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.
- zappingDelivering sudden voltage
- remote controlWireless device operator
- sitcomEpisodic TV comedy series
- televisionBroadcast viewing device
- prime timeEvening TV's busiest window
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
- pastimeshobbies, amusement, puzzles, cards, crafting
- televisionTV, television, broadcast, TV shows, TV series
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- cable TVESPN, CNN, cable TV, cable box, HBO
- TV habitsbinge watching, season premieres, season finales, reruns, marathons
- viewing habitswatching, binge-watching, viewing, marathon viewing, tuning in
channel, surf, surfer, surfing, channels, channeling, surfed, channeled, news channel