One of the 3 major national television networks in Korea, SBS did an Olympic-sized boo boo yesterday by leaking footage of the opening ceremony rehearsals of the Beijing Olympics in August 2008.
As a result of the incident, the Chinese people are naturally not happy campers and other 2 TV stations, KBS and MBC, are not amused. A spokesperson from KBS noted that SBS has had a history of committing such offenses. Both KBS and MBC are worried that their broadcasting privileges might be affected since the 3 stations signed an agreement together with the Olympic Committee (IOC)
It’s not known whether SBS will face any type of reprimand from Olympic organizers over this very unfortunate breach of security.
What do you think? Should broadcasting privileges be revoked for SBS?
[Note spoiler alert! If you have been waiting to watch the Opening ceremony, then DON'T watch it]. But, if you do decide to, then it’s super cool!!]
You can check out the clip of the opening ceremony rehearsals at ABC News here.
^I see, it’s interesting that you criticize China about it’s ‘lack of humanity’ when you pretty much made the statement that innocent children and families deserved to died in an earthquake because of ‘karma’.
Natalie:
No, you misunderstood my point! The nature of Karma so to speak is “Action causes reaction” even sometimes to the innocent being. The children and families didn’t deserve to die, I believe Karma worked against China through natural disaster. In this case, the earthquake wiped out many innocent lives bringing hardship and suffering to China for the atrocious actions against Tibet, Darfur, North Korean refugees, and their own people. God speaks when Karma reaps…one might say God is angry at China for its past and current actions. One might even say it’s God’s way of sending a message while China is preparing to glorify themselves through olympics.
I would not have elaborated on Karma if it wasn’t for all these less than Orangutan IQ bloggers here who mentioned Karma every so often regarding SBS.
As I said, punishing athletes by boycotting olympics at this stage is futile, hence I support the olympics for the sake of the athletes who put in so much sacrifice pouring blood, sweat, and tears to fufill their dreams. Since that’s where I stand, then you must allow SBS to televise the athletes and their glorious moments. Hold those few who are responsible for the leakage accountable through fines or other measures of discpline, but SBS in its entirety should not be banned.
Megane:
I’m simply stating the facts, far from whining if that’ll ever occur to you. And I do plead my cases to where you mentioned including China Daily news, Chinese embassy, and practically anywhere blogs are concerned.
…GOD is GOOD…and Karma is another story…it’s just a rephrasing of what goes around comes around…SBS did a disservice to uploaders in YouTube and now they’ve done much worse.
@Miyaka
so much for the tight security when a lone reporter is able to sneak a handcam through to a restricted area of few invited reporters. can u imagine how easy it would be for terrorists to sneak bombs through while blending in with a mass of people during opening ceremony and throughout competition games??? i don’t buy your theory of how this reporter was able to sneak through the chinese officials with such high level of security, Truth’s theory makes more sense…chinese officals were most likely bribed.
@Chino
brilliantly written to the point, cold hard facts indeed.
i’d like to add besides human rights issues, china is the world leader in contributing to global warming. china completely relies on coal to generate their power. they are constantly building new coal plants every year, coal releases what’s called “CO2″ or Carbon Dioxide(greenhouse gas) into air which causes smog, pollution, and global warming. coal energy is cheaper to use than nuclear energy, but countries like france, england, and japan which uses entirely on nuclear have the cleanest air quality in the world. china is essentially killing their own people, their neighbors, and nature by using this form of cheap energy. having a clean air quality is essential for good respiratory system, overall health, and longevity. reducing cars on the street have little to no effect when u have tons of greenhouse gasses produced everyday. being a world superpower doesn’t mean anything if u are mistreating people, it’s neighbors, and the environment. china cannot and will not become a great country if these issues are not addressed.
dang. how can some of you guys just defend SBS like that?
YOU ANTI CHINESE PEOPLE!
and please stop bringing religion into the picture. I think it’s offensive to people not believe in it.
Also, people bring up political issues against China, but how is China being any different than other countries with power?
And i never though annexing Tibet was too bad. China has spent a lot of money on Tibet. They took away slavery in Tibet too.
Everyone here is just being brainwashed with Western propaganda. no matter how neutral we say we are, if we’re living in the west, i believe it affects us.
oh btw, do you all REALLY think that China’s security screwed up? That is the dumbest explanation I have EVER heard/read!
This is the practice, and OTHER countries are there as well to make sure their camera angles are correct. it’s just that the other countries have the decency to respect the Olympics [regardless of location e.g. China] by not filming.
SBS deserved it.
KARMA!!!!!
Ami:
Anti-Chinese…Brain Washed with Western Propaganda…What about other countries of power…Annexing Tibet is not that bad??? Your response is a very predictable and typical common Chinese response whenever hardline approach of issues are brought up. Core of the issues I’ve stated including Musashi’s evironmental effects are completely avoided through accusation of Anti-Chinese/Brain Washed blah blah rhetoric. You might as well go tell the Tibetans that annexation of their country isn’t so bad and while you’re at it, do go tell Koreans that annexation by Imperial Japan was reasonable to help modernize Korea. Let’s see what kind of reaction will be presented to you, don’t bet on being a happy one. You could also go ask Hu Jia and see what he says, but you should be accustomed to Beijing’s propaganda based on your response.
China has systematically taken over Tibet, abolishing slavery was good but can you say the same for setting up whorehouses full of Tibetan underaged girls where new Chinese business establishments are set up for the sake of modernizing Tibet? Tibet was once a peaceful heavily Buddhist influenced country, the only way Tibetans will be happy is if you allow its people to freely choose who will govern them. Tibetans are not Chinese, they have different customs, language, food, culture in general. Tibet is a sovereign nation, if you annex and occupy a nation of independence…then you are essentially oppressing them.
Tough stance and constant pressure against China is the only way to change their ways of concern. Otherwise, they’ll do whatever they please. America has a dunce of president in Bush, hopefully Obama is elected and develops a hardline approach against China’s human rights and environmental issues.
To cap it off, if you read thoroughly instead of just scanning through it, I stated those who are responsible for the leakage should be held accountable but not SBS in its entirety in comparison to boycotting Olympics is futile for the sake of the athletes.
Chino,
Regarding the earthquake disaster: I believe in a different God.
I agree with you about supporting the Olympics for the athletes and performers. I still think it’s fair to ‘punish’ SBS as a whole because SBS employees represent their company, and it’s a consequence to consider when they weren’t careful about who they hire and monitor what they do on the job. The other channels can cover it and everyone can still watch the Olympics.
Of course, I’m not ignorant about the wrong China has done and is still doing. You’re underestimating the awareness younger Chinese generations have about the wrongdoings of their government, though. I’m not saying there’s no censoring, but technology has ushered in the age of globalization and vast information where young people are expose to and are enabled to learn more than what the government tells them.
That being said, can the US pick up the world police role again and lay down the hard rule like what they’ve done in the Middle East? Considering that China has become more independent and wealthy, I don’t think that’ll work. The more effective way to make those changes is for the US to work internally with the Chinese people who are already working towards making those progress, and provide them with those resources and knowledge to stand up to their government’s traditional way of thinking.
I thought this was about how sbs breached their confidentiality contract. Not about how the chinese are “flexing their muscles”, “being chinese” whatever that means, and “not humane.” I’m chinese and I disagree with the government but does that make ALL chinese people bad. I was born in America and lived there my whole life yet I was treated like I just came from china, is that humane? It’s weird how a simple thing like the Olympics can cause such controversy. It doesn’t matter if its in China or Italy or America or anywhere. Also everyone talks about Karma and that bullshit. That earthquake shouldn’t be made about Karma. That earthquake was a tragedy and yet everyone talks about it as oh they deserved it. Those thousands of kids did not die because china deserved it. So think about what you say first about tragedies like that. Sharon Stone learned her lesson.
That was to respond to impulse commenters. About the actual article I think that sbs should have broadcasting privileges revoked. If you think about it from a preformance perspective, you’re working on an opening to try and awe viewers but someone breaches their contract and leaks a video of the “practice” to the world. Anyone would be angry at that. That’s my thought on this subject.
@ami
i was responding to Miyaka who claimed that no reporters were allowed to enter with a cam but the korean reporter must have sneaked in with it admist all that tight security. and i said i didn’t buy Miyaka’s theory if that’s the case otherwise terrorists will have a field day during the games, with that said…Truth’s theory made more sense. you should read more carefully and from the root of this matter you dummy.
Natalie:
Good enough, finally someone acknowledged. I was confident with a matter time an opened minded Chinese would come forward with acknowledgement and looking towards changes.
God, Karma, Existentialism, Metaphysics, Transcedent Forces…I can talk all day, at this point it’s pretty much become a gravy so there’s no need to continue.
Obviously we have different views on the SBS disciplinary action, I’ll top it off this way…this isn’t the military when one cadet screws up then the entire unit is punished. If a police officer and his/her sergeant who represents District A were guilty of senseless police brutality shooting, I don’t think it would be wise to suspend the entire police station as a method of disciplinary action. Crime will inevitably rise in that neck of the woods even if officers from distant division were to migrate and patrol the suspended area. Many hardworking and honest employees of SBS rely on paycheck/bonuses based on viewer ratings to pay bills and feed their families.
There’s a flaw with your last statement, sounds good but ultimately will not work. There will be too much resistance from those who yearn for economic benefits versus too few who are for changes…withdrawing from Tibet, allowing N. Korean refugees to settle in China, lowering greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy or destroying coal plants and replacing them by building nuclear plants will take enormous financial hit. Even in the United States, majority of the energy is produced through coal mining thanks to the biggots of Sierra club who threatens politicians of not funding their campaigns if they don’t restrict nuclear plant production. Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986 in Soviet Union happened because the power plant was poorly built and no detainment center was available for such incident. In this day in age, disasters like that will never happen due to modern technology, but obviously Sierra club thinks otherwise. Going nuclear is expensive but better for mother earth, generations from now I wish this planet not to be destroyed but beautifully intact for my future bloodlines. US can’t pressure China at this point, Bush’s administration has piled up too much debt through loans of billions in dollars from China daily for Iraqi operation. New administration, get the debts manageable, then play hardball and pressure China. Those who are resistant will slowly and gradually wilt under pressure and be willing to work with those who are for changes.
I’m through with this forum, agreed or disagreed I’ve made my point and I stand by it. Natalie is the only blogger here who seem open with substance unlike many here who are fuming with nationalism.
Calvin I:
Good start, but let’s talk again once your developmental stages are completed.
Forgot to mention: Let’s all enjoy the upcoming olympic games along with the ceremonies, hopefully there will be no controversies nor tragedies. Smooth entertaining competitions is what I look forward to with all the athletes returning home safely.
Wow, SBS. I don’t know what to say. I feel bad for the people who have been organizing this for YEARS. The country has been spending millions or even billions of dollars preparing for such a special event, only to have everything spoiled days before being able to officially present it to the public. Even the people behind all this preparation have to sign contracts to keep everything confidential or else they’ll face imprisonment. Now if that’s not called serious business, I don’t know what is.
Last reply to Chino who’s standing by his fallacies and made an insensitive theory about reasons for natural disasters.
What you call ‘putting constant pressure’ on China- whatever that means- is just complaining about China not being up-to-date with the rest of the superpowers. What country haven’t dealt with the problems that China is dealing with? China is in the process of becoming a superpower, so of course, there are tons they can improve on. So, yes, with greater power there needs to be greater responsibility, but China is still learning to improve.
China is changing on its own course with its own methods, and they don’t need this so called ‘constant pressure’ or people pointing fingers in order to change. It’s already happening in it’s own course. You even said it yourself, even the US is struggling with their own energy crisis. You’re doubtful about those who resist. There are always going to be those who resist because of economics, that’s true across the world. I don’t believe that China can’t solve those problems if there is indeed someone there giving them a hand instead of standing over them with an iron fist.
To use an analogy, it’s like watching a mother teaching her own children, one doesn’t just step in and tell her what to do because one thinks she’s not doing it fast enough or good enough.
Speaking of solutions that sounds good but ultimately won’t last, nuclear power may be better for lowering greenhouse gas emissions, but it takes a toll on the ecosystem as well and has negative effects on the surrounding environment no matter how great technology has improved it.
Bottom line, you’re not given enough credit to those in China who are for change and are changing and shaping China, and still thinks that China still has the same mindset as they did in the 60’s therefore, think that the same old political ‘pressure’ method is the solution. For that, I Whole heartedly agree to disagree.
@ ami,
I totally agree with your opinions.
@ Chino,
I think you should seriously shut up and stop making such insensitive comments. Your comment about China’s earthquake disaster as karma is very insensitive, you must be sharon stone’s supporters. I bet that when your comments are published, it would spark off a huge controversy among the people, especially netizens. Yes, SBS is wrong for broadcasting the rehearsal and no one asked for your opinion whether China should host the olympics.
SBS is retarded. and they’re going around deleting amazing youtube users for uploading random subbed korean stuff. serves them right.
SBS just has to ruin it for everyone.
It’s going to be SOOO blocked now… WHY did it do it!?
Nothing else to do?
first time that i’ve seen people make such a big deal over a leak. i guess you can tell how many chinese are on this site, especially by the way they trippin over something so small… sigh…. nationalism. don’t matter, i wasn’t going to watch the olympics anyways.
^
Oh please, if this were to happen to Korea hosting the Olympics, everyone would’ve flipped over ten-thousand times cursing China and its people, and slandering them with all the conventional stereotypes, demand a law-suit, then go on a psychotic rant about how China likes to steal, etc, etc. Nationalism indeed. This was tamed compared to what could have blown up to bigger proportion were this situation reversed. It’s funny how the Olympics doesn’t matter to apathetic people nowadays with no athletic spirit, so self-involved in their own little world.
Yes. I am an actual Korean netizen.
First of all, to the people who are using this incident to promote racism or anti-Korean/anti-Chinese sentiment, shame on you. People will try to antagonize each other over anything, these days. Jeez.
Second, have you read the comments being posted on Korean portal websites over this issue? For those of you who haven’t, Koreans are ashamed of what SBS did as well.
Examples of their opinions are:
‘SBS has portrayed Korea in a very bad light.’
‘How could they do something so mannerless and unethical(무개념, 비매너)?’
‘At a place where broadcasting companies from the world were gathered, under the agreement to respect the privacy of the rehearsal, only SBS did something like this.’
‘Is SBS trying to make China hate Korea?’
‘SBS disgusts me.’
Bottom line – Koreans don’t like SBS. They don’t like what SBS did. They are ashamed that SBS is a Korean broadcasting company and they apologize on behalf of SBS.
Of course, there was a small minority which said ‘China steals a hell of a lot of things from us, why shouldn’t we do it?’. But they were viciously trodden down (take my word for this). Most of said minority had problems with the Chinese stealing Korean personal information and the violent protests of Chinese students in Korea. But this is a seperate issue, and China’s wrongs aside, SBS has acted disgracefully and they should apologize and be punished accordingly.
And I don’t know what SBS has been doing on Youtube, but SBS is generally regarded as a crap broadcasting company in Korea. It has shown rude behaviour before (this isn’t the first or last time) and many Korean people are boycotting SBS. SBS also does what no broadcasting company should ever do. It distorts (or partly edits out) the truth.
If there are Chinese people on this site who are reading this, then I want you to know that you are not alone in your anger, and I apologize as a Korean on behalf of SBS (I know I didn’t do anything personally wrong, but I think SBS’s so-called apology is inadequate). I am very sorry. One thing which is disappointing: I read the translated comments of Chinese netizens on this incident and most of them insult Koreans and Korea as a whole. I understand you are angry at SBS, but saying degrading (and racist) things about all Koreans or all of Korea is illogical and also rude. I hope Chinese netizens realize this.
On that note, there are also a lot of articles in Chinese newspapers containing false information related to Korea. For example, a while ago there was an article about Sun Wen (孫文). Apparently a Korean professor said in a Korean newspaper that Sun Wen was Korean. The newspaper did no such thing, in fact, the professor doesn’t even exist. There were simliar cases – apprently about a Chinese woman Xishi? Incidents like this have been growing and they are adding to anti-Korean sentiment, which is worrying. Don’t believe any articles which say similar things.
(And please stop stealing Korean personal information for online games. It’s really hurtful and could have terrible consequences ㅠ_ㅠ)
Thanks for reading such a long post. Good luck to all participators in the Olympics, and I hope there are no more incidents like this.
@Korean netizen,
I totally agreed with you… This is just an Broadcasting Issue between SBS and China. Many people are taking advantage over this issue to promote anti-Korean/anti-Chinese sentiment.
Think Wise People…
FIGHTING!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXrTodQnrUk
Dedicated to all of you.