Olympic networks win right to broadcast from Tiananmen Square

China's Olympic organizing committee had been refusing to allow any live broadcasts from the square.

"The Tiananmen square issue is one of the big victories," said Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports. "They have guaranteed us now that we will be able to broadcast live from Tiananmen Square. We have no reason to believe it won't happen."

Late last month, the world's TV rights-holders held two days of closed-door meetings with Chinese Olympic officials in Beijing. Moore said the Chinese were "immovable and inflexible" on the first day. But he said after the broadcasters passionately voiced their concerns, the Chinese had a change of heart.

"As rights-holders, we impressed upon the organizing committee that we're not there necessarily to embarrass anybody, but we felt very strongly, whatever happens at the Games, we have not only rights that we've paid for, but a right as journalists to cover that," said Moore.

Moore would not say how much CBC paid to be a rights-holder in Beijing. NBC Television paid $900 million US to broadcast the games from Beijing. NBC Olympic president Gary Zenkel, reached by phone in New York, refused to confirm the Tiananmen Square broadcast agreement with the Chinese.

"I can't tell you. No comment," he said.

But Trevor Pilling, CBC's Olympic executive producer, confirmed he has already booked at least five time slots during the Olympics when CBC will broadcast live from the square.

"The first one will come during the opening ceremonies, the pre-Olympic show," said Pilling.