Channel Surfer Site Brings the Classic TV Guide to YouTube A new website called Channel Surfer has emerged as a digital alternative to traditional cable TV guides, offering users a nostalgic browsing experience on YouTube. The platform, which features 40 dedicated channels, quickly gained traction, drawing 10,000 users on its first day of operation. Developed by Steven Irby, the site aims to replicate the familiar interface of old-school cable TV guides, allowing users to navigate content through categories like sports, news, and AI. The platform’s design mirrors the Electronic Program Guide found on DVRs and FAST TV services, displaying up to 24 hours of programming at a time. Unlike a physical DVR, however, Channel Surfer does not support recording content. Users can access the site via computer, mobile phone, or PC, with options to either tap a channel name to watch content directly or use arrow buttons to channel-surf through different categories. Irby, who shared his vision for the project, explained that he created the site to combat the frustrations of endless YouTube scrolling and algorithm-driven recommendations. “I miss channel surfing and not having to decide what to watch,” he said. “I want to just sit and tune in to what’s on and not think about what to watch next.” Despite its promising debut, the platform is still in its early stages. The number of available channels is limited to 40, and content is currently manually programmed, giving the site a somewhat unfinished feel. Some users have noted that pausing the site can cause content to restart at random, indicating room for improvement. While the service is not yet polished, its unique approach to organizing YouTube content has already sparked interest.#youtube #channel_surfer #steven_irby #dvr #fast_tv
A Web App Lets Users 'Channel Surf' YouTube Like a 90s Kid Watching Cable A new web app called Channel Surfer aims to replicate the experience of flipping through cable channels by organizing YouTube content into themed categories. Developed by Steven Irby, the app currently features 40 channels, grouping videos by topics such as news, sports, music, movies, and niche subjects like artificial intelligence, gaming, gadgets, and space. Irby explained that he created the app to combat the overwhelming nature of YouTube’s recommendation algorithm, which often leads to indecision fatigue. "I miss channel surfing and not having to decide what to watch," he said in an interview with TechCrunch, where the app was first highlighted. "I want to just sit and tune into what’s on without thinking about what to watch next." The app’s design mirrors the simplicity of traditional cable TV, allowing users to browse content without the pressure of algorithm-driven suggestions. Irby’s vision is to restore a sense of passive entertainment, akin to the days when viewers would physically switch channels to find something to watch. His project has already gained traction, with Irby sharing on X that the app received over 10,000 views within its first day of launch. This early success suggests a growing demand for alternatives to YouTube’s personalized content feeds. While the app’s focus is on curated, theme-based content, it also reflects broader frustrations with modern streaming platforms. Users increasingly seek control over their viewing habits, avoiding the endless scroll of recommended videos. By mimicking the randomness and variety of cable TV, Channel Surfer offers a nostalgic yet functional solution.#x #channel_surfer #steven_irby #web_app #techcrunch
Channel Surfer lets you watch YouTube like it’s old-school cable TV The app mimics the experience of channel surfing on traditional cable TV by allowing users to browse topic-specific channels and select content to watch as if tuning into a live broadcast. At launch, it features 40 custom-built channels, spanning categories like news, politics, sports, lifestyle, music, and tech-focused topics such as “AI & ML,” “Code & Dev,” “Space,” “Retro Tech,” “Tech & Gadgets,” and “Gaming.” A small counter at the bottom of the screen displays how many other users are currently watching YouTube alongside the user. Steven Irby, the app’s creator, explained that he developed Channel Surfer to escape the overwhelming nature of YouTube’s recommendation algorithm and the constant need to decide what to watch. “I miss channel surfing and not having to decide what to watch,” he said. “I want to just sit and tune into what’s on and not think about what to watch next.” Irby also noted that the app’s design mirrors his mother’s experience with cable TV, aiming to recreate that sense of passive entertainment. Additionally, he highlighted the comfort of knowing others are watching the same content. Irby, a 40-year-old tech veteran with a decade of global travel under his belt, described the project as part of his ongoing creative experiments. “I have so much creativity from my long, weird journey,” he said. “I can’t bear the thought of being a Jira ticket monkey anymore.” The app’s rapid success was evident in its first day, with over 10,000 views on its website, a milestone Irby called “blowing up overnight.” Technically, Channel Surfer is currently a static Next.js site hosted on Cloudflare, utilizing PartyKit for functionality.#youtube #channel_surfer #steven_irby #cloudflare #github_actions
