A viewer-defined group of channels allows a viewer to quickly navigate through the channels in the group. A channel matrix is used to display channels having program types or transmission characteristics that are selected by a user in a manner that allows the viewer to quickly select one of these channels. The channel matrix includes rows and columns of channel numbers, each corresponding to one channel in a group of channels. Channels having any of the selected program types or features are highlighted in the matrix. The viewer selects a program type or transmission characteristic using a menu. The program types may be predefined or defined by the viewer according to a set of parameters.