Presented is a method of displaying a newly requested channel in a mobile TV device prior to retuning the mobile TV device to the newly selected channel. The mobile TV device demodulator and tuner are cycled on for a short period of time at regular intervals to conserve battery power. Data is buffered from multiple channels in a buffer within the mobile TV device while the demodulator is cycled on. The mobile TV device displays data from one of the buffered channels upon a request to switch to the channel prior to retuning the mobile TV device to the newly selected channel. The mobile TV device is then retuned to the newly selected channel at the next instance the demodulator and tuner are cycled on.