Why is prime time 20:00 in every US time zone?

The broadcasters set prime time as 20:00 to 23:00 local time. This allows each zone to have its own prime time window. The same show airs at 20:00 ET and 20:00 PT, but the PT feed is tape-delayed from the live ET feed.

Do West Coast audiences ever see live broadcasts at the same time as East Coast?

Yes, for live sports, breaking news and some awards shows. NFL games, the Oscars and presidential addresses go out live. For those events, West Coast audiences see them at a different local time (earlier) than East Coast audiences.

Is streaming replacing tape delay?

Yes, for most streaming services. Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime release content at the same moment nationwide, typically 00:00 ET. This gives West Coast audiences access at 21:00 PT, earlier than East Coast audiences.

Why do awards shows start at 17:00 PT?

Awards shows are live from Los Angeles. The broadcasters schedule them to start at 17:00 PT so they air at 20:00 ET, the start of East Coast prime time. This maximises viewership on the East Coast, where the largest audience lives.

Do local news stations in Pacific Time air at the same times as Eastern stations?

Local news schedules are similar but shifted. Pacific Time stations air local news at 17:00, 18:00 and 23:00. Eastern stations air at 17:00, 18:00 and 23:00 ET. The national evening newscasts are tape-delayed to match local time.

What about cable channels, do they use tape delay?

Many cable channels (CNN, ESPN, HBO) transmit live or same-day for most programming. Some channels, like HBO, offer a live feed and a prime time repeat. The tape-delay practice is strongest on the major broadcasters.

Pacific Time TV and Broadcasting Schedule

National live events list as "8/7c" – but in Pacific Time, that 20:00 Eastern show airs at 20:00 local, not 17:00. Here is why the West Coast gets tape-delayed broadcasts, and how to read the schedule.

Why a Pacific Time TV schedule shows 20:00 for an 8/7c show

A drama on NBC carries the tag "8/7c". That means 20:00 Eastern, 19:00 Central. But in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, the same show does not air at 17:00 Pacific Time. It airs at 20:00 Pacific Time, three hours after the East Coast transmission.

The reason: broadcasters want the programme to land in prime time in every zone. Prime time runs 20:00 to 23:00 in each time band. A show transmitted live at 20:00 ET would hit Pacific screens at 17:00 PT. That is too early for West Coast audiences. So the feed is held and re-transmitted at 20:00 PT.

This is not a technical constraint. It is a scheduling decision. Broadcasters could let West Coast households watch live at 17:00, but they believe people prefer to watch during prime time. The result is a three-hour delay for most national programming.

How Pacific Time prime time works

Prime time in the United States is 20:00 to 23:00 local time. Pacific, Mountain, Central and Eastern zones all follow this. The Federal Communications Commission does not mandate it, but the major broadcasters (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW) stick to it.

For Pacific Time, that means:

20:00-21:00: first hour of prime time
21:00-22:00: second hour
22:00-23:00: final hour, often followed by local news

Because of the three-hour gap between ET and PT, the network feed that goes out at 20:00 ET is held and replayed at 20:00 PT. Commercial breaks are often swapped for local ads.

Live sports on the West Coast: morning kickoffs

Live sports break the tape-delay rule. You cannot delay a live game. So West Coast audiences watch NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB games at times that serve the East Coast audience.

NFL Sunday games: the early window starts at 10:00 Pacific Time. That is 13:00 Eastern. A Los Angeles fan watching the Rams play at home sees a 10:00 PT kickoff. A New York fan watching the same game sees 13:00 ET.

NFL late window: starts at 13:30 PT (16:30 ET).

Sunday Night Football: 17:20 PT (20:20 ET).

Monday Night Football: 17:15 PT (20:15 ET).

West Coast sports fans watch games in the morning and afternoon. East Coast fans watch in the afternoon and evening. Both see the same live event, just at different local times.

Awards shows and live events at 17:00 PT

Awards shows like the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Golden Globes are live events. They go out live from Los Angeles or New York. The broadcasters want East Coast prime time viewership, so they schedule the show to start at 17:00 Pacific Time.

The Oscars air live at 17:00 PT (20:00 ET). West Coast audiences watch the red carpet at 16:00 PT, then the ceremony at 17:00. The show ends around 20:30 PT. East Coast audiences watch at 20:00 to 23:30 ET.

Some West Coast households record the show and watch it at 20:00 PT, avoiding the live transmission. That is a personal choice. The live airing remains at 17:00 PT.

News scheduling on Pacific Time stations

Network evening news programmes follow the same tape-delay pattern.

ABC World News Tonight: airs at 18:30 ET, tape-delayed to 18:30 PT
NBC Nightly News: airs at 18:30 ET, tape-delayed to 18:30 PT
CBS Evening News: airs at 18:30 ET, tape-delayed to 18:30 PT

Local news on West Coast stations airs at 17:00, 18:00 and 23:00 local time. The 23:00 newscast follows prime time, just as it does in other zones.

Morning shows (Today, Good Morning America, CBS Mornings) are live across all zones. They start at 07:00 ET, which is 04:00 PT. West Coast audiences watch the same transmission at 04:00 to 07:00 PT, or they watch a recorded version later in the morning.

Streaming and the decline of tape delay

Streaming has changed the landscape. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Max release new episodes at the same moment nationwide. For most streaming services, that moment is 00:00 Eastern Time (21:00 Pacific Time the previous day). Some services use 03:00 ET (00:00 PT).

A viewer in Los Angeles can watch a new episode of a streaming show at 21:00 PT on the day before the East Coast viewer's 00:00 ET release. Streaming has flipped the delay: West Coast audiences often get content earlier than East Coast audiences.

Traditional broadcasters still use tape delay. But as more households cut the cord, the practice is fading. Networks may eventually shift to same-time national releases, as they have for some live events. For now, tape delay remains the standard for broadcast prime time.

What to do next

If you are scheduling a live event or a programme, check the Pacific Time local air time. For live events, assume the East Coast prime time start. For taped shows, expect the 20:00 PT airing.

For help converting between zones, use the Pacific Time to Eastern Time guide. For business hours and calling times, see Pacific Time Business Hours. For a full overview of the zone, see Pacific Time Zone Explained.