China has redefined live television. The arrival of the Olympic torch to Tiananmen Square - under heavy security - was beamed into Chinese homes this lunchtime by state broadcaster CCTV.
In the corner was a word suggesting that the images we were watching were being transmitted as fast as cables could carry them, directly from Beijing's central landmark: "LIVE"
However, it seems China is uncomfortable with the traditional definition of the live broadcast. AFP reports that the images were transmitted after a one-minute delay, presumably so any unsavory images, like those that interrupted the lighting of the torch in Greece, would not be inflicted on its audience.
Tiananmen's vast square was emptied of traffic, tourists and local residents, to ensure nobody could protest about human rights, or Tibet, or Taiwan, or Darfur, or the price of pigs (see previous postings).
The chances of a security breach looked pretty slim. But is this what we can expect during the 2008 Olympic Games? Delayed transmission? The 100m sprint will have finished before we even see the athletes in the blocks.
That's it. I'm officially outraged. I'm heading down to Tiananmen to protest - in real time.
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