WI: Spain remained under Western European Time (GMT+0) zone

After World War II, Spain implemented Central European Time (CET)
Prior to that period, the country used Western European Time (WET), just like in neighboring Portugal. The WET (UTC+0) is still used in the Canary Islands, hence the expression "una hora menos en Canarias" (an hour earlier in Canary Islands).

If Spain (or most of its territory) remained under Western European Time zone, will it affect the daily lives of the Spaniards, especially who worked in the broadcasting industry (both radio and television)?

ramones1986 said:

After World War II, Spain implemented Central European Time (CET)
Prior to that period, the country used Western European Time (WET), just like in neighboring Portugal. The WET (UTC+0) is still used in the Canary Islands, hence the expression "una hora menos en Canarias" (an hour earlier in Canary Islands).

If Spain (or most of its territory) remained under Western European Time, will it affect the daily lives of the Spaniards, especially who worked in the broadcasting industry (both radio and television)?

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Well, I don't know if this would have deep effects, but certainly foreigners would be less confussed with our eating timing. If we twist this a bit, perhaps keeping the GMT, working hours would be more rational, with more time to expend freely in the evenings, better familliar conciliation and the such, which could mean also better productivity and higher birth rate. Nothing spectacular, but maybe noticeable...

Niko Malaka said:

If we twist this a bit, perhaps keeping the GMT, working hours would be more rational, with more time to expend freely in the evenings, better familliar conciliation and the such, which could mean also better productivity and higher birth rate. Nothing spectacular, but maybe noticeable...

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Nice insight, Nico. But no significant changes in radio and television programs, just an earlier timeslot than OTL.

It was discussed in Spain to move back to Western European Standard Time as it would be a more logic use of daytime in many parts of Western Spain.

ramones1986 said:

After World War II, Spain implemented Central European Time (CET)
Prior to that period, the country used Western European Time (WET), just like in neighboring Portugal. The WET (UTC+0) is still used in the Canary Islands, hence the expression "una hora menos en Canarias" (an hour earlier in Canary Islands).

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Like the Canadian line, "The world will end at midnight, half an hour later in Newfoundland"?

Dathi THorfinnsson said:

Like the Canadian line, "The world will end at midnight, half an hour later in Newfoundland"?

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Exactly, more or less.

Bumping...

Spain changed to Central under Franco so that Spain, Italy, and Nazi Germany would be on the same time.

So if after WW2 or when Juan Carlos comes to power it is reverted it will help Spain. Because being in a different time zone has hurt the Spanish economy (not one of the biggest factors though).

ramones1986 said:

Nice insight, Nico. But no significant changes in radio and television programs, just an earlier timeslot than OTL.

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Well, for starters, we can say that there is no TL where spanish TV is worse, so if anything changes it could be only for the better.

Most programs would simply change their timeslot to adapt to the new prime time, as you say. In general, spanish TV is like in other western european countries but adding an extra ration of pseudo-celebrities programs (sometimes the same programs or shows, more often american ones, but also other local productions that circulate around the continent, either dubbed or in versions adapted to local lore. In the spanish case, an example of the former would be "UPA Dance", which I have seen dubbed in french and italian TV's, and for the later "Cuéntame" that was adapted by portuguese and italian TV's as far as I know). Regarding the Radio it would very important to adapt to the new timetable, because something that makes the radio still a strong media in Spain are the political debate/humour or political debate / unvoluntary humour programs at the hours the people is going to work. Another factor for spanish radio's health are far right pensioners following crazy pundits, but that's another matter.

Probably there would some trouble regarding La Liga broadcasting. The hours when the machts are played has been a matter of divission since years ago. You have the players and clubs with their interests, the public with theirs and the bars and restaurants with theirs (since many people gather in bars to wacht the machts) So, this new change would probably open a new "debate", though in recent years there has been changes which took into consideration the international markets rather than domestic issues (i.e., playing the machts at times when it can be broadcasted also to Asia (maybe you are aware of this, no idea if La Liga is broadcasted in the Filipinas) with the hope the chinese will buy tons of Messi or Cristiano t-shirts and the japanese will come to see the Bernabéu or the Camp Nou.

Niko Malaka said:

So, this new change would probably open a new "debate", though in recent years there has been changes which took into consideration the international markets rather than domestic issues (i.e., playing the machts at times when it can be broadcasted also to Asia (maybe you are aware of this, no idea if La Liga is broadcasted in the Filipinas).

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La Liga matches also broadcasts here, I think. Wee hours of the morning in pay TV