NBC Response of the Day: NBC — aka, “The Only Television Network On Planet Earth To Not Show Important Events Live” — defended their decision to delay and heavily edit Friday night’s Olympic opening ceremony. Their reasoning: American audiences couldn’t comprehend such a large spectacle in real time, especially via streaming video. Here’s the official word from an NBC spokesperson:

It was never our intent to live stream the Opening Ceremony or Closing Ceremony. They are complex entertainment spectacles that do not translate well online because they require context, which our award-winning production team will provide for the large prime-time audiences that gather together to watch them.

NBC was also heavily criticized over cutting a tribute to terrorism victims, including the 2005 London bombings, in favor of an interview between Ryan Seacrest and swimmer Michael Phelps. Their explanation for that decision isn’t much better:

Our programming is tailored for the U.S. audience. It’s a tribute to [producer] Danny Boyle that it required so little editing.

At least they complimented Danny Boyle.

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