HAVING spent the last three weeks in China, in many ways it'll be a relief to return to Bermuda - but one of them won't be to watch TV.

Day after day my e-mail box has been filled with complaints from those angered and frustrated by what has generally been described as the 'appalling' TV coverage (some have used slightly stronger language) offered to those on the Rock.

My smug reply has been 'wish you were here'.

In the expansive workroom at the Main Press Centre in Beijing, journalists have been treated to some 30 huge widescreen TVs offering every single sport as they take place.

Out in the city centre, gigantic screens can be found on almost every street and at home, of course, Olympics has dominated some half a dozen or more channels.

That might be what would be expected from the host city, but we're told that even in Outer Mongolia, residents have been given the chance to watch their favourite athletes.

Reports have suggested these Games have been shown to billions of people in two thirds of the world.

When it comes to TV, does that suggest Bermuda's a third world country? Maybe.

Bermuda Broadcasting Company and CableVision, whose normal service leaves much to be desired, should be totally ashamed.

That they finally reached an agreement in the middle of this week was a case of too little, too late.

Their selfish bickering has denied Bermudians the chance to watch, when it's all over, what might be described as one of the greatest sports festivals ever held - from Michael Phelps' stunning display in the pool, Usain Bolt's outrageous performance on the track to both the heartwarming and heartbreaking performances which have scattered these Games.

Bermuda Broadcasting Company - let's not abbreviate that to BBC so as not to confuse them with the real deal - have explained their coverage has been dictated by the feed they receive from the Caribbean.

But having secured exclusive rights, thus blocking out CableVision, they then have an obligation to make sure that feed gives Bermudians the best possible coverage.

They didn't do that.

One e-mail writer fumed over the fact that on the day when three Jamaicans created history by sweeping all three medals in the 100 metres, Bermuda viewers were left watching basketball.

It's unimaginable that those in the Caribbean didn't watch that event live. And if so, what happened to the so-called 'Caribbean feed' Bermuda was supposed to receive.

As for CableVision, they too have a lot of explaining to do.

When we subscribe to their service, we don't expect the channels we paid for to be blocked out.

If you don't provide the service, you don't get paid. Simple as that.

I won't be paying my bill this week. Hopefully, others will make the same stance.

Only then will they get the message.

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THE death of teenage motorcyclist Toriano Wilson over the weekend was both tragic and ironic.

The former Clearwater Middle School student probably knew more about motorbikes and how to ride them than anyone else his age.

Yet rather than use those skills to endanger his own life and the life of others by riding like a madman around Bermuda's roads - as is the case with so many reckless teens - he chose to make a racing career which, in his case, had an enormously promising future.

It's terribly sad that he lost his life doing what he loved most.

But when man and machine are pushed to the limit, the consequences can be devastating.

We've seen it in Bermuda before, in powerboating, go-karting and motorbike racing.

That, however, won't lessen the grief felt by his family and friends. It's a grief we should all share.