diff --git a/television/cli/args.rs b/television/cli/args.rs
index 7aea5c2..936278b 100644
--- a/television/cli/args.rs
+++ b/television/cli/args.rs
@@ -482,7 +482,11 @@ pub enum Command {
     },
     /// Downloads the latest collection of default channel prototypes from github
     /// and saves them to the local configuration directory.
-    UpdateChannels,
+    UpdateChannels {
+        /// Force update on already existing channels.
+        #[arg(long, default_value = "false")]
+        force: bool,
+    },
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, ValueEnum)]
diff --git a/television/gh.rs b/television/gh.rs
index 58370e3..7d16419 100644
--- a/television/gh.rs
+++ b/television/gh.rs
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ fn get_default_prototypes_from_repo() -> Result<Vec<DownloadedPrototype>> {
         .collect())
 }
 
-pub fn update_local_channels() -> Result<()> {
+pub fn update_local_channels(force: &bool) -> Result<()> {
     println!("{}", "Fetching latest cable channels...".bold());
     let default_prototypes = get_default_prototypes_from_repo()?;
     println!("{}", "\nSaving channels locally...".bold());
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ pub fn update_local_channels() -> Result<()> {
         let file_path =
             cable_path.join(&p.name).with_extension(CHANNEL_FILE_FORMAT);
         // if the file already exists, don't overwrite it
-        if file_path.exists() {
+        if file_path.exists() && !force {
             println!(
                 "  Channel {} already exists at {}, SKIPPING...",
                 p.name.blue().bold(),
diff --git a/television/main.rs b/television/main.rs
index 2190a3d..8c8b23f 100644
--- a/television/main.rs
+++ b/television/main.rs
@@ -241,8 +241,8 @@ pub fn handle_subcommand(command: &Command, config: &Config) -> Result<()> {
             println!("{script}");
             exit(0);
         }
-        Command::UpdateChannels => {
-            update_local_channels()?;
+        Command::UpdateChannels { force } => {
+            update_local_channels(force)?;
             exit(0);
         }
     }