A network show card reads "8/7c."
The number before the slash is the Eastern Time air time. The number after the slash, followed by a lowercase "c," is the Central Time air time. That is the entire code.
When it is 8:00 p.m. in New York, it is 7:00 p.m. in Chicago. The show starts at that instant for both cities. No delay. One feed. You may also see "9/8c" or "10/9c." The pattern never changes: Eastern first, Central second.
Why does 8/7c only cover two zones?
The US broadcast network system runs on two primary feeds. The Eastern and Central zones together hold the largest share of the country’s population. Networks send one live feed to both, then handle the rest of the country separately.
A viewer in Indianapolis and a viewer in Dallas see the same program at the same absolute moment. The network does not delay the feed for the zone that is one hour behind.
What time does 8/7c air in Denver and Los Angeles?
For most pre-recorded programming, the network sends a separate, tape-delayed feed to the Mountain and Pacific zones. A show listed as "8/7c" airs at 8:00 p.m. local time in Denver and 8:00 p.m. local time in Los Angeles.
That is three hours after the Eastern broadcast. Prime time starts at the same clock hour nationwide. A show that begins at 8:00 p.m. in New York begins at 8:00 p.m. in Los Angeles, but three hours later in real time.
Does 8/7c work for live sports and awards shows?
No. Live events break the rule.
Major live broadcasts air simultaneously across all zones. One live feed. The Super Bowl, the Academy Awards, presidential debates, election night coverage, Sunday Night Football: all live everywhere.
Sunday Night Football kicks off around 8:20 p.m. ET. That means 7:20 p.m. CT, 6:20 p.m. MT, and 5:20 p.m. PT. A viewer in Seattle sees the game at 5:20 p.m. local time, not at 8:00 p.m.
What time does the New Year’s Eve ball drop on 8/7c?
The Times Square ball drop happens at midnight Eastern Time. That is 11:00 p.m. Central, 10:00 p.m. Mountain, and 9:00 p.m. Pacific.
West Coast networks show the ball drop live at 9:00 p.m. PT, then replay it at midnight local time for viewers who want the countdown at the "correct" hour.
Election night follows the same split. Poll closing times vary by state and zone. Networks call races when polls close in a given state, but the national broadcast starts at 8:00 p.m. ET.
8/7c air times for every zone
| Zone | Recorded shows | Live events |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 8:00 p.m. ET | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Central | 7:00 p.m. CT | 7:00 p.m. CT |
| Mountain | 8:00 p.m. MT (delayed) | 6:00 p.m. MT (live) |
| Pacific | 8:00 p.m. PT (delayed) | 5:00 p.m. PT (live) |
What do ET, CT, MT, and PT actually mean?
These abbreviations work year-round. ET stands for Eastern Time, CT for Central Time, MT for Mountain Time, and PT for Pacific Time.
Each covers both standard time and daylight saving time. Eastern Time is EST (UTC−5) in winter and EDT (UTC−4) in summer. The abbreviation "ET" is always correct, regardless of the season. Same rule for CT, MT, and PT.
If you see "8:00 p.m. EST" in July, that is wrong. July is Eastern Daylight Time. Use "ET" to avoid the mistake.
Why don’t Mountain and Pacific get the same live feed?
The decision is economic. Running a third and fourth feed costs money. For pre-recorded shows, the network prefers to air them at the same local clock hour nationwide. The population centers in the east justify the shared feed; the west gets the delay.
There is an exception for major markets. If a live event is significant enough, the network pays for coast-to-coast distribution. The Super Bowl is always live everywhere. A Tuesday night drama rerun is not.
What 8/7c means for your time zone
If you live in the Mountain or Pacific zone and want to watch a live event without spoilers, check the start time in ET and subtract the difference. Do not rely on the "8/7c" listing alone.
If you live in the Central zone, the listing works in your favor. Your 7:00 p.m. is the same moment as Eastern’s 8:00 p.m. You see live events at the same time as New York, one hour earlier on the clock.
If you are scheduling a meeting with someone in a different zone, never use "8/7c" shorthand. Use full time zone names. "The call is at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time" is clear. "3/2c" is not.