Dutch commercial station Radio 538 dodging censors in Beijing

Dutch commercial broadcaster Radio 538 is broadcasting live from Beijing during the Olympic games, defying both the Chinese censors and the IOC.

Officially, the only Dutch broadcaster registered to broadcast from Beijing during the Olympics is public broadcaster NOS, which is the Olympic rights holder. But Radio 538 decided to broadcast its breakfast show live from the Chinese capital. Not only that, but they are playing a cat and mouse game and avoiding the Chinese censors.

Officially registered broadcasters have their output directed through the Olympic Broadcast Centre, where a delay can theoretically be imposed so the Chinese censors can prevent material being sent out if they consider it objectionable. NOS says its own feed is being sent out without a delay except for the normal satellite delay (about 1 second).

But Radio 538 has avoided having to go through the Broadcast Centre altogether by hiring blocks of expensive ISDN phone lines, with at least ten new numbers every day, that the Chinese have found it difficult to block. As soon as one line is blocked, they can switch to another. So far, the connection with Beijing has been down for only 20 minutes  on one day.

The behaviour of Radio 538, while it will be seen by some as a victory for press freedom, is also likely to incur the wrath of the IOC, as it does not have permission from the Chinese authorities to operate in Beijing.

Source: Media Network