[lloydsimco]

I was just wondering when a show airs on the east coast of America at say 8pm is it then shown at 5pm on the west coast, or is it delayed until it is 8pm on the west coast and just shown then. Also how does this affect live tv shows?

[tamibeckett]

Delayed until 8pm. Not sure about lives though...

[Hotbird]

30 Rock did 2 performances for their live shows, they did an East Coast version and a West Coast version.

[Lou Kelly]

Originally Posted by Hotbird

30 Rock did 2 performances for their live shows, they did an East Coast version and a West Coast version.

As did Will & Grace.

[hallstar]

Originally Posted by tamibeckett

Delayed until 8pm. Not sure about lives though...

Except in the Central time zone, where they are shown at 7 local time. Which is why the promos say "Tonight at 8, 7 Central"

[theonlyweeman]

Live events, such as sporting (and possibly music) are shown live. Live shows such as Idol to my knowledge delayed

[cherubmattd]

Yeah - Idol is recorded in the afternoon in LA, shown live on the east, delayed on the west.

[Steveaustin316]

What about Alaska and Hawaii, do they get everything those in the mainland US do?

[dillkid]

This is something I've always been confused over. If something airs live at 8pm in New York, would that mean that everyone in California would have to be watching prime time TV at 5 in the afternoon? Surely that wouldn't work with people working and getting home?

[theonlyweeman]

Originally Posted by dillkid

This is something I've always been confused over. If something airs live at 8pm in New York, would that mean that everyone in California would have to be watching prime time TV at 5 in the afternoon? Surely that wouldn't work with people working and getting home?

As previously discussed pre-recorded content is delayed for each time zone (except Central). Sports are shown live in every time zone. Live TV shows are either delayed for each time zone (except central), in the case of talent shows or performed twice for the East and West Coasts, for one off live shows like sitcoms.

[MoreTears]

For award shows, like the Oscars and Emmys etc, the west used to get a tape delayed broadcast, but people always complained about it so that changed to live everywhere. However award shows on CBS, like the Grammys for music, are still tape delayed for the west. CBS is traditional that way.

[MTUK1]

Originally Posted by MoreTears

For award shows, like the Oscars and Emmys etc, the west used to get a tape delayed broadcast, but people always complained about it so that changed to live everywhere. However award shows on CBS, like the Grammys for music, are still tape delayed for the west. CBS is traditional that way.

West Coasters can also get East Coast feeds of channels as well and Vice Versa.

[MTUK1]

Originally Posted by Hotbird

30 Rock did 2 performances for their live shows, they did an East Coast version and a West Coast version.

Live versions of Weekly comedies or dramas happen rarely though.

[MoreTears]

Originally Posted by MTUK1

West Coasters can also get East Coast feeds of channels as well and Vice Versa.

Yes, but that is East Coast channels, and it is not many people in the West who pay extra to their cable companies to get those.

[C14E]

About 80% of the population lives in the Eastern and Central timezones so the vast majority get things at the same time and live.

[lloydsimco]

What are the actual time zones?
If east coast is 3 hours ahead of the west coast, and central time is 2 hours ahead of west coast, is there another time zone that is 1 hour ahead of west coast?

[Tom123]

Yes, Mountain Time Zone. Plus there is Alaskan Time (one hour behind Pacific) and Hawaiian Time (three hours behind Pacific)

[dsrichard]

Does this mean that if you're on the West Coast you can sneakily watch the end of a sporting fixture on the East Coast feed and still have time to place a bet on the outcome before it hits the West?

[Tom123]

No sports events are broadcast live across all time zones. So the 1pm football game will be broadcast at 10am on the West Coast.

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by Tom123

Yes, Mountain Time Zone. Plus there is Alaskan Time (one hour behind Pacific) and Hawaiian Time (three hours behind Pacific)

Hawaii doesn't follow daylight savings time, so half of the year, we are only 2 hours behind the west coast.

Originally Posted by Tom123

No sports events are broadcast live across all time zones. So the 1pm football game will be broadcast at 10am on the West Coast.

You did mean "No, sports events are..."
just a carefully placed comma...

[Tom123]

yeah, was typing a bit too fast there

Left the DST part out for simplicity. Arizona for example doesn't follow DST either.

[mrkite77]

Originally Posted by Tom123

Left the DST part out for simplicity. Arizona for example doesn't follow DST either.

Yeah, and that makes things very strange at times. Digital cable here follows the eastern timezone.

So, a cable show which starts at 10pm would air here at 8pm during the winter, and 7pm during the summer. TiVo recorded the premiere of Breaking Bad today at 7pm.

Network channels, however, are delayed so they air at their normal times.. only cable channels are on eastern.

[elpaw]

Originally Posted by dsrichard

Does this mean that if you're on the West Coast you can sneakily watch the end of a sporting fixture on the East Coast feed and still have time to place a bet on the outcome before it hits the West?

No. The same way you couldn't make a bet on a Premier League match after 3pm just because MOTD hasn't shown the highlights yet.

Sport happens independently of its broadcast.

[DarthFader]

Is was impressed The West Wing did theirs twice considering it was virtually a two hander.

PJ

[MTUK1]

Originally Posted by DarthFader

Is was impressed The West Wing did theirs twice considering it was virtually a two hander.

PJ

Yes, but those type of shows happen rarely. Once every few years at most.