channel

channel n.  [IRC] The basic unit of discussion on {IRC}.
   Once one joins a channel, everything one types is read by others on
   that channel.  Channels can either be named with numbers or with
   strings that begin with a `#' sign and can have topic descriptions
   (which are generally irrelevant to the actual subject of
   discussion).  Some notable channels are `#initgame',
   `#hottub', and `#report'.  At times of international
   crisis, `#report' has hundreds of members, some of whom take
   turns listening to various news services and typing in summaries of
   the news, or in some cases, giving first-hand accounts of the
   action (e.g., Scud missile attacks in Tel Aviv during the Gulf War
   in 1991).