The End of Channel Surfing?

Social-networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have given television viewers a virtual water cooler to chitchat about their favorite shows. Now some companies are trying to extend that digital outlet a step further by reinventing the way people find TV programs. App developers are updating the traditional channel guide to show viewers programs that are uniquely relevant to them based on their social circles. Instead of channel-surfing or scrolling through a long list of shows, viewers can use these mobile apps to display shows that they or their friends like based on their preferences. Some of the apps integrate with Facebook’s social network to identify and recommend TV shows and sports teams liked on the social network.