opening Ceremony was unparalleled so get over your pedagogic supremacist jealousies. Maybe if LA gets the Olympics, we should dedicate 30 minutes to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to satisfy people who live for misery. Some of us can separate the love of China’s culture with the awful human rights records but can we Americans? Would you like some Whine with your cheese?
— Posted by (Just) Mike
135. August 10th,
2008
6:52 pm
I was born In Beijing…Im leaving in Germany…I’m so proud of China. I was fascinated by the opening ceremony!!!that was awesome!!!but I feel sorry for the Medias in Germany and France……they showed us again their unacceptable behivours.
— Posted by Jason
136. August 10th,
2008
8:48 pm
every people r not satisfied with their own media,chinese with CCTV and english with BBC and usa with MBC,haha ,People around the world do the samething
— Posted by shao
137. August 10th,
2008
9:05 pm
For #76: Thanks for your review about music and your good judgment, I must say. Your feeling about Chinese military is typically occidental, and I think I could understand you, in case I were in your place.
I’m Chinese, though. On the occasion of the great ceremony of the whole world, I would like to say something.The army is well supported in China. I hope the fact won’t frighten you. I’m really tired of the IQ-insulting “wash-brained propaganda” blahblah; better admit that if we have very different opinion of one thing, it’s possibly because of different interests. The Chinese know well where theirs have been placed, just like you all about yours.
Return to the subject: we support the army and admire the solders. Why not? How they look handsome in their proper uniform and their dignified posture. I mean especially the honor guard who raise the flag. Raising the flag is a famous sight in Beijing; you should arrive very early, even spend one night on the square in order to occupy a place of good view. We honor them; since they protect and save us from the flood coming EVERY SUMMER (earthquakes occasionally, the last one occurred several months ago even you have heard of; and many other natural disasters), that is their most important function during the peaceful period, and we see EVERY YEAR our normal life to be secure by their discipline and self-sacrifice. I was really frightened as I’d been told that your soldiers came to New Orleans with weapons!
Just ten years ago, a big flood attacked about twenty provinces of China, each having a territory up to a small European country, but with much bigger population. That is a raison-d’etre of a powerful centralization system, to deploy the resources of one half of China to another half, to decide to strengthen one region, or to give up one another. How to handle this complex and urgent situation with about twenty independent states? And I’m quite sure that the E.U. could have been founded long time ago if they’ had one or two great mother rivers causing a lot big troubles, which are treated as real war in China.
Permit me to disturb you with more old stories: The “real” history of China (Huaxia，ancient name) began at a legendary event some four up to five thousand years ago, that many small kingdoms, tribes, communities and so on consented to unite to resist an unprecedented big flood. Since then, the same story happened again and again.
I mentioned history; China is well-know for her long and continuous history. Europeans and Americans also have a very long history (as we all are descended from a small tribe of African apes), only you couldn’t write nor remember it. Sometimes I think we Chinese have got too much to remember, too much burden.
Believe or not, we young Chinese are raised in a circumstance with official public opinions quite inclined to the West. For me, just since this year or two I’ve learned the hatred from the other side of the world. Anyway, China didn’t do harm to you, but just some countries with glorious colonial expansion’s history whose record to us isn’t so clear and from whom we receive the most strong hostility, if we remind the history - and hypocritical it is.
However, as I glance over the reviews above, most common people despite the political difference show their common sense and could appreciate the beauty in the ceremony, and I’m confirmed that the cultural interchange would not be unuseful. Although the competition within countries is growing more acute, common people of different nationalities could choose not to be involved and make friends. So, why not try to?
At last, thanks for your patience and sorry about my poor English.
— Posted by Atthis2000
138. August 10th,
2008
9:35 pm
北京欢迎你
— Posted by karlwood
139. August 10th,
2008
9:39 pm
Thank you guys. I am from China.
— Posted by Nick ,Yao
140. August 10th,
2008
9:54 pm
Please tell us what date and time NBC will reshow the Opening Ceremony. I was at work during the showing and missed it.
Thanks
— Posted by John DeMars
141. August 10th,
2008
10:08 pm
呵呵 多谢大家的评价Thank you very much 欢迎大家到北京来~~o(∩_∩)o… Welcome to Beijing!!
— Posted by 程潇From China
142. August 10th,
2008
10:10 pm
As a very cynical person, I had to say the ceremony was way beyond my expectation and imagination; as a Chinese, however, no matter how proud I am for the country, I still wish there won’t be another event like that in China - we were literally burning money in air.
— Posted by Rime
143. August 10th,
2008
10:16 pm
呵呵 谢谢大家支持~~~ 欢迎到北京来玩o(∩_∩)o… Welcome
to Beijing!!!
— Posted by 程潇From China
144. August 10th,
2008
10:18 pm
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, Guys, Im happy u like this show, I’m a Chinese student in US, I was soooo proud of this show!
Olympic is the only thing that can bring the world together, and Chinese is showing our welcome!
I don’t know if it is illegal, but here is the BBC version download add: http://www.torrentreactor.net/torrents/2006356/The-Olym pic-Games-2008-Opening-Ceremony-Full-Show
It is big:2.6G, and I spent allday downloading… Just hope more people can enjoy it! ：）
— Posted by Yan
145. August 10th,
2008
10:29 pm
Wow a presentation worthy of Chinas deep cultural and artistic history. Even though the commercials were every ten minutes it was still great to watch. I hope somebody made a recording without the commercials in it.
— Posted by D English
146. August 10th,
2008
10:36 pm
It’s awesome and incredible! I was totally shocked by the show. Unfortunately,the CCTV’s casting technique is very terrible!!
— Posted by Play
147. August 10th,
2008
10:49 pm
我是中国人，我自豪！中国加油，奥运加油！！！
— Posted by Donny.Huang
148. August 10th,
2008
11:04 pm
Be frank with you, as a Chinese, I was shocked by the sweat of the play actors more than the show itself.
— Posted by Vincent Chang
149. August 10th,
2008
11:20 pm
Welcome to Beijing! Welcome to China!
— Posted by Annie
150. August 10th,
2008
11:25 pm
Shao #134: Good point! Everyone seems dissatisfied by their country’s media coverage of the glorious opening ceremony. People are the same all over the world. :-) Except maybe the Canadians, who seem to be happy with CBC’s coverage. Lucky Canadians.
— Posted by CLD
151. August 10th,
2008
11:52 pm
The world is very small and its our only home. Something like this amazing Openning Ceremony is a chance to bridge culture divdes and extend goodwill. Peace and Haramony in the world, who wouldn’t want that?
— Posted by Alex
152. August 11th,
2008
1:11 am
I am a Chinese,thanks for your praise~~~I’d like these opening so much,it is make me excited!!! I am very proud!!!
— Posted by 扬扬
153. August 11th,
2008
1:34 am
有朋自远方来不亦乐乎 Welcome my friends
— Posted by yiping
154. August 11th,
2008
1:35 am
thank #142
— Posted by ALEX
155. August 11th,
2008
1:39 am
the opening ceremonies of cctv:
http://www.lanray.com/tools/CCTV.torrent
the opening ceremonies of NBC:
http://www.lanray.com/tools/NBC.torrent
the opening ceremonies of BBC:
http://www.lanray.com/tools/BBC.torrent
— Posted by 寒羽
156. August 11th,
2008
2:00 am
there are quite some negative comments in China local forum as most of them worried whether the west get the meaning of those history/culture stuff of China. i would like to buy a DVD if available either…
— Posted by James
157. August 11th,
2008
2:23 am
Welcome to Beijing,you and me,we are famliy. 北京欢迎你！(Beijing welcomes you)
— Posted by Wang
158. August 11th,
2008
2:28 am
Welcome
to Beijing!!!
北京欢迎您!中国欢迎您!
— Posted by 文翔
159. August 11th,
2008
3:00 am
thanks for all of your affirmative,i am chinese, i am pond of this splendid olympics ceremony. welcome to china!!!
— Posted by kevin shi
160. August 11th,
2008
3:10 am
one world ,one dream.welcome to china!!!
— Posted by Kevin
161. August 11th,
2008
3:12 am
Let us look forward to closing ceremony!
Welcome to Beijing!
Welcome to China!
— Posted by 谭
162. August 11th,
2008
3:14 am
welcome to BeiJing~~
You’ll be attracted by its culture and history.
— Posted by 卫飞
163. August 11th,
2008
3:20 am
Welcome to china .Welcome to Beijing 欢迎到北京来玩
— Posted by shi
164. August 11th,
2008
3:49 am
i am a chinese.welcome to china.
中国欢迎你！
— Posted by 江恒
165. August 11th,
2008
4:59 am
Even as a Chinese, I was also disappointed at the LIVE on CCTV, which is in the same position as NBC in USA. Frankly, except the commercial and commmentary, and the cut in some parts of the scenes on NBC, the NBC version of the opening ceremony is much better than what I saw on CCTV.
Compared with unintelligible scenes of the feet of athletes, the numerous shots of waving-fan leaders, and the inclined long distant shots of the whole scenes which make the watchers cant see the beatiful pictures presented in LED clearly, I think I’d rather watch the NBC version and endure the noises and cuts.
You guys really should be content what you have…
HOPE Zhang Yimou can release a director version of the SHOW.
— Posted by Mariposa
166. August 11th,
2008
5:52 am
Acutally the beijing opera with opera muppets quite rocks if u have some basic knowledge about that, especially above the screen with the fabulous beautiful belle painting of Tang Dynasty
— Posted by suvi
167. August 11th,
2008
6:05 am
I would like to congratulate China on its inexpressibly spectacular and moving opening pageant performances. Never before have I been so impressed. The messages the pageant’s organizers sought to impart were not lost on these eyes and ears.
The Chinese have something of which to be unrepentantly proud.
I am told that the 2012 Olympics games will be held in London, England. Poor England! How can they possibly live up to this impressive precedent?
Well done, China! Well done, indeed!
— Posted by Joshua
168. August 11th,
2008
7:12 am
just like a movie needing a good cameraman, the ceremony is quite the same.NBC is way beyond CCTV in this aspect.
— Posted by Damahou
169. August 11th,
2008
7:37 am
My English is poor.
But I want to say:Welcome to Beijing!
— Posted by 瞿
170. August 11th,
2008
8:04 am
you and me, from one world, we are family!
有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎！
— Posted by wallce di
171. August 11th,
2008
8:22 am
Simply spectacular! WOW! I’ve never in my life seen anything so amazingly beautiful!
Well done, China! Poor GB is not likely to match that.
— Posted by Hang
172. August 11th,
2008
8:38 am
yes, well come to china!!
— Posted by 杰
173. August 11th,
2008
9:13 am
The pictures on the net is much more beautiful than TV show. maybe the TV cameras are not enough for the show.
— Posted by Victor Lee
174. August 11th,
2008
9:45 am
Bienvenue en Chine~
Welcome to Beijing~
———-Lyci in PARIS
— Posted by Lyci
175. August 11th,
2008
9:47 am
CLD #
in china we say the ceremony was ruined，as i say it was just like someone stepped on your icecream,it was the icecream but it was not what you want to see.
when the fireworks formed a flower,we just see single firework on the screen,when it formed 5 rings,we just see those leaders from other country,when there are 2008 smile faces we juse see not more than 5 of them_____there are too many things they didnt show us on TV.
so now we find the cameraman is from sweden，sentence from(mummy),give me everything but him,hope when the games close,it will not be him there.
we now asking if the drictor zhang yimou would cut the type himself and give us a diffrent copy,if so ,that will be the best one.
— Posted by shao
176. August 11th,
2008
10:56 am
Welcome to Beijing!
— Posted by 蒋
177. August 11th,
2008
11:28 am
The ceremony is impressive. But the pity is I missed some scenes. Where can I buy a DVD?
— Posted by Michael
178. August 11th,
2008
12:10 pm
enjoy Olympic games in Beijing,my freinds. Gruess Gott.
— Posted by China 于
179. August 11th,
2008
2:03 pm
I guess I must be a complete klutz. I kind of like Costas, I didn’t resent the commercials (someone has to pay for it), I was unaware of the logo in the corner, and I see no reason to telecast an event like this live while people are at work and couldn’t watch it anyway.
I’m proud of the USA and happy for the Chinese. Goodness! All those positive thoughts. I guess I’m just a misfit.
— Posted by Puzzled
180. August 11th,
2008
3:40 pm
well done
chinese really
— Posted by Cris Yellezel
181. August 11th,
2008
3:47 pm
DVD is definitely necessary.
— Posted by solaris
182. August 11th,
2008
5:37 pm
Zhang Yimou(director of this ceremony)said that the money spend for all four ceremonies (Opening and Closing ceremonies,special Olympics)together are less than one Asian Games hold by Doha,which spend about $200 million.
And they used special powder for those worried about firework pollutions
— Posted by Ray
183. August 11th,
2008
5:54 pm
中国 加油！
— Posted by China-xbk
184. August 11th,
2008
5:56 pm
You are welcome to China!
— Posted by 贾汪风雨
185. August 11th,
2008
6:50 pm
I read both Chinese and American comments on the TV broadcastings of Beijing Olympics opening ceremony from CCTV and NBC.
Quite interesting, Chinese audiences complained that the CCTV simply doesn’t know what they are doing; they had poor photographing techniques, missed and screwed up too many beautiful scenes; while, American audience grumbled about NBC “butchered the dramatic transitions by inserting excessive commercials.” [#20]
I didn’t have a chance to watch the CCTV version of the ceremony. For the NBC version, I think that NBC didn’t really get some points in the 5000 years of China’s history, culture & arts presented in the ceremony, though, they did their homework. NBC did good job to display the stunning beautiful pictures.
I hope that the Olympic Committee could authorize Zhang Yimou to make a “Director Cut” version of the opening ceremony. I am sure that the IOC can make tone of money by selling DVD of Zhang Yimou’s own version of this incomparable ceremony.
— Posted by whoiszizi
186. August 11th,
2008
7:35 pm
i’m Chinese and glad to see so many american friends give positiv comments to the ceremoney.And about the ceremony, it’s really a good chance for us to show something about typical chinese culture,history to those who are not farmilar with China.So Olympics is fulfilling his function as a bridge to connect nations with different culture.hope east and west learn more about each other,and therefor more peace and harmony.
— Posted by timo
187. August 11th,
2008
8:06 pm
hey, put your DVD on ebay, I will buy one.
— Posted by MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ
188. August 11th,
2008
8:18 pm
The DVD already be available at 58RMB(9USD) in China today.
Don’t know whether it comes into the market at the same time in North America.
— Posted by China Superman
189. August 11th,
2008
8:29 pm
Objective and positive comments, thank Americans.
Hope the Olympic game can build up communicated and comprehend bridges between us.
— Posted by burney
190. August 11th,
2008
8:53 pm
All the online videos are blocked. Anyone knows where to buy a DVD? Thanks
— Posted by Cynthia
191. August 11th,
2008
9:32 pm
China’s history and culture is much much much or 5000 years more than this 3-hours opening ceremony. Do you guys know the chinese character shown in the opening? Do you know why they put it? YOu will never catch the point unless you really understand Chinese culture. Do not trust what you see or heard through your TV or newspaper.
Welcome to china to have a look, and you will get a great surprise with China.
— Posted by Max
192. August 11th,
2008
9:42 pm
high tech + many many people
only India has a chance to do something on the same level in the future
— Posted by Jason Bourne
193. August 11th,
2008
9:50 pm
Just remind you guys, you get ceremony DVD in Main St., Flushing, NY.
I bought one there yesterday, cost me 3 dollars.
— Posted by wanshousi
194. August 11th,
2008
10:26 pm
I am a Chinese and I did not go to the Opening because I was in a business trip from Beijing to Nanking on 8/8/2008! What a pity!!!
I actually think London might do something special as England was and is a great country and they might give us a surprise. Good luck!
— Posted by John Shen
195. August 11th,
2008
10:55 pm
Just read Chinese news.
After three-g Bush family visited Beijing. Guess what happen?
(1)His father is regarded by Chinese as “the greatest ” leader in the world.
(2)His wife is regarded as “the most “beautiful first lady (compared with the most beautiful but Chinese’s unfavorable French one?)
(3)His daughter is regared as “the hottest” girl in the world (compared with Paris who is a nobody in China?)
No doubt young Chinese think Bush is “lovely”( another term of funny?). No Chinese said Bush himself was what “the most “. But since Chinese is so mad about his father, wife, daughter…..
— Posted by John Smith
196. August 11th,
2008
11:11 pm
Anybody can tell me where i can see the opening ceremony by NBC.
Someone told me it is more holonomic than i wathced from CCTV,even now i find NBC have too many advertisements。
— Posted by gordy
197. August 11th,
2008
11:26 pm
This opening ceremony is very typical a Zhang YiMou style. Great amount of participants, great effects of light & etc., To us chinese people, his show looks great but not so many to remembered. He mentioned many aspects of chinese culture, but none in depth. In a word, a little bit superficial, at least to my eyes. But the appeareance is great.
But I guess for foreigners who is not so familiar with chinese culture, it showed something totally new, so it is very good.
If you got interested, you can visit Li Jiang (Li River) in GuangXi province, and Zhang Yi Mou has a live show performed every night there, with a lake as the thearther, and two mountain as the backgrounds, with a lighting system cost of billion RMB, and almost a 1000 participants. I was told by my guid when I was there that Director zhang earns half a million RMB everyday from this show.
— Posted by Li Jun
198. August 11th,
2008
11:38 pm
I am touched by your concern for the opening ceremony. In fact, we are still complaining about CCTV broadcast. Recommend to download the video of the Hong Kong TVB
— Posted by Peng
199. August 12th,
2008
12:02 am
I’m so proud for my motherland
— Posted by Enix
200. August 12th,
2008
12:04 am
Yeah,The bob of CCTV did bad in the ceremony.When the Chinese did not watch a wonderful ceremony which had been prapared for there years
— Posted by cuijiudai China
201. August 12th,
2008
12:09 am
to 191, i am chinese too, i know it’s not easy to understand all even for a chinese. but i don’t like the way you are saying. it’s also difficult to understand the western things. however, if people in U.S are interested in China’s history, I beleive they will be shocked. too many things to learn. and totally different from that in U.S
U.S is a great nation.
— Posted by vincent wang
202. August 12th,
2008
12:10 am
Agreed! I like Bush. He’s funny and lovely. We(Chinese) believe that Barbara is so beautiful when we saw the photo that she was in Water Cubic with Bush. ===================================================
Just read Chinese news.
After three-g Bush family visited Beijing. Guess what happen?
(1)His father is regarded by Chinese as “the greatest ” leader in the world.
(2)His wife is regarded as “the most “beautiful first lady (compared with the most beautiful but Chinese’s unfavorable French one?)
(3)His daughter is regared as “the hottest” girl in the world (compared with Paris who is a nobody in China?)
No doubt young Chinese think Bush is “lovely”( another term of funny?). No Chinese said Bush himself was what “the most “. But since Chinese is so mad about his father, wife, daughter…..
— Posted by John Smith
— Posted by Sasa Zan
203. August 12th,
2008
12:57 am
To those posts who think the Beijing show is soulless.
Do you see the Chinese character with the meaning of peace and harmony, repeated by three times (with its modifications in the long history)?
Do you see how the Tai Chi players act in harmony with the nature and how they react with their team members?
Do you listen the song of You and Me sung by Chinese Liu Huan and British Sarah Brightman on the blue Earth planet?
Do you see the final torch bearer carrying the fire and chasing the sun (in a symbolic way)?
Sit back a while and think about humanity from some perspective different from Western/Greek way?
The Western culture is great, placing individuals first. But the Oriental culture placed “collectives” as important as, if not more important than, individual interests. For good or for bad, that is the way billions of Chinese are breathing it and living it, and now are showing it in the opening ceremony.
At last, Welcome to Beijing, and stop pointing others with fingers still dripping fresh blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent Irapi and Aghanistan people, thank you!
— Posted by RC in Beijing
