An apparatus and a method for processing channel guide information containing program descriptions for programs, including the following. The channel guide information is stored in a memory. A user-entered request and a text string having one or more user-selectable characters may be entered by a user. The programs are then sorted in alphabetical order according to the program description to form an alpha-sorted list, in response to the user request. An alphabetical list of programs is then displayed with the first program on the list being a program having a program description matching the user-entered text string, if one can be located.