diff --git a/.config/config.toml b/.config/config.toml
index 268de0b..71e2769 100644
--- a/.config/config.toml
+++ b/.config/config.toml
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@
 
 # General settings
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-frame_rate = 60 # DEPRECATED: this option is no longer used
+frame_rate = 60           # DEPRECATED: this option is no longer used
 tick_rate = 50
+default_channel = "files"
 
 [ui]
 # Whether to use nerd font icons in the UI
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 70779bd..32fcda2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ jobs:
   test:
     name: Test Suite
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      RUST_BACKTRACE: 1
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@nightly
       - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
       - name: Install fd
-        run: sudo apt-get install -y fd-find
+        run: sudo apt install -y fd-find && sudo ln -s $(which fdfind) /usr/bin/fd
       - name: Run tests
         run: cargo test --locked --all-features --workspace -- --nocapture
 
diff --git a/cable/unix-channels.toml b/cable/unix-channels.toml
index 75c008b..c0c3a3c 100644
--- a/cable/unix-channels.toml
+++ b/cable/unix-channels.toml
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@ name = "files"
 source_command = "fd -t f"
 preview_command = ":files:"
 
+# Text
+[[cable_channel]]
+name = "text"
+source_command = "rg . --no-heading --line-number"
+preview_command = "bat -n --color=always {0} -H {1}"
+preview_delimiter = ":"
+
 # Directories
 [[cable_channel]]
 name = "dirs"
diff --git a/television/cable.rs b/television/cable.rs
index fcb4a28..71d35ff 100644
--- a/television/cable.rs
+++ b/television/cable.rs
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ use crate::config::get_config_dir;
 
 /// Just a proxy struct to deserialize prototypes
 #[derive(Debug, serde::Deserialize, Default)]
-struct ChannelPrototypes {
+pub struct ChannelPrototypes {
     #[serde(rename = "cable_channel")]
-    prototypes: Vec<CableChannelPrototype>,
+    pub prototypes: Vec<CableChannelPrototype>,
 }
 
 const CABLE_FILE_NAME_SUFFIX: &str = "channels";
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ pub fn load_cable_channels() -> Result<CableChannels> {
     );
 
     debug!("Loaded cable channels: {:?}", prototypes);
+    if prototypes.is_empty() {
+        error!("No cable channels found");
+        return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("No cable channels found"));
+    }
 
     let mut cable_channels = FxHashMap::default();
     for prototype in prototypes {
diff --git a/television/channels/cable.rs b/television/channels/cable.rs
index 423ea52..7731627 100644
--- a/television/channels/cable.rs
+++ b/television/channels/cable.rs
@@ -13,11 +13,14 @@ use regex::Regex;
 use rustc_hash::{FxBuildHasher, FxHashSet};
 use tracing::debug;
 
-use crate::channels::entry::{Entry, PreviewCommand, PreviewType};
 use crate::channels::OnAir;
 use crate::matcher::Matcher;
 use crate::matcher::{config::Config, injector::Injector};
 use crate::utils::command::shell_command;
+use crate::{
+    cable::ChannelPrototypes,
+    channels::entry::{Entry, PreviewCommand, PreviewType},
+};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub enum PreviewKind {
@@ -39,10 +42,10 @@ pub struct Channel {
 impl Default for Channel {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self::new(
-            "Files",
+            "files",
             "find . -type f",
             false,
-            Some(PreviewCommand::new("bat -n --color=always {}", ":")),
+            Some(PreviewCommand::new("cat {}", ":")),
         )
     }
 }
@@ -290,7 +293,7 @@ impl Display for CableChannelPrototype {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, serde::Deserialize, Default)]
+#[derive(Debug, serde::Deserialize)]
 pub struct CableChannels(pub FxHashMap<String, CableChannelPrototype>);
 
 impl Deref for CableChannels {
@@ -300,3 +303,25 @@ impl Deref for CableChannels {
         &self.0
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(unix)]
+const DEFAULT_CABLE_CHANNELS_FILE: &str =
+    include_str!("../../cable/unix-channels.toml");
+#[cfg(not(unix))]
+const DEFAULT_CABLE_CHANNELS_FILE: &str =
+    include_str!("../../cable/windows-channels.toml");
+
+impl Default for CableChannels {
+    /// Fallback to the default cable channels specification (the template file
+    /// included in the repo).
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        let pts =
+            toml::from_str::<ChannelPrototypes>(DEFAULT_CABLE_CHANNELS_FILE)
+                .expect("Unable to parse default cable channels");
+        let mut channels = FxHashMap::default();
+        for prototype in pts.prototypes {
+            channels.insert(prototype.name.clone(), prototype);
+        }
+        CableChannels(channels)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/television/cli/args.rs b/television/cli/args.rs
index 29a2543..a319b4a 100644
--- a/television/cli/args.rs
+++ b/television/cli/args.rs
@@ -9,13 +9,8 @@ pub struct Cli {
     /// A list of the available channels can be displayed using the
     /// `list-channels` command. The channel can also be changed from within
     /// the application.
-    #[arg(
-        value_enum,
-        default_value = "files",
-        index = 1,
-        verbatim_doc_comment
-    )]
-    pub channel: String,
+    #[arg(value_enum, index = 1, verbatim_doc_comment)]
+    pub channel: Option<String>,
 
     /// A preview command to use with the stdin channel.
     ///
diff --git a/television/cli/mod.rs b/television/cli/mod.rs
index 6a31276..a9f1f8b 100644
--- a/television/cli/mod.rs
+++ b/television/cli/mod.rs
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ use std::path::Path;
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
 use tracing::debug;
 
-use crate::channels::cable::{parse_preview_kind, PreviewKind};
+use crate::channels::cable::{parse_preview_kind, CableChannels, PreviewKind};
 use crate::channels::{cable::CableChannelPrototype, entry::PreviewCommand};
 use crate::cli::args::{Cli, Command};
-use crate::config::KeyBindings;
+use crate::config::{KeyBindings, DEFAULT_CHANNEL};
 use crate::{
     cable,
     config::{get_config_dir, get_data_dir},
@@ -86,22 +86,37 @@ impl From<Cli> for PostProcessedCli {
         let channel: CableChannelPrototype;
         let working_directory: Option<String>;
 
-        match parse_channel(&cli.channel) {
-            Ok(p) => {
-                channel = p;
-                working_directory = cli.working_directory;
-            }
-            Err(_) => {
-                // if the path is provided as first argument and it exists, use it as the working
-                // directory and default to the files channel
-                if cli.working_directory.is_none()
-                    && Path::new(&cli.channel).exists()
-                {
-                    channel = CableChannelPrototype::default();
-                    working_directory = Some(cli.channel.clone());
-                } else {
-                    unknown_channel_exit(&cli.channel);
-                    unreachable!();
+        let cable_channels = cable::load_cable_channels().unwrap_or_default();
+        if cli.channel.is_none() {
+            channel = cable_channels
+                .get(DEFAULT_CHANNEL)
+                .expect("Default channel not found in cable channels")
+                .clone();
+            working_directory = cli.working_directory;
+        } else {
+            let cli_channel = cli.channel.as_ref().unwrap().to_owned();
+            match parse_channel(&cli_channel, &cable_channels) {
+                Ok(p) => {
+                    channel = p;
+                    working_directory = cli.working_directory;
+                }
+                Err(_) => {
+                    // if the path is provided as first argument and it exists, use it as the working
+                    // directory and default to the files channel
+                    if cli.working_directory.is_none()
+                        && Path::new(&cli_channel).exists()
+                    {
+                        channel = cable_channels
+                            .get(DEFAULT_CHANNEL)
+                            .expect(
+                                "Default channel not found in cable channels",
+                            )
+                            .clone();
+                        working_directory = Some(cli.channel.unwrap().clone());
+                    } else {
+                        unknown_channel_exit(&cli.channel.unwrap());
+                        unreachable!();
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -157,15 +172,17 @@ fn parse_keybindings_literal(
     toml::from_str(&toml_definition).map_err(|e| anyhow!(e))
 }
 
-pub fn parse_channel(channel: &str) -> Result<CableChannelPrototype> {
-    let cable_channels = cable::load_cable_channels().unwrap_or_default();
+pub fn parse_channel(
+    channel: &str,
+    cable_channels: &CableChannels,
+) -> Result<CableChannelPrototype> {
     // try to parse the channel as a cable channel
     match cable_channels
         .iter()
         .find(|(k, _)| k.to_lowercase() == channel)
     {
         Some((_, v)) => Ok(v.clone()),
-        None => Err(anyhow!("Unknown channel: {channel}")),
+        None => Err(anyhow!("The following channel wasn't found among cable channels: {channel}")),
     }
 }
 
@@ -201,13 +218,18 @@ pub fn list_channels() {
 pub fn guess_channel_from_prompt(
     prompt: &str,
     command_mapping: &FxHashMap<String, String>,
-    fallback_channel: CableChannelPrototype,
+    fallback_channel: &str,
+    cable_channels: &CableChannels,
 ) -> Result<CableChannelPrototype> {
     debug!("Guessing channel from prompt: {}", prompt);
     // git checkout -qf
     // --- -------- --- <---------
+    let fallback = cable_channels
+        .get(fallback_channel)
+        .expect("Fallback channel not found in cable channels")
+        .clone();
     if prompt.trim().is_empty() {
-        return Ok(fallback_channel);
+        return Ok(fallback);
     }
     let rev_prompt_words = prompt.split_whitespace().rev();
     let mut stack = Vec::new();
@@ -221,7 +243,7 @@ pub fn guess_channel_from_prompt(
         for word in rev_prompt_words.clone() {
             // if the stack is empty, we have a match
             if stack.is_empty() {
-                return parse_channel(channel);
+                return parse_channel(channel, cable_channels);
             }
             // if the word matches the top of the stack, pop it
             if stack.last() == Some(&word) {
@@ -230,14 +252,14 @@ pub fn guess_channel_from_prompt(
         }
         // if the stack is empty, we have a match
         if stack.is_empty() {
-            return parse_channel(channel);
+            return parse_channel(channel, cable_channels);
         }
         // reset the stack
         stack.clear();
     }
 
     debug!("No match found, falling back to default channel");
-    Ok(fallback_channel)
+    Ok(fallback)
 }
 
 const VERSION_MESSAGE: &str = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
@@ -285,7 +307,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[allow(clippy::float_cmp)]
     fn test_from_cli() {
         let cli = Cli {
-            channel: "files".to_string(),
+            channel: Some("files".to_string()),
             preview: Some("bat -n --color=always {}".to_string()),
             delimiter: ":".to_string(),
             working_directory: Some("/home/user".to_string()),
@@ -317,7 +339,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[allow(clippy::float_cmp)]
     fn test_from_cli_no_args() {
         let cli = Cli {
-            channel: ".".to_string(),
+            channel: Some(".".to_string()),
             delimiter: ":".to_string(),
             ..Default::default()
         };
@@ -338,7 +360,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn test_builtin_previewer_files() {
         let cli = Cli {
-            channel: "files".to_string(),
+            channel: Some("files".to_string()),
             preview: Some(":files:".to_string()),
             delimiter: ":".to_string(),
             ..Default::default()
@@ -355,7 +377,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn test_builtin_previewer_env() {
         let cli = Cli {
-            channel: "files".to_string(),
+            channel: Some("files".to_string()),
             preview: Some(":env_var:".to_string()),
             delimiter: ":".to_string(),
             ..Default::default()
@@ -372,7 +394,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn test_custom_keybindings() {
         let cli = Cli {
-            channel: "files".to_string(),
+            channel: Some("files".to_string()),
             preview: Some(":env_var:".to_string()),
             delimiter: ":".to_string(),
             keybindings: Some(
@@ -395,15 +417,16 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     /// Returns a tuple containing a command mapping and a fallback channel.
-    fn guess_channel_from_prompt_setup(
-    ) -> (FxHashMap<String, String>, CableChannelPrototype) {
+    fn guess_channel_from_prompt_setup<'a>(
+    ) -> (FxHashMap<String, String>, &'a str, CableChannels) {
         let mut command_mapping = FxHashMap::default();
         command_mapping.insert("vim".to_string(), "files".to_string());
         command_mapping.insert("export".to_string(), "env".to_string());
 
         (
             command_mapping,
-            CableChannelPrototype::new("env", "", false, None, None),
+            "env",
+            cable::load_cable_channels().unwrap_or_default(),
         )
     }
 
@@ -411,11 +434,16 @@ mod tests {
     fn test_guess_channel_from_prompt_present() {
         let prompt = "vim -d file1";
 
-        let (command_mapping, fallback) = guess_channel_from_prompt_setup();
+        let (command_mapping, fallback, channels) =
+            guess_channel_from_prompt_setup();
 
-        let channel =
-            guess_channel_from_prompt(prompt, &command_mapping, fallback)
-                .unwrap();
+        let channel = guess_channel_from_prompt(
+            prompt,
+            &command_mapping,
+            fallback,
+            &channels,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(channel.name, "files");
     }
@@ -424,31 +452,35 @@ mod tests {
     fn test_guess_channel_from_prompt_fallback() {
         let prompt = "git checkout ";
 
-        let (command_mapping, fallback) = guess_channel_from_prompt_setup();
+        let (command_mapping, fallback, channels) =
+            guess_channel_from_prompt_setup();
 
         let channel = guess_channel_from_prompt(
             prompt,
             &command_mapping,
-            fallback.clone(),
+            fallback,
+            &channels,
         )
         .unwrap();
 
-        assert_eq!(channel, fallback);
+        assert_eq!(channel.name, fallback);
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn test_guess_channel_from_prompt_empty() {
         let prompt = "";
 
-        let (command_mapping, fallback) = guess_channel_from_prompt_setup();
+        let (command_mapping, fallback, channels) =
+            guess_channel_from_prompt_setup();
 
         let channel = guess_channel_from_prompt(
             prompt,
             &command_mapping,
-            fallback.clone(),
+            fallback,
+            &channels,
         )
         .unwrap();
 
-        assert_eq!(channel, fallback);
+        assert_eq!(channel.name, fallback);
     }
 }
diff --git a/television/config/mod.rs b/television/config/mod.rs
index 429ab90..25907ba 100644
--- a/television/config/mod.rs
+++ b/television/config/mod.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,15 @@ pub struct AppConfig {
     pub frame_rate: f64,
     #[serde(default = "default_tick_rate")]
     pub tick_rate: f64,
+    /// The default channel to use when no channel is specified
+    #[serde(default = "default_channel")]
+    pub default_channel: String,
+}
+
+pub const DEFAULT_CHANNEL: &str = "files";
+
+fn default_channel() -> String {
+    DEFAULT_CHANNEL.to_string()
 }
 
 impl Hash for AppConfig {
diff --git a/television/main.rs b/television/main.rs
index 79a7ed2..88c2ca0 100644
--- a/television/main.rs
+++ b/television/main.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ use std::process::exit;
 
 use anyhow::Result;
 use clap::Parser;
-use television::channels::cable::PreviewKind;
-use television::cli::parse_channel;
+use television::cable;
+use television::channels::cable::{CableChannels, PreviewKind};
 use television::utils::clipboard::CLIPBOARD;
 use tracing::{debug, error, info};
 
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     debug!("Loading configuration...");
     let mut config = Config::new(&ConfigEnv::init()?)?;
 
+    debug!("Loading cable channels...");
+    let cable_channels = cable::load_cable_channels().unwrap_or_default();
+
     // optionally handle subcommands
     debug!("Handling subcommands...");
     args.command
@@ -58,8 +61,12 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
 
     // determine the channel to use based on the CLI arguments and configuration
     debug!("Determining channel...");
-    let channel =
-        determine_channel(args.clone(), &config, is_readable_stdin())?;
+    let channel = determine_channel(
+        args.clone(),
+        &config,
+        is_readable_stdin(),
+        &cable_channels,
+    )?;
 
     CLIPBOARD.with(<_>::default);
 
@@ -146,6 +153,7 @@ pub fn determine_channel(
     args: PostProcessedCli,
     config: &Config,
     readable_stdin: bool,
+    cable_channels: &CableChannels,
 ) -> Result<TelevisionChannel> {
     if readable_stdin {
         debug!("Using stdin channel");
@@ -163,7 +171,8 @@ pub fn determine_channel(
         let channel = guess_channel_from_prompt(
             &prompt,
             &config.shell_integration.commands,
-            parse_channel(&config.shell_integration.fallback_channel)?,
+            &config.shell_integration.fallback_channel,
+            cable_channels,
         )?;
         debug!("Using guessed channel: {:?}", channel);
         Ok(TelevisionChannel::Cable(channel.into()))
@@ -176,7 +185,9 @@ pub fn determine_channel(
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use rustc_hash::FxHashMap;
-    use television::channels::cable::CableChannelPrototype;
+    use television::{
+        cable::load_cable_channels, channels::cable::CableChannelPrototype,
+    };
 
     use super::*;
 
@@ -185,9 +196,13 @@ mod tests {
         config: &Config,
         readable_stdin: bool,
         expected_channel: &TelevisionChannel,
+        cable_channels: Option<CableChannels>,
     ) {
+        let channels: CableChannels = cable_channels
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| load_cable_channels().unwrap_or_default());
         let channel =
-            determine_channel(args.clone(), config, readable_stdin).unwrap();
+            determine_channel(args.clone(), config, readable_stdin, &channels)
+                .unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(
             channel.name(),
@@ -212,6 +227,7 @@ mod tests {
             &config,
             true,
             &TelevisionChannel::Stdin(StdinChannel::new(PreviewType::None)),
+            None,
         );
     }
 
@@ -242,7 +258,13 @@ mod tests {
         };
         config.shell_integration.merge_triggers();
 
-        assert_is_correct_channel(&args, &config, false, &expected_channel);
+        assert_is_correct_channel(
+            &args,
+            &config,
+            false,
+            &expected_channel,
+            None,
+        );
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
@@ -262,6 +284,7 @@ mod tests {
                 CableChannelPrototype::new("dirs", "", false, None, None)
                     .into(),
             ),
+            None,
         );
     }