There\u2019s a fun new way to watch YouTube: by channel surfing like a boomer with cable TV. This creative idea comes from London-based developer Steven Irby<\/a>, who has just launched a web app called Channel Surfer<\/a>, which presents interesting YouTube videos in an interface resembling a retro-looking TV guide. <\/p>\n In the app, you can browse through different, topic-focused channels and click to tune in as if you were watching live TV. <\/p>\n At launch, there are 40 of these custom-built \u201cchannels\u201d to choose from, including those focused on general topics like news, politics, sports, and lifestyle content, as well as a selection of music channels and others with a more tech focus. <\/p>\n The latter group includes channels like \u201cAI & ML,\u201d \u201cCode & Dev,\u201d \u201cSpace,\u201d \u201cRetro Tech,\u201d \u201cTech & Gadgets,\u201d and \u201cGaming.\u201d <\/p>\n As you move between channels, you join the video being played mid-stream. Meanwhile, the guide informs you of the upcoming content on all the channels and what time of day it will play. You can also scroll ahead to look at programming planned for the next 24 hours.<\/p>\n This makes watching YouTube feel a lot like watching old-school live television \u2014 an experience that\u2019s proven popular on free streaming services like Plex, Pluto TV, Tubi, and others, which offer lineups of live channels playing TV shows and movies. YouTube itself, meanwhile, dominates TV streaming in the U.S<\/a>.<\/p>\n Plus, a small counter at the bottom of the screen tracks how many other people are currently watching YouTube with you. <\/p>\n Irby says he came up with the idea to build a similar experience at the streamers, but for YouTube videos, because finding something to watch can still be a struggle.<\/p>\n \u201cI built Channel Surfer because I\u2019m tired of the algorithms and indecision fatigue,\u201d Irby told TechCrunch. \u201cI miss channel surfing and not having to decide what to watch. I want to just sit and tune into what\u2019s on and not think about what to watch next.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cMy boomer Mom watches cable TV. I want the same, but with my YouTube channels instead. Also, it\u2019s weirdly comforting to know I\u2019m watching with other people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The project is one of many new experiments from Irby, a 40-year-old tech industry veteran who has spent the past decade-plus traveling the world. <\/p>\n \u201cI have so much creativity from my long, weird journey. I can\u2019t bear the thought of being a Jira ticket monkey anymore,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n The app seems to be a hit, with Irby noting<\/a> that Channel Surfer\u2019s brand-new website<\/a> saw more than 10,000 views on its first day.<\/p>\n Under the hood, Channel Surfer is, for now, a static Next.js<\/a> site that uses PartyKit<\/a> and is hosted on Cloudflare<\/a>. The channels and music it offers are from Ibry\u2019s own hand-picked list. GitHub Actions<\/a> is used to run a script that refreshes the data daily. There\u2019s no backend yet. <\/p>\n And while Claude<\/a> assisted in the coding process, the site is not \u201cvibe-coded,\u201d Irby says. <\/p>\n The channels themselves are essentially playing YouTube embeds, including YouTube\u2019s ads, so the app should not be violating policy. Eventually, Irby says he\u2019d love to bring the app to TV platforms, like Fire TV, Google TV, and others. (It also runs on mobile devices and tablets, but needs more work.)<\/p>\n At launch, Channel Surf is a free service offering access to 175 YouTube channels and 25 music playlists. But if you subscribe to Irby\u2019s newsletter<\/a>, you\u2019re given the option to import your own YouTube subscriptions into the app. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a quick-and-dirty process to do so: You drag a \u201cChannel Surfer\u201d bookmarklet to your bookmarks bar, then open your YouTube subscriptions, and click the bookmarklet. The process begins, directing you back to the app where you paste the copied JSON text into a box and click an \u201cimport\u201d button. This adds your own channels to Channel Surfer\u2019s existing lineup, potentially giving you hundreds more channels to watch in this format.<\/p>\n The site\u2019s existence harkens back to the web\u2019s earlier days, filled with fun experiments and creativity. For Irby, that\u2019s the point. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m obsessed with showing the world that the old web is still alive and well,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s just buried under a mountain of slop.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/channel-surfer-1.jpg?w=680\")
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