# Why is the Eastern time zone the "standard" in the USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 20, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284 "2008-01-20T19:04:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/1 "2008-01-20T19:04:09Z")
Looking at a map of the USA, it’s pretty clear that the Central timezone is, well, central. Yet, every time that is mentioned on TV or televised scheduled sport event seems to revolve around Eastern time. Why? Why not make it announced in Central time so that people would only have to go ahead one hour or back two to get to their time zone instead of people on the west coast trying to go back 3 hours? Why does Eastern time seem to be the standard for measuring times in the USA when it seems like there are better choices? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/2 "2008-01-20T19:08:46Z")
A [near majority](http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=607227) of the US population lives in the Eastern time zone. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/3 "2008-01-20T19:20:12Z")
There isn’t any one logical reason. I grew up in the Central Time Zone and I think it is still the best. Prime Time TV starts at 7 pm there and the nightly news starts at 10 pm. That is far preferable to me compared to having Prime Time TV starting at 8 pm and the nightly news starting at 11 pm. I think it is all a compromise. I have a professional job that requires lots of conference calls. Our colleagues all over the world have to make sure that they don’t extend past 5 pm Eastern Time. That includes people in California who have to make sure they wrap things up with us by 2 pm their time. I wouldn’t call it a standard. It is more of a practical necessity. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/4 "2008-01-20T19:21:57Z")
[QUOTE=BrandonR] Why? Why not make it announced in Central time so that people would only have to go ahead one hour or back two to get to their time zone instead of people on the west coast trying to go back 3 hours? [/QUOTE] People in the Mountain and Pacific timezones have their own network feeds for major broadcasts and most cable channels. So they usually only have to suffer a one hour difference. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/5 "2008-01-20T19:32:37Z")
As mentioned, the Eastern time zone has the largest portion of the population by far. As for telecasts, generally speaking programs are broadcast at the same time in the Eastern, Central and Mountain time zones. Many programs that are not live (such as sporting events) are delayed for the Pacific time zone. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/6 "2008-01-20T19:32:38Z")
Because it’s always been done that way. That’s really the only answer. Why did it start out that way? Remember that TV Networks (and radio before that) were often based in New York City. Add to that the nation’s capitol being in the eastern time zone, and it seems to make sense, historically. ---
**Author:** ![Mongo\_Ponton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mongo\_Ponton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mongo_Ponton)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/7 "2008-01-20T19:48:25Z")
Because not just the USA but the whole World revolves around us. We are the engine that runs the universe as you know it. Thats right, Us! If it were not for us the Sun wouldnt even rise over you and you wouldnt need a time zone. Why does my keyboard always act weird when Im in rant mode? No apostrophes today, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/8 "2008-01-20T19:53:58Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] A [near majority](http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=607227) of the US population lives in the Eastern time zone. [/QUOTE] And I suspect a clear majority did back when the practice was started. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/9 "2008-01-21T00:59:11Z")
…because it is the same time in Lima, Peru; OK? ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/10 "2008-01-21T01:06:46Z")
Because the sun hits us first, so all you late comers just have to deal with it. If you weren’t so behind to begin with, maybe you would have gotten your own say in the matter. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/11 "2008-01-21T02:43:47Z")
Because East Side fo’ life! Word! ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/12 "2008-01-21T02:50:39Z")
I think it would also make sense since both the nation’s capital (Washington) and its largest city by population (New York) are in the Eastern time zone. When I lived in the States, I would always hear TV announcements say a TV program would start at “8pm/7pm Central” or “8pm Eastern & Pacific, 7pm Central & Mountain” For the record, I was born and raised in California. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/13 "2008-01-21T03:23:57Z")
Because broadcasting it in Eastern time means nobody has to stay up any later to watch it. If games were broadcast at 7 pm Pacific then it would start at 10pm Eastern. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/14 "2008-01-21T04:10:56Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Because it’s always been done that way. That’s really the only answer. Why did it start out that way? Remember that TV Networks (and radio before that) were often based in New York City. Add to that the nation’s capitol being in the eastern time zone, and it seems to make sense, historically. [/QUOTE] Actually, it hasn’t always been done that way. In the past, it was not at all unusual for programs to be announced or advertised as running at “8 Eastern, 7 Central, 5 Pacific,” in the case of live broadcasts, or “8 Eastern and Pacific, 7 Central.” The only time zone short changed by this was Mountain time, which never really worried about it since they are pretty much ignored by most of the country 99% of the time anyway, and usually prefer it that way. 😃 The scheme is helped by the fact that Central zone showing is usually simultaneous with Eastern, but it isn’t guaranteed that that will be the case. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/15 "2008-01-21T14:38:33Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Because it’s always been done that way. That’s really the only answer. Why did it start out that way? Remember that TV Networks (and radio before that) were often based in New York City. Add to that the nation’s capitol being in the eastern time zone, and it seems to make sense, historically. [/QUOTE] Especially when radio and TV was live. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/16 "2008-01-21T16:59:55Z")
[QUOTE=Lumpy] Especially when radio and TV was live. [/QUOTE] At which time New York city was the center of the broadcasting universe. Los Angeles didn’t pick up steam until later. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/17 "2008-01-21T17:05:56Z")
Some events are timed to be convenient for the Pacific time zone and inconvenient for the Eastern time zone. The Oscars end at midnight (in a good year) in the Eastern time zone and at nine in the Pacific time zone. This means that if you go to an Oscars party in the Eastern time zone it’s all you can do to drive home afterwards and fall asleep. In the Pacific time zone the people who are at the Oscars can party afterwards for hours. All events that have to be seen simultaneously in all four time zones obviously can’t be equally convenient for everybody. Most such events are set up to be as convenient for as many people as possible. What events do you suggest ought to be scheduled at different times? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/18 "2008-01-21T19:11:06Z")
Besides the population and economic weight, may we also remember that the seat of the national government is in the Eastern zone. You don’t make the President stay up past his bedtime without a good reason 😉 ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/19 "2008-01-21T21:04:57Z")
[QUOTE=Wendell Wagner] Some events are timed to be convenient for the Pacific time zone and inconvenient for the Eastern time zone. The Oscars end at midnight (in a good year) in the Eastern time zone and at nine in the Pacific time zone. This means that if you go to an Oscars party in the Eastern time zone it’s all you can do to drive home afterwards and fall asleep. In the Pacific time zone the people who are at the Oscars can party afterwards for hours. [/QUOTE] My recollection is that the Oscars are shown tape-delayed here in the Pacific time zone, because a live broadcast out here would be inconveniently (for ratings) early. The actual event takes place so early because, as you point out, they want to show it on the east coast, too. Tape delay is simple; broadcasting an event _before_ it occurs is not yet cost-effective. 😃 ETA: I’m second-guessing myself now - am I right about this (the tape delay), or misremembering? ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284/20 "2008-01-21T21:15:24Z")
I am full of crap about the Oscars, and am conflating them with some other awards shows, it seems (from [wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscars#Awards_night)): > [@](#): > > The Academy Awards is the only awards ceremony televised live across the United States excluding Alaska and Hawaii; the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Grammys are broadcast live in the East Coast, but they are on tape delay in the West Coast. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-time-zone-the-standard-in-the-usa/434284.md?page=2)