The Revolution — And Perhaps The Olympics — May Not Be Televised

Bad news: The Olympics party you had planned, where dozens of your friends were going to come over to watch the 110 men's high hurdles on your big-screen tv, may have to be canceled. China is becoming so paranoid over Olympic security that most broadcasters — including NBC — are beginning to worry that the Games may not reach the airwaves at all.

Unnerved by protests on international legs of the Olympic torch relay following the outbreak of deadly rioting March 14 in Tibet, China's communist government seems to be backtracking on some promises to let reporters work as they have in previous Olympics. The government also has tightened visa rules in the last several months. One target has been students. The government fears many would side with activist groups if protests break out.

Will Bob Costas report the Olympic action by describing a series of photos taken with his camera phone? Bet instead on some sort of compromise being reached. In other words, when told that reporters will be kept in cages and released only during the actual events, NBC will cave.

Will The Olympics Not Be Televised? [Time]