channel surfing

Clicking through programs

Channel surfing is flipping rapidly through television channels, sampling what's on without committing to any program.

The practice emerged with remote controls and expanded cable options.

By extension, it can describe any quick, restless browsing: I spent an hour channel surfing on YouTube.

Also channel-surfing.

Related

late night · commercial breaks · decision fatigue · short attention span · clicker · flip through · scanning · switching · infomercials · restless · dead air · browsing · flipping · hopping · reruns · streaming · boredom · skipping

Categories
Opposites
viewing commitment

channel surfingbinge-watching

Rapid consecutive episode viewing

marathon viewing · must-see TV · staying put

content selection method

channel surfingappointment viewing

Arranged time to see property

Family

channel, surf, surfer, surfing, channels, channeling, surfed, channeled, news channel

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Everyday, not technical · Rated G