Generally this disclosure describes a method for controlling the operation of a system based on a determination of content that is airing on a channel. A method may include transmitting at least one message including instructions to sample content from a channel, receiving a message indicating that certain content on the channel is complete, and activating a notification indicating that the certain content on the channel is complete. Another method may include receiving a message including instructions to sample content from a channel, sampling content from the channel, transmitting a message including the content sample, receiving a message comprising information related to the content sample, and determining whether certain content is complete on the channel based on the received information.