Channel Surfer: A New Way to Watch YouTube
There’s a fun and creative new way to experience YouTube, thanks to London-based developer Steven Irby. His latest project, Channel Surfer, is a web app that allows users to channel surf through a curated selection of YouTube videos, presented in a retro TV guide interface.
Channel Surfer offers 40 custom-built channels to choose from, covering a range of topics including news, politics, sports, lifestyle, music, and tech. Whether you’re interested in AI & ML, Code & Dev, Space, Retro Tech, Tech & Gadgets, or Gaming, there’s a channel for everyone.
As you browse through the channels, you can tune in to videos mid-stream, just like flipping through TV channels. The guide also provides information on upcoming content and schedules, allowing you to plan your viewing for the next 24 hours.
The experience of using Channel Surfer is reminiscent of traditional live television, a format that has become popular on streaming services like Plex, Pluto TV, and Tubi. With YouTube dominating the streaming landscape, Channel Surfer offers a unique way to enjoy YouTube content in a more structured and communal setting.
Irby developed Channel Surfer out of a desire to simplify the process of finding something to watch. Tired of algorithms and decision fatigue, he wanted to recreate the experience of channel surfing with YouTube channels. The added feature of viewing alongside other users adds a sense of community to the experience.
The app has already gained traction, with over 10,000 views on its first day. Built on Next.js and PartyKit, Channel Surfer is currently a static site hosted on Cloudflare. Irby curates the channels and music playlists himself, with GitHub Actions refreshing the data daily.
While the app currently runs on desktop and mobile browsers, Irby has plans to expand to TV platforms in the future. Channel Surfer is a free service with access to 175 YouTube channels and 25 music playlists. Subscribers to Irby’s newsletter can import their own YouTube subscriptions into the app, expanding the available content.
Channel Surfer embodies the spirit of the early web, focusing on fun experiments and creativity in a cluttered online landscape. Irby hopes to showcase that the old web is still alive and thriving, just waiting to be rediscovered. Give Channel Surfer a try and experience YouTube in a whole new way.
