A television channel scan method involves successively scanning a sample number of channels within a first television channel plan to determine whether or not any channel was detected by sequentially tuning the channels at a tuner. If at least one channel is detected in the first television channel plan: then retrieving a map for all channels in the first television channel plan, and selecting all channels within the first television channel plan as channels available for a user to tune. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.