Well it turns out that there is no easy way to answer that question. It may vary depending on what network you're watching as well as what you're watching. But here's an attempt at creating a simple, easy to use guide to help you figure out when TV shows are broadcast in your area. However, the information published in this article is intended as a guide only as there are exceptions.
What Does 8/7 Central Mean Across The U.S.?
First off, a common misconception regarding 8/7 Central must be corrected as some people have the tendency to assume that this is short for 8 Eastern, 7 Central, 6 Mountain, 5 Pacific, etc. However, if this were the case, viewers in Los Angeles and Seattle would have to rush home after work to watch prime time television at 5 PM, which of course they don't.
The assumption is true however in the case of a live sporting event, or in the case of some cable TV networks which don't have the luxury of having local affiliates. However, you'll notice that the sports events will rarely be promoted as 8/7 Central but rather as 8 ET or in some cases 8 ET / 5 PT. But when it comes to prime time on the major networks, this assumption is usually false.
In reality, 8/7 Central is short for 8/7 Central and Mountain, which is what the networks used to say back in the 80s but they eventually dropped the word Mountain for the sake of brevity. Note that even viewers in Alaska and Hawaii will usually see network programming at 7 PM. So it's not nearly as a complicated as some would make it sound, as pretty much all U.S. residents will see the same program at either 8 or 7 PM.
On Major U.S. Networks, 8/7 Central Means:
- 8 Eastern
- 7 Central
- 7 Mountain
- 8 Pacific
- 7 Alaska
Cable TV and Daytime TV Exceptions
Here's where it starts to get complicated as some smaller cable-only networks may only have one feed for the whole country. Some of these networks will please West Coast viewers by simply re-running prime time offerings a few hours later. If a cable network is lucky, they will have separate feeds for Pacific and for Hawaii, but that still means that the Mountain Time Zone may see programming an hour later or three hours earlier.
Note that the rule also doesn't apply to daytime TV as a lot of that programming tends to be syndicated. The time slot for shows like Dr. Phil can vary from one market to another, even within the same time zone. Generally speaking, you should check your listings unless you're looking for a show that airs on one of the major networks in prime time and even then it is still possible that some local affiliates may opt out of network programming.
On Cable TV, 8 PM ET Usually Means One of These Scenarios:
Scenario 1 (E!, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network):
- 8 Eastern
- 7 Central
- 9 Mountain
- 8 Pacific
Scenario 2 (Nickelodeon, AMC, Lifetime):
- 8 Eastern
- 7 Central
- 6 Mountain (Except Arizona)
- 8 Pacific
Scenario 3 (A&E, MTV, VH1, USA Network):
- 8 Eastern
- 7 Central
- 6 Mountain
- 5 Pacific
Other Time Zone Complications
Also, if you can receive TV stations form outside your time zone, this would also have an impact when programming will air. This could be an issue if you happen to live near a time zone border, but even if you don't, certain cable and satellite providers do offer stations from far away cities as well as East and West Coast feeds for certain cable networks.
Confused yet? Actually there is still another complication regarding U.S. time zones that hasn't been looked at yet, as Arizona and Hawaii don't observe daylight savings time. Does this have an impact on TV schedules? You bet it does. But without letting things get too complicated, the impact is limited to only some cable networks, which end up carrying TV shows an hour earlier in the summertime.
What Does 8/7 Central Mean in Puerto Rico, The U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada?
In the Caribbean portion of the Atlantic Time Zone, take into consideration that there is no daylight savings time there either. However, the impact is less limited. While almost all American programming in Puerto Rico and The U.S. Virgin Islands will air an hour later in the winter, there's actually no difference in the summer. But the real question in all of this is why would you want to watch television when you're in the Caribbean?
In Alberta, Canada, cable TV viewers have access to CBS, NBC and ABC stations from Spokane, WA which is actually in the neighbouring Pacific zone. A similar situation occurs in Canada's Atlantic region. As a result, 8 PM programming will begin at 9 only in both of those regions and 9:30 in Newfoundland. So if you're watching a U.S. Network in another country, your calculations should be based on where the affiliate is coming from.
When All Else Fails, Check Your Local Listings
So if you've ever been confused about time zones and how they impact on TV schedules, hopefully this information will have clarified a few things. As you can see, it can get quite complex, but don't let it get to you. After all, it's only television. Happy viewing and as they say on TV, check your local listings.
Related Articles:
Resources:
TV Guide, TV Guide Canada, NationalAtlas.gov, Honoluluadvertiser.com, Foxtvpuertorico.com
Steve Hatton - Steve Hatton is a Montreal-based freelance writer and journalist who covers the television industry, including TV show reviews and media ...
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