What term describes the behavior of switching channels during commercial breaks?

The term that describes the behavior of switching channels during commercial breaks is known as zapping. This phenomenon occurs when viewers change the channel to avoid watching advertisements, seeking instead to view different content on another channel or to return to a program once the commercial break has ended. Zapping is a common response to the interruption caused by commercials, illustrating viewer engagement strategies in today’s media landscape.

In contrast, payola and plugola refer to unethical practices in the media where payment is exchanged for favorable advertising or promotion, impacting the integrity of broadcasts. Redirection typically relates to guiding users from one point to another, often in a digital context, but does not specifically pertain to the act of changing channels during commercials. Thus, zapping aptly captures the intended behavior that the question describes.