There’s a new way to enjoy YouTube by channel surfing in a style reminiscent of using cable TV. London-based developer Steven Irby has introduced Channel Surfer, a web app resembling a retro TV guide that presents engaging YouTube videos. Users can browse diverse, topic-specific channels and click to watch as though it’s live television. At launch, there are 40 custom channels, covering general topics such as news, politics, sports, lifestyle, and technology, including “AI & ML,” “Code & Dev,” “Space,” “Retro Tech,” “Tech & Gadgets,” and “Gaming.” As you switch channels, you join videos mid-stream, and the guide informs you of upcoming content. This creates a viewing experience similar to old-school live TV, akin to services like Plex, Pluto TV, and Tubi. Additionally, a counter shows how many others are watching alongside you. Irby envisaged this for YouTube, seeking to alleviate decision fatigue and recreate the comfort of channel surfing without algorithms. Since the app’s launch, it has been successful, with 10,000 views on its first day. Built as a static Next.js site, it uses PartyKit and Cloudflare, and channels are hand-picked by Irby. While currently free, users can import their own YouTube subscriptions into the app through a newsletter. Despite being a straightforward project, it harkens back to the web’s early, more experimental days. Irby aims to prove that the old web is still vibrant, albeit hidden beneath clutter.
Channel Surfer: Experience YouTube Like Classic Cable TV
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