diff --git a/cmd/streamdata/main.go b/cmd/streamdata/main.go
index 5ae23d4..9b57ade 100644
--- a/cmd/streamdata/main.go
+++ b/cmd/streamdata/main.go
@@ -44,6 +44,44 @@ func main() {
 		"Channel directory to open",
 	)
 
+	c.NewCommand(
+		"init",
+		"Create an empty channel",
+		func(args []string) (err error) {
+			if channel != nil {
+				if err = channel.Close(); err != nil {
+					return
+				}
+				channel = nil
+			}
+
+			var pathname string
+			switch len(args) {
+			case 0:
+				pathname = "."
+
+			case 1:
+				pathname = args[0]
+
+			default:
+				return errors.New("init requires 1 argument")
+			}
+
+			defer toErr(&err)
+			isattyStd()
+			br := bufio.NewReader(os.Stdin)
+
+			var v streamdata.Channel
+			v.Identifier = require(promptUint(br, "Identifier: "))
+			v.Name = require(prompt(br, "Channel name: "))
+			if err = v.Create(pathname); err != nil {
+				return
+			}
+			channel = &v
+			return
+		},
+	)
+
 	c.NewCommand(
 		"add",
 		"Add a VOD to the channel",