<P> Some specialty channels do operate two separate broadcast feeds for Eastern and Western Canada . The Eastern feed airs programs on an Eastern Time schedule, while the Western feed airs the same programming on a three - hour delay . The separation between feeds is typically implemented at the border between Manitoba and Ontario, which may result in a program that airs at 10: 00 p.m. Eastern Time in Ontario not airing in Manitoba until 12: 00 a.m. CT (whereas an equivalent program in the U.S. would typically be available at 9: 00 p.m. for Central Time viewers). However, one channel, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, implements the separation at the border between Manitoba and Saskatchewan . </P> <P> The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) applies more restrictive censorship regulations to broadcast programming shown in prime time, compared to content transmitted after a watershed hour beyond which few children would be likely to be watching . This can be problematic if the same content is broadcast simultaneously nationwide, as the 9: 00 p.m. watershed in Vancouver falls at 12: 00 a.m. in Toronto and 1: 30 a.m. in St. John's . LGBT specialty broadcaster PrideVision was particularly affected as, from its launch in 2001 until 2005, its format included more innocuous entertainment programming aimed at the gay community during the day and in prime time and hardcore pornographic content in the overnight (with the latter expanding into the mid-evening by 2004). The network's adult programming was spun out into a second channel so that the parent network, now OutTV, could broadcast its non-explicit entertainment and lifestyle programming across its entire broadcast day . </P> <P> With four time zones in the contiguous United States, American broadcast television networks generally broadcast at least two separate feeds to their owned - and - operated stations and affiliates, as do cable / satellite channels: the "eastern feed" that is aired simultaneously in the Eastern and Central Time Zones, and the "western feed" that is tape - delayed three hours for those in the Pacific Time Zone . This ensures that a program, for example, that airs at 8: 00 p.m. EST on the East Coast is also shown locally at 8: 00 p.m. on the West Coast . Networks may also broadcast a third feed specifically for the Mountain Time Zone, on which programs are usually broadcast on a one - hour delay from the Eastern Time Zone . Otherwise, some stations in the Mountain Time Zone use the western feed, while others get a mix of both the Eastern and Pacific feeds . </P> <P> The Eastern Time Zone is commonly used as a de facto official time for the United States--since it includes the nation's capital city, Washington, D.C.; the country's largest city, New York City; and about one - half of the country's population . </P>

Where does eastern and central time zone change