A method (300, 500) implemented by one or more processors (202, 212) executing instructions stored in one or more memories (204, 214), the method (300, 500) comprising: displaying by the one or more processors (202, 212), at a client, an electronic program guide, in the following called EPG that comprises schedule (150(m)) and channel information (148(m)) for a plurality of content items (216(x)), said EPG including a search window displayed to a user for receiving entry of alphabetic search input from the user; receiving an alphabetic input entered in a mobile phone text entry system by a user describing a channel (218(y)) of interest by entry of one or more alphabetic characters into the search window through interaction with the EPG that describes one or more identifying characteristics of the channel (218(y)); searching EPG data (132(m), 132(o)) for at least one channel (218(y)) that meets the identifying characteristics, wherein the EPG data (132(m), 132(o)) comprise content metadata (146(m)), channel metadata (148(m)), and schedule data (150(m)) and wherein the searching is performed on the channel metadata (148(m)) that is included in the EPG data (132(m), 132(o)), wherein the selection and highlighting of only the channel representation that the user wishes is interpreted to search for a particular channel (218(y)) rather than a content item (216(x)); forming a result based on the searching in conjunction with the EPG, the result comprising a redisplay of the EPG (502, 502') to present a list displayed in a configured EPG (502") including a representation of one or more channel identifiers determined to be relevant to the alphabetic search input along with one or more names of one or more of content items that are determined to be relevant to the alphabetic search input; and outputting (316, 524) the result of the searching, via the configured EPG (502"), that describes the at least one channel (218(y)); wherein the receiving, the searching and the outputting are performed at a head end or at the client. displaying by the one or more processors (202, 212), at a client, an electronic program guide, in the following called EPG that comprises schedule (150(m)) and channel information (148(m)) for a plurality of content items (216(x)), said EPG including a search window displayed to a user for receiving entry of alphabetic search input from the user; receiving an alphabetic input entered in a mobile phone text entry system by a user describing a channel (218(y)) of interest by entry of one or more alphabetic characters into the search window through interaction with the EPG that describes one or more identifying characteristics of the channel (218(y)); searching EPG data (132(m), 132(o)) for at least one channel (218(y)) that meets the identifying characteristics, wherein the EPG data (132(m), 132(o)) comprise content metadata (146(m)), channel metadata (148(m)), and schedule data (150(m)) and wherein the searching is performed on the channel metadata (148(m)) that is included in the EPG data (132(m), 132(o)), wherein the selection and highlighting of only the channel representation that the user wishes is interpreted to search for a particular channel (218(y)) rather than a content item (216(x)); forming a result based on the searching in conjunction with the EPG, the result comprising a redisplay of the EPG (502, 502') to present a list displayed in a configured EPG (502") including a representation of one or more channel identifiers determined to be relevant to the alphabetic search input along with one or more names of one or more of content items that are determined to be relevant to the alphabetic search input; and outputting (316, 524) the result of the searching, via the configured EPG (502"), that describes the at least one channel (218(y)); wherein the receiving, the searching and the outputting are performed at a head end or at the client.