diff --git a/backend/alembic/versions/0115_takeout_channels.py b/backend/alembic/versions/0115_takeout_channels.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b7ef1b95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/alembic/versions/0115_takeout_channels.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+"""A watched Takeout video's length, and the channels a user put out of their list
+
+Revision ID: 0115_takeout_channels
+Revises: 0114_video_unmarks
+Create Date: 2026-10-24
+
+The "channels you watch but do not follow" list counts a user's watched videos over five minutes
+by channel. The length is asked of YouTube for that list and kept on the Takeout row; a channel the
+user does not want on the list is kept apart.
+"""
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+revision: str = "0115_takeout_channels"
+down_revision: str | None = "0114_video_unmarks"
+branch_labels: str | None = None
+depends_on: str | None = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.add_column(
+        "takeout_items", sa.Column("looked_up_at", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=True)
+    )
+    op.add_column("takeout_items", sa.Column("duration_seconds", sa.Integer(), nullable=True))
+    op.create_table(
+        "takeout_channel_dismissals",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), primary_key=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "user_id",
+            sa.Integer(),
+            sa.ForeignKey("users.id", ondelete="CASCADE"),
+            nullable=False,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("channel_id", sa.String(32), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "created_at",
+            sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+            server_default=sa.func.now(),
+            nullable=False,
+        ),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("user_id", "channel_id", name="uq_takeout_channel_dismissal"),
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_table("takeout_channel_dismissals")
+    op.drop_column("takeout_items", "duration_seconds")
+    op.drop_column("takeout_items", "looked_up_at")
diff --git a/backend/app/reader/models.py b/backend/app/reader/models.py
index 7ff5d7b1..a146e058 100644
--- a/backend/app/reader/models.py
+++ b/backend/app/reader/models.py
@@ -254,8 +254,9 @@ class TakeoutItem(Base, TimestampMixin):
     """One video from a user's Google Takeout export: watched (with when) or in their YouTube Watch
     later list (with when it was added). The rows are both the import job's input and its memory: a
     video the catalog does not know yet waits here, with no outcome, until it enters the catalog.
-    The id is not a foreign key for that reason. The channel is kept for a later "channels you
-    watch but do not follow" list."""
+    The id is not a foreign key for that reason. A watched row's channel and length feed the
+    "channels you watch but do not follow" list: the length is asked of YouTube for that list alone
+    and kept here, so its videos need not enter the shared catalog to be counted."""
 
     __tablename__ = "takeout_items"
     __table_args__ = (
@@ -277,3 +278,21 @@ class TakeoutItem(Base, TimestampMixin):
     # Watched: the last time in the export; Watch later: when it was added.
     at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(DateTime(timezone=True))
     outcome: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(String(12))
+    # When YouTube was asked for the video's length (NULL = not yet), and the length it gave; a
+    # video it no longer has keeps a NULL length.
+    looked_up_at: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(DateTime(timezone=True))
+    duration_seconds: Mapped[int | None] = mapped_column(Integer)
+
+
+class TakeoutChannelDismissal(Base, TimestampMixin):
+    """A channel the user put out of their "watched but not followed" list. The id is not a foreign
+    key: the channel may never have entered the catalog, or may leave it, and the choice stays."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "takeout_channel_dismissals"
+    __table_args__ = (
+        UniqueConstraint("user_id", "channel_id", name="uq_takeout_channel_dismissal"),
+    )
+
+    id: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(primary_key=True)
+    user_id: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(ForeignKey("users.id", ondelete="CASCADE"))
+    channel_id: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(String(32))
diff --git a/backend/app/reader/queries.py b/backend/app/reader/queries.py
index b06eb402..fa3fd4fd 100644
--- a/backend/app/reader/queries.py
+++ b/backend/app/reader/queries.py
@@ -16,13 +16,14 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import InstrumentedAttribute, Session, aliased
 from app.collation import collated
 from app.feedquery import feed_columns, serialize
 from app.models import User
-from app.catalog.models import Channel, Subscription, Video
+from app.catalog.models import BlockedChannel, Channel, Subscription, Video
 from app.reader.models import (
     ChannelTag,
     Playlist,
     PlaylistItem,
     SavedView,
     Tag,
+    TakeoutChannelDismissal,
     TakeoutItem,
     TakeoutKind,
     VideoState,
@@ -533,3 +534,164 @@ def takeout_users_watch_later_waiting(db: Session) -> list[int]:
             .distinct()
         ).scalars()
     )
+
+
+# --- channels watched but not followed ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+# A channel joins the list with this many watched videos of at least this length. A Short is three
+# minutes at most, so the length alone keeps them out, and a video under five minutes says too
+# little of what a channel is about to count towards it.
+WATCHED_CHANNEL_MIN_VIDEOS = 5
+WATCHED_CHANNEL_MIN_SECONDS = 300
+
+
+def _unfollowed(user: User) -> ColumnElement[bool]:
+    """A watched row whose channel the user neither follows, blocked, put out of the list, nor is."""
+    subscribed = select(Subscription.channel_id).where(owned_by(Subscription.user_id, user))
+    blocked = select(BlockedChannel.channel_id).where(owned_by(BlockedChannel.user_id, user))
+    dismissed = select(TakeoutChannelDismissal.channel_id).where(
+        owned_by(TakeoutChannelDismissal.user_id, user)
+    )
+    clauses = [
+        owned_by(TakeoutItem.user_id, user),
+        TakeoutItem.kind == TakeoutKind.WATCHED,
+        TakeoutItem.channel_id.is_not(None),
+        TakeoutItem.channel_id.not_in(subscribed),
+        TakeoutItem.channel_id.not_in(blocked),
+        TakeoutItem.channel_id.not_in(dismissed),
+    ]
+    if user.yt_channel_id:
+        clauses.append(TakeoutItem.channel_id != user.yt_channel_id)
+    return and_(*clauses)
+
+
+def _candidate_channels(user: User):
+    """The unfollowed channels with enough watched videos to make the list once their lengths are
+    known: (channel id, how many watched)."""
+    return (
+        select(TakeoutItem.channel_id, func.count().label("watched"))
+        .where(_unfollowed(user))
+        .group_by(TakeoutItem.channel_id)
+        .having(func.count() >= WATCHED_CHANNEL_MIN_VIDEOS)
+        .subquery()
+    )
+
+
+def takeout_lengths_to_ask(db: Session, user: User) -> list[str]:
+    """The watched videos whose length the list still needs: those of the candidate channels not
+    asked about yet, the most watched channels first, so a lookup cut short fills the top."""
+    cand = _candidate_channels(user)
+    return list(
+        db.execute(
+            select(TakeoutItem.video_id)
+            .join(cand, cand.c.channel_id == TakeoutItem.channel_id)
+            .where(_unfollowed(user), TakeoutItem.looked_up_at.is_(None))
+            .order_by(cand.c.watched.desc(), TakeoutItem.channel_id, TakeoutItem.at.desc())
+        ).scalars()
+    )
+
+
+def watched_channels_pending(db: Session, user: User) -> int:
+    """How many candidate channels still have a watched video whose length is not known: the
+    channels that may yet join the list."""
+    cand = _candidate_channels(user)
+    return (
+        db.scalar(
+            select(func.count(func.distinct(TakeoutItem.channel_id)))
+            .join(cand, cand.c.channel_id == TakeoutItem.channel_id)
+            .where(_unfollowed(user), TakeoutItem.looked_up_at.is_(None))
+        )
+        or 0
+    )
+
+
+def watched_channels_to_describe(db: Session, user: User) -> list[str]:
+    """The channels on the list (by their counted videos) that the catalog lacks or has no details
+    of yet: what the list cannot name."""
+    counted = (
+        select(TakeoutItem.channel_id)
+        .where(_unfollowed(user), TakeoutItem.duration_seconds >= WATCHED_CHANNEL_MIN_SECONDS)
+        .group_by(TakeoutItem.channel_id)
+        .having(func.count() >= WATCHED_CHANNEL_MIN_VIDEOS)
+        .subquery()
+    )
+    return list(
+        db.execute(
+            select(counted.c.channel_id)
+            .outerjoin(Channel, Channel.id == counted.c.channel_id)
+            .where(Channel.details_synced_at.is_(None))
+        ).scalars()
+    )
+
+
+def watched_channels(db: Session, user: User) -> list[tuple[Channel, int, datetime]]:
+    """The channels the user watched often but does not follow: (channel, how many of its videos
+    over five minutes they watched, when last). Most watched first; on a tie the one watched more
+    lately, which is the likelier interest."""
+    n = func.count(TakeoutItem.id)
+    last = func.max(TakeoutItem.at)
+    return list(
+        db.execute(
+            select(Channel, n, last)
+            .join(Channel, Channel.id == TakeoutItem.channel_id)
+            .where(_unfollowed(user), TakeoutItem.duration_seconds >= WATCHED_CHANNEL_MIN_SECONDS)
+            .group_by(Channel.id)
+            .having(n >= WATCHED_CHANNEL_MIN_VIDEOS)
+            .order_by(n.desc(), last.desc(), Channel.id)
+        ).tuples()
+    )
+
+
+def has_watch_history(db: Session, user: User) -> bool:
+    """Whether the user has uploaded a Takeout watch history at all."""
+    return bool(
+        db.scalar(
+            select(
+                select(TakeoutItem.id)
+                .where(owned_by(TakeoutItem.user_id, user), TakeoutItem.kind == TakeoutKind.WATCHED)
+                .exists()
+            )
+        )
+    )
+
+
+def watched_channel_videos(
+    db: Session, user: User, channel_id: str
+) -> tuple[list[tuple[str, datetime]], int]:
+    """The user's watched videos of one channel that the list counts, last watched first: (video
+    id, when). And how many YouTube no longer has."""
+    rows = db.execute(
+        select(TakeoutItem.video_id, TakeoutItem.at, TakeoutItem.duration_seconds)
+        .where(
+            owned_by(TakeoutItem.user_id, user),
+            TakeoutItem.kind == TakeoutKind.WATCHED,
+            TakeoutItem.channel_id == channel_id,
+            TakeoutItem.looked_up_at.is_not(None),
+        )
+        .order_by(TakeoutItem.at.desc(), TakeoutItem.video_id)
+    ).tuples()
+    counted: list[tuple[str, datetime]] = []
+    gone = 0
+    for vid, at, seconds in rows:
+        if seconds is None:
+            gone += 1
+        elif seconds >= WATCHED_CHANNEL_MIN_SECONDS:
+            counted.append((vid, at))
+    return counted, gone
+
+
+def takeout_users_with_lengths_to_ask(db: Session) -> list[int]:
+    """Every user with a channel of enough watched videos not all asked about yet. It does not ask
+    whether they follow the channel: that is each user's own question, which
+    `takeout_lengths_to_ask` answers (and an empty answer costs a run nothing)."""
+    per_channel = (
+        select(TakeoutItem.user_id)
+        .where(TakeoutItem.kind == TakeoutKind.WATCHED, TakeoutItem.channel_id.is_not(None))
+        .group_by(TakeoutItem.user_id, TakeoutItem.channel_id)
+        .having(
+            func.count() >= WATCHED_CHANNEL_MIN_VIDEOS,
+            func.count().filter(TakeoutItem.looked_up_at.is_(None)) > 0,
+        )
+        .subquery()
+    )
+    return list(db.execute(select(per_channel.c.user_id).distinct()).scalars())
diff --git a/backend/app/reader/service.py b/backend/app/reader/service.py
index 08bbabc2..5402e653 100644
--- a/backend/app/reader/service.py
+++ b/backend/app/reader/service.py
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ unique key, a row lock taken before a presence check. The comfort shelf's writes
 
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
-from sqlalchemy import exists, func, select, text, update
+from typing import cast
+
+from sqlalchemy import Table, bindparam, delete, exists, func, select, text, update
 from sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql import insert as pg_insert
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ from app.reader.models import (
     PlaylistItem,
     SavedView,
     Tag,
+    TakeoutChannelDismissal,
     TakeoutItem,
     TakeoutKind,
     TakeoutOutcome,
@@ -662,3 +665,51 @@ def apply_takeout_watch_later(
         "watch_later_present": len(done[TakeoutOutcome.PRESENT]),
         "watch_later_missing": len(done[TakeoutOutcome.MISSING]),
     }
+
+
+# --- channels watched but not followed ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def record_takeout_lengths(
+    db: Session, user: User, asked: list[str], lengths: dict[str, int | None]
+) -> None:
+    """Keep what YouTube said of the user's watched videos `asked` about: each one's length, or none
+    for a video it no longer has (`lengths` leaves it out). Every asked row is marked asked, so a
+    video YouTube lost is not asked about again."""
+    if not asked:
+        return
+    lock_takeout(db, user)  # these rows are an upload's to update too
+    now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+    table = cast(Table, TakeoutItem.__table__)
+    db.execute(
+        table.update()
+        .where(
+            owned_by(TakeoutItem.user_id, user),
+            table.c.kind == TakeoutKind.WATCHED,
+            table.c.video_id == bindparam("vid"),
+        )
+        .values(looked_up_at=now, duration_seconds=bindparam("seconds")),
+        [{"vid": vid, "seconds": lengths.get(vid)} for vid in asked],
+    )
+    db.flush()
+
+
+def dismiss_watched_channel(db: Session, user: User, channel_id: str) -> None:
+    """Put a channel out of the user's "watched but not followed" list (again is a no-op)."""
+    db.execute(
+        pg_insert(TakeoutChannelDismissal)
+        .values(user_id=user.id, channel_id=channel_id)
+        .on_conflict_do_nothing(constraint="uq_takeout_channel_dismissal")
+    )
+    db.flush()
+
+
+def restore_watched_channel(db: Session, user: User, channel_id: str) -> None:
+    """Let a channel the user put out of the list back on it."""
+    db.execute(
+        delete(TakeoutChannelDismissal).where(
+            owned_by(TakeoutChannelDismissal.user_id, user),
+            TakeoutChannelDismissal.channel_id == channel_id,
+        )
+    )
+    db.flush()
diff --git a/backend/app/reader/takeout.py b/backend/app/reader/takeout.py
index 35d5fc1d..89f9c2f0 100644
--- a/backend/app/reader/takeout.py
+++ b/backend/app/reader/takeout.py
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ only way in.
 
 Two files of the export are read, each uploaded on its own: `history/watch-history.json` and
 `playlists/Watch later-videos.csv`. Their videos are kept (`TakeoutItem`) and the import job applies
-what it can; a video the catalog does not know yet waits for it.
+what it can; a video the catalog does not know yet waits for it. The watched videos' channels also
+make the list of channels the user watches but does not follow (`queries.watched_channels`): the
+job asks YouTube how long those videos are, and what the channels are, for it.
 
 The format, measured on a real export (2026-10): the history is a JSON list, one entry per view,
 newest first. A view of a video has a `titleUrl` with `watch?v=<id>` (on www.youtube.com or
@@ -37,8 +39,9 @@ from app.ratelimit import RateLimiter
 from app.reader import queries, service
 from app.reader.models import TakeoutKind
 from app.sync.runner import get_service_user
-from app.sync.videos import ensure_videos
-from app.youtube.client import YouTubeClient
+from app.sync.subscriptions import describe_channels
+from app.sync.videos import ensure_videos, parse_iso8601_duration
+from app.youtube.client import YouTubeClient, YouTubeError
 
 log = logs.get_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -351,10 +354,79 @@ def _put_in_watch_later(db: Session, user: User) -> dict:
     return service.apply_takeout_watch_later(db, user, waiting, asked)
 
 
+def _ask_lengths(db: Session, user: User) -> dict:
+    """Ask YouTube how long the user's watched videos are that the "watched but not followed" list
+    still needs, and keep the answer — on the same terms and the same daily share as the Watch
+    later lookups. What is not asked yet (no YouTube-connected account, the reserve reached, the
+    share spent) waits for a later run, and the list says it is not complete. A YouTube failure is
+    logged and left for a later run too: it is no reason to fail the import it follows. The caller
+    commits."""
+    ask = queries.takeout_lengths_to_ask(db, user)
+    fetcher = get_service_user(db) if ask else None
+    if fetcher is None or quota.backfill_reserve_reached():
+        return {}
+    ask = ask[: int(_lookups.room(str(user.id)))]
+    if not ask:
+        return {}
+    try:
+        with quota.attribute(user.id, quota.QuotaAction.VIDEOS_LOOKUP):
+            with YouTubeClient(db, fetcher) as yt:
+                items = yt.get_videos(ask)
+    except YouTubeError as exc:
+        log.warning(
+            "Takeout: asking the watched videos' lengths failed: %s",
+            exc,
+            extra=logs.event("takeout.lengths.failed", user_id=user.id, reason=exc.reason),
+        )
+        return {}
+    _lookups.allow(str(user.id), cost=len(ask))
+    lengths = {
+        it["id"]: parse_iso8601_duration(it.get("contentDetails", {}).get("duration"))
+        for it in items
+        if it.get("id")
+    }
+    service.record_takeout_lengths(db, user, ask, lengths)
+    return {"lengths_asked": len(ask)}
+
+
+def _describe_channels(db: Session, user: User) -> dict:
+    """Bring the channels the user's list holds into the catalog with their details (name, picture,
+    description), the ones it lacks: without them the list cannot show a channel. A YouTube failure
+    is logged and left for a later run. The caller commits."""
+    need = queries.watched_channels_to_describe(db, user)
+    fetcher = get_service_user(db) if need else None
+    if fetcher is None or quota.backfill_reserve_reached():
+        return {}
+    try:
+        with quota.attribute(user.id, quota.QuotaAction.CHANNELS_DISCOVER):
+            with YouTubeClient(db, fetcher) as yt:
+                describe_channels(db, yt, need)
+    except YouTubeError as exc:
+        db.rollback()
+        log.warning(
+            "Takeout: describing the watched channels failed: %s",
+            exc,
+            extra=logs.event("takeout.channels.failed", user_id=user.id, reason=exc.reason),
+        )
+        return {}
+    return {"channels_described": len(need)}
+
+
+def _channel_list(db: Session, user: User) -> dict:
+    """The "watched but not followed" list's part of a run: the lengths, landed, then the channels.
+    Commits each."""
+    result = _ask_lengths(db, user)
+    db.commit()
+    result |= _describe_channels(db, user)
+    db.commit()
+    return result
+
+
 def run_import(user_id: int) -> dict:
     """The import job: apply what the user's kept Takeout rows can say now, as one recorded run.
     The watched part commits before the Watch later part asks YouTube for the videos the catalog
-    lacks, so a YouTube failure there loses nothing already marked. Returns the counts."""
+    lacks, so a YouTube failure there loses nothing already marked; the "watched but not followed"
+    list's lookups come last. Returns the counts."""
     with _one_import(user_id), SessionLocal() as db:
         user = db.get(User, user_id)
         if user is None:
@@ -363,6 +435,7 @@ def run_import(user_id: int) -> dict:
         db.commit()
         result |= _put_in_watch_later(db, user)
         db.commit()
+        result |= _channel_list(db, user)
         outcomes = queries.takeout_outcomes(db, user)
         result["waiting"] = outcomes.get((TakeoutKind.WATCHED, None), 0)
         if outcomes.get((TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER, None)):
@@ -373,13 +446,15 @@ def run_import(user_id: int) -> dict:
 def apply_waiting(db: Session) -> dict:
     """Settle what every user's import left waiting and can be settled now, one commit each: a
     watched video the catalog has come to know and the Shorts probe has cleared (by its job or a
-    search's), and the Watch later videos a run could not put in yet. Run after each run of the
+    search's), the Watch later videos a run could not put in yet, and what the "watched but not
+    followed" list still needs asked of YouTube. Run after each run of the
     `shorts` job, which is what clears the most of them. Returns its counts, or an empty dict when
     nothing was waiting that could move."""
-    marked = added = failed = 0
+    marked = added = asked = failed = 0
     ready = set(queries.takeout_users_ready(db))
     later = set(queries.takeout_users_watch_later_waiting(db))
-    for user_id in sorted(ready | later):
+    lengths = set(queries.takeout_users_with_lengths_to_ask(db))
+    for user_id in sorted(ready | later | lengths):
         user = db.get(User, user_id)
         if user is None:
             continue
@@ -393,6 +468,8 @@ def apply_waiting(db: Session) -> dict:
                 if user_id in later:
                     added += _put_in_watch_later(db, user).get("watch_later_added", 0)
                     db.commit()
+                if user_id in lengths:
+                    asked += _channel_list(db, user).get("lengths_asked", 0)
         except Exception:
             db.rollback()
             failed += 1
@@ -406,6 +483,8 @@ def apply_waiting(db: Session) -> dict:
         out["takeout_watched"] = marked
     if added:
         out["takeout_watch_later_added"] = added
+    if asked:
+        out["takeout_lengths_asked"] = asked
     if failed:
         out["takeout_failed"] = failed
     return out
diff --git a/backend/app/routes/feed.py b/backend/app/routes/feed.py
index 491a104b..95f9941f 100644
--- a/backend/app/routes/feed.py
+++ b/backend/app/routes/feed.py
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@ from collections.abc import AsyncIterator
 from datetime import date
 from functools import partial
 
-from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, Query, Request
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, Path, Query, Request
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from sqlalchemy.orm.exc import StaleDataError
 
 from app import jobruns, quota, scheduler
+from app.catalog import queries as catalog_queries, service as catalog_service
 from app.auth import current_user
 from app.db import get_db, release_read_connection
 from app.mailtext import lang_for_user
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ from app.routes._common import (
     not_found,
     youtube_refusal,
 )
-from app.sync.videos import parse_iso8601_duration
+from app.sync.videos import ensure_videos, parse_iso8601_duration
 from app.utils import iso
 from app.youtube.client import YouTubeClient, YouTubeError
 from app.refusal import refused
@@ -417,3 +418,95 @@ def takeout_status(user: User = Depends(current_user), db: Session = Depends(get
         },
         **queries.takeout_summary(db, user),
     }
+
+
+# --- channels watched but not followed -----------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@router.get("/takeout/channels")
+def watched_channels(user: User = Depends(current_user), db: Session = Depends(get_db)) -> dict:
+    """The channels the user's Takeout history shows them watching often but not following: each
+    with how many of its videos over five minutes they watched, and when last. `pending` is how many
+    more channels may join once the import has asked YouTube for their videos' lengths, so a list
+    still being made does not read as the whole of it; `imported` tells "no history uploaded" from
+    "nothing to suggest"."""
+    return {
+        "imported": queries.has_watch_history(db, user),
+        "pending": queries.watched_channels_pending(db, user),
+        "channels": [
+            {
+                "id": ch.id,
+                "title": ch.title,
+                "handle": ch.handle,
+                "thumbnail_url": ch.thumbnail_url,
+                "subscriber_count": ch.subscriber_count,
+                "video_count": ch.video_count,
+                "description": ch.description,
+                "watched": int(n),
+                "last_watched_at": iso(last),
+            }
+            for ch, n, last in queries.watched_channels(db, user)
+        ],
+    }
+
+
+@router.post("/takeout/channels/{channel_id}/videos")
+def watched_channel_videos(
+    channel_id: str, user: User = Depends(current_user), db: Session = Depends(get_db)
+) -> dict:
+    """The videos of a channel that the user's list counts, ready to play, last watched first. The
+    channel is explored for the user (as its page does), and the videos the catalog lacks come in as
+    the exploration's: the player needs them in the catalog, the shared Library does not get them,
+    and the cleanup reclaims them once nobody keeps them. `gone`: how many YouTube no longer has."""
+    channel = catalog_queries.channel(db, channel_id)
+    if channel is None:
+        raise not_found("channel")
+    if catalog_queries.is_blocked(db, user, channel_id):
+        raise refused(403, "channel_blocked")
+    counted, gone = queries.watched_channel_videos(db, user, channel_id)
+    ids = [vid for vid, _ in counted]
+    known = queries.known_video_ids(db, ids)
+    missing = [vid for vid in ids if vid not in known]
+    if missing and quota.backfill_reserve_reached():
+        raise refused(429, "quota_reserve")
+    catalog_service.explore(db, user, channel)
+    db.commit()
+    if missing:
+        try:
+            with (
+                quota.attribute(user.id, quota.QuotaAction.CHANNELS_EXPLORE),
+                YouTubeClient(db, user) as yt,
+            ):
+                ensure_videos(db, yt, missing, explore=True)
+        except YouTubeError as exc:
+            raise youtube_refusal(exc) from exc
+    items = queries.feed_rows_by_ids(db, user, ids)
+    watched_at = dict(counted)
+    for item in items:
+        item["takeout_watched_at"] = iso(watched_at[item["id"]])
+    # A video YouTube still had when its length was asked may have gone since.
+    return {"ok": True, "items": items, "gone": gone + len(ids) - len(items)}
+
+
+@router.put("/takeout/channels/{channel_id}/dismissal")
+def dismiss_watched_channel(
+    channel_id: str = Path(max_length=32),
+    user: User = Depends(current_user),
+    db: Session = Depends(get_db),
+) -> dict:
+    """Put a channel out of the user's list (it stays out until restored)."""
+    service.dismiss_watched_channel(db, user, channel_id)
+    db.commit()
+    return {"ok": True, "channel_id": channel_id}
+
+
+@router.delete("/takeout/channels/{channel_id}/dismissal")
+def restore_watched_channel(
+    channel_id: str = Path(max_length=32),
+    user: User = Depends(current_user),
+    db: Session = Depends(get_db),
+) -> dict:
+    """Let a channel the user put out of the list back on it."""
+    service.restore_watched_channel(db, user, channel_id)
+    db.commit()
+    return {"ok": True, "channel_id": channel_id}
diff --git a/backend/app/sync/subscriptions.py b/backend/app/sync/subscriptions.py
index 301cd019..495af93e 100644
--- a/backend/app/sync/subscriptions.py
+++ b/backend/app/sync/subscriptions.py
@@ -109,6 +109,21 @@ def apply_channel_details(db: Session, items: list[dict], asked: Iterable[str])
         channel.details_synced_at = now
 
 
+def describe_channels(db: Session, yt: YouTubeClient, channel_ids: list[str]) -> None:
+    """Make sure each given channel is in the catalog with its details: a channel it lacks is added
+    as a stub, then all of them are asked for (`channels.list`, 1 unit a 50). Flushes; the caller
+    commits."""
+    if not channel_ids:
+        return
+    have = set(db.execute(select(Channel.id).where(Channel.id.in_(channel_ids))).scalars())
+    for cid in dict.fromkeys(channel_ids):
+        if cid not in have:
+            db.add(Channel(id=cid))
+    db.flush()
+    apply_channel_details(db, yt.get_channels(channel_ids), channel_ids)
+    db.flush()
+
+
 def should_prune(fetched_count: int, existing_count: int) -> bool:
     """Whether an import may delete the local subscriptions missing from this fetch.
 
diff --git a/backend/app/sync/videos.py b/backend/app/sync/videos.py
index 6ae40983..2f77b9df 100644
--- a/backend/app/sync/videos.py
+++ b/backend/app/sync/videos.py
@@ -420,11 +420,15 @@ def run_shorts_classification(db: Session, limit: int | None = None) -> dict:
     return {"probed": probed, "shorts": shorts}
 
 
-def ensure_videos(db: Session, yt: YouTubeClient, video_ids: list[str]) -> None:
+def ensure_videos(
+    db: Session, yt: YouTubeClient, video_ids: list[str], *, explore: bool = False
+) -> None:
     """Make sure every given video id exists in the catalog, fetching + ingesting the
     missing ones (and a stub channel for any unknown channel). Deleted/private videos that
     the API won't return are simply left out. The catalog's write for a playlist sync that names
-    videos it has never seen; commits."""
+    videos it has never seen; commits. `explore` adds the new ones as an exploration's
+    (`via_explore`): visible to who explores or follows their channel, and reclaimed by the cleanup
+    once nobody keeps them."""
     if not video_ids:
         return
     have = set(db.execute(select(Video.id).where(Video.id.in_(video_ids))).scalars().all())
@@ -458,7 +462,12 @@ def ensure_videos(db: Session, yt: YouTubeClient, video_ids: list[str]) -> None:
         seen.add(vid)
         # published_at is NOT NULL (0068); apply_video_details re-fills a missing date, but seed a now()
         # fallback here too so the constructor never carries an explicit NULL.
-        v = Video(id=vid, channel_id=cid, published_at=parse_dt(sn.get("publishedAt")) or now)
+        v = Video(
+            id=vid,
+            channel_id=cid,
+            published_at=parse_dt(sn.get("publishedAt")) or now,
+            via_explore=explore,
+        )
         apply_video_details(v, it)
         v.enriched_at = now
         db.add(v)
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_unit_fences.py b/backend/tests/test_unit_fences.py
index c189977e..985df0d2 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_unit_fences.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_unit_fences.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ UNIT_MODELS = {
         "SavedView",
         "ComfortPin",
         "TakeoutItem",
+        "TakeoutChannelDismissal",
         "VideoUnmark",
         "Tag",
         "ChannelTag",
@@ -367,6 +368,8 @@ UNIT_COMMITS = {
         "reader/takeout.py:run_import",
         # Run inside the Shorts job, on its session: each user's waiting rows land on their own.
         "reader/takeout.py:apply_waiting",
+        # Inside either of those: the lengths YouTube gave land before the channels are asked for.
+        "reader/takeout.py:_channel_list",
     },
     # The catalog's ingest jobs commit per page or batch, a YouTube call between each: a page
     # fetched and stored is not lost when the next call fails, and an enrich that fails rolls back
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_watched_channels.py b/backend/tests/test_watched_channels.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1c4cc867
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_watched_channels.py
@@ -0,0 +1,399 @@
+"""The channels a user's Takeout history shows them watching but not following: which channels make
+the list (five videos of five minutes or more, none they follow, block, put out or own), what the
+import asks YouTube for it and when, and the channel's watched videos made ready to play."""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
+
+import pytest
+from sqlalchemy import select
+
+from app import quota
+from app.catalog.models import BlockedChannel, Channel, ExploredChannel, Subscription, Video
+from app.reader import queries, service, takeout
+from app.reader.models import TakeoutChannelDismissal, TakeoutItem, TakeoutKind
+from app.routes import feed as feed_routes
+from app.sync import videos as sync_videos
+from app.youtube.client import YouTubeError
+
+T0 = datetime(2026, 5, 1, 12, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+LONG = 600
+SHORT = 120
+
+
+def _ch(n: int) -> str:
+    return f"UC{n:022d}"
+
+
+def _vid(channel: int, n: int) -> str:
+    return f"c{channel:02d}v{n:07d}"
+
+
+def _watched(db, user, channel: int, lengths: list[int | None], *, at=T0, asked=True):
+    """Stage `len(lengths)` watched videos of a channel, the newest first, each with its length
+    already asked (None: YouTube no longer has it) — or not asked yet."""
+    service.stage_takeout(
+        db,
+        user,
+        TakeoutKind.WATCHED,
+        {_vid(channel, i): (at - timedelta(days=i), _ch(channel)) for i in range(len(lengths))},
+    )
+    db.flush()
+    if asked:
+        ids = [_vid(channel, i) for i in range(len(lengths))]
+        service.record_takeout_lengths(
+            db, user, ids, {v: s for v, s in zip(ids, lengths, strict=True) if s is not None}
+        )
+    db.commit()
+
+
+def _channel(db, n: int, title: str | None = None):
+    db.add(Channel(id=_ch(n), title=title or f"Channel {n}", details_synced_at=T0))
+    db.commit()
+
+
+def _listed(db, user) -> list[tuple[str, int]]:
+    return [(ch.id, n) for ch, n, _ in queries.watched_channels(db, user)]
+
+
+# --- which channels make the list --------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_a_channel_makes_the_list_with_five_watched_videos_of_five_minutes_or_more(db, make_user):
+    user = make_user("list@example.com")
+    for n in (1, 2, 3):
+        _channel(db, n)
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [LONG] * 5 + [SHORT] * 3)  # five long, three short: on it with 5
+    _watched(db, user, 2, [LONG] * 4 + [SHORT] * 6)  # ten watched, only four long: off it
+    _watched(db, user, 3, [299, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300])  # five at exactly five minutes: on it
+    # A tie: channel 1's counted videos were watched later (channel 3's newest is under five minutes).
+    assert _listed(db, user) == [(_ch(1), 5), (_ch(3), 5)]
+
+
+def test_a_video_youtube_no_longer_has_does_not_count(db, make_user):
+    user = make_user("gone@example.com")
+    _channel(db, 1)
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [LONG] * 4 + [None] * 3)
+    assert _listed(db, user) == []
+
+
+def test_the_most_watched_lead_and_a_tie_goes_to_the_one_watched_more_lately(db, make_user):
+    user = make_user("order@example.com")
+    for n in (1, 2, 3):
+        _channel(db, n)
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [LONG] * 6, at=T0 - timedelta(days=100))
+    _watched(db, user, 2, [LONG] * 9, at=T0 - timedelta(days=300))
+    _watched(db, user, 3, [LONG] * 6, at=T0)
+    assert _listed(db, user) == [(_ch(2), 9), (_ch(3), 6), (_ch(1), 6)]
+    last = {ch.id: when for ch, _, when in queries.watched_channels(db, user)}
+    assert last[_ch(3)] == T0  # the last watched of the counted ones
+
+
+def test_a_channel_the_user_follows_blocked_put_out_or_owns_is_not_on_the_list(db, make_user):
+    user = make_user("off@example.com", yt_channel_id=_ch(4))
+    for n in (1, 2, 3, 4, 5):
+        _channel(db, n)
+        _watched(db, user, n, [LONG] * 5)
+    db.add(Subscription(user_id=user.id, channel_id=_ch(1)))
+    db.add(BlockedChannel(user_id=user.id, channel_id=_ch(2)))
+    db.commit()
+    service.dismiss_watched_channel(db, user, _ch(3))
+    db.commit()
+    assert _listed(db, user) == [(_ch(5), 5)]
+
+
+def test_one_users_follows_and_dismissals_leave_anothers_list_alone(db, make_user):
+    me, other = make_user("me@example.com"), make_user("other@example.com")
+    _channel(db, 1)
+    for user in (me, other):
+        _watched(db, user, 1, [LONG] * 5)
+    db.add(Subscription(user_id=other.id, channel_id=_ch(1)))
+    db.commit()
+    service.dismiss_watched_channel(db, other, _ch(1))
+    db.commit()
+    assert _listed(db, me) == [(_ch(1), 5)]
+    assert _listed(db, other) == []
+
+
+def test_a_channel_whose_lengths_are_not_all_known_is_pending_until_they_are(db, make_user):
+    user = make_user("pending@example.com")
+    _channel(db, 1)
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [LONG] * 6, asked=False)
+    _watched(db, user, 2, [LONG] * 4, asked=False)  # four watched: it can never make the list
+    assert queries.watched_channels_pending(db, user) == 1
+    assert _listed(db, user) == []
+    ids = [_vid(1, i) for i in range(6)]
+    service.record_takeout_lengths(db, user, ids, dict.fromkeys(ids, LONG))
+    db.commit()
+    assert queries.watched_channels_pending(db, user) == 0
+    assert _listed(db, user) == [(_ch(1), 6)]
+
+
+def test_a_new_upload_of_the_history_keeps_the_lengths_already_asked(db, make_user):
+    user = make_user("again@example.com")
+    _channel(db, 1)
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [LONG] * 5)
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [LONG] * 5, at=T0 + timedelta(days=1), asked=False)
+    assert _listed(db, user) == [(_ch(1), 5)]
+    assert queries.takeout_lengths_to_ask(db, user) == []
+
+
+# --- what the import asks YouTube for ----------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class FakeYouTube:
+    """Stands in for `YouTubeClient`: answers `videos.list` with the lengths it was given and
+    `channels.list` with a title per channel, and records what it was asked."""
+
+    def __init__(self, lengths: dict[str, int] | None = None, *, fail: bool = False):
+        self.lengths = lengths or {}
+        self.fail = fail
+        self.videos_asked: list[list[str]] = []
+        self.channels_asked: list[list[str]] = []
+        self.actions: list[tuple[int | None, str]] = []
+
+    def __call__(self, db, user):
+        return self
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(self, *exc):
+        return False
+
+    def get_videos(self, ids):
+        self.videos_asked.append(list(ids))
+        self.actions.append((quota._actor_id.get(), quota._action.get()))
+        if self.fail:
+            raise YouTubeError("refused", reason="quotaExceeded", path="videos")
+        return [
+            {"id": v, "contentDetails": {"duration": f"PT{self.lengths[v]}S"}}
+            for v in ids
+            if v in self.lengths
+        ]
+
+    def get_channels(self, ids):
+        self.channels_asked.append(list(ids))
+        self.actions.append((quota._actor_id.get(), quota._action.get()))
+        return [{"id": c, "snippet": {"title": f"Named {c[-2:]}"}} for c in ids]
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def youtube(monkeypatch, db, make_user):
+    fetcher = make_user("fetcher@example.com")
+    fake = FakeYouTube()
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "YouTubeClient", fake)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "get_service_user", lambda session: fetcher)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout.quota, "backfill_reserve_reached", lambda: False)
+    return fake
+
+
+def test_the_import_asks_the_lengths_the_list_needs_and_names_its_channels(db, make_user, youtube):
+    user = make_user("import@example.com")
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [None] * 7, asked=False)  # the most watched channel
+    _watched(db, user, 2, [None] * 5, asked=False)
+    _watched(db, user, 3, [None] * 4, asked=False)  # too few to ever make it: not asked about
+    youtube.lengths = {_vid(1, i): LONG for i in range(6)} | {_vid(2, i): SHORT for i in range(5)}
+
+    result = takeout.run_import(user.id)
+
+    asked = [_vid(1, i) for i in range(7)] + [_vid(2, i) for i in range(5)]
+    assert youtube.videos_asked == [asked]  # the top channel first
+    assert result["lengths_asked"] == 12
+    # Only channel 1 made it (six long; its seventh is gone, channel 2's are short): it is named.
+    assert youtube.channels_asked == [[_ch(1)]]
+    assert result["channels_described"] == 1
+    assert {
+        (user.id, quota.QuotaAction.VIDEOS_LOOKUP),
+        (user.id, quota.QuotaAction.CHANNELS_DISCOVER),
+    } == set(youtube.actions)
+    db.expire_all()
+    assert [(ch.title, n) for ch, n, _ in queries.watched_channels(db, user)] == [("Named 01", 6)]
+    assert queries.watched_channels_pending(db, user) == 0
+    # Asked once: a second run asks nothing again, the gone video included.
+    youtube.videos_asked.clear()
+    youtube.channels_asked.clear()
+    assert "lengths_asked" not in takeout.run_import(user.id)
+    assert youtube.videos_asked == [] and youtube.channels_asked == []
+
+
+def test_the_lookups_stop_at_the_users_daily_share_and_the_rest_wait(
+    db, make_user, youtube, monkeypatch
+):
+    user = make_user("share@example.com")
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [None] * 8, asked=False)
+    _watched(db, user, 2, [None] * 6, asked=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "_lookups", takeout.RateLimiter(10, 3600))
+    takeout.run_import(user.id)
+    assert youtube.videos_asked == [[_vid(1, i) for i in range(8)] + [_vid(2, 0), _vid(2, 1)]]
+    db.expire_all()
+    assert queries.watched_channels_pending(db, user) == 1  # channel 2 still has some to ask
+    youtube.videos_asked.clear()
+    takeout.run_import(user.id)
+    assert youtube.videos_asked == []  # the share is spent for today
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("why", ["no_fetcher", "reserve"])
+def test_nothing_is_asked_without_a_connected_account_or_past_the_reserve(
+    db, make_user, youtube, monkeypatch, why
+):
+    user = make_user(f"{why}@example.com")
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [None] * 5, asked=False)
+    if why == "no_fetcher":
+        monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "get_service_user", lambda session: None)
+    else:
+        monkeypatch.setattr(takeout.quota, "backfill_reserve_reached", lambda: True)
+    assert "lengths_asked" not in takeout.run_import(user.id)
+    assert youtube.videos_asked == []
+    assert queries.watched_channels_pending(db, user) == 1
+
+
+def test_a_youtube_failure_asking_lengths_fails_neither_the_import_nor_its_marks(
+    db, make_user, youtube
+):
+    user = make_user("fail@example.com")
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [None] * 5, asked=False)
+    youtube.fail = True
+    result = takeout.run_import(user.id)
+    assert "lengths_asked" not in result
+    assert queries.takeout_lengths_to_ask(db, user) == [_vid(1, i) for i in range(5)]
+    db.expire_all()
+    rows = db.execute(select(TakeoutItem).where(TakeoutItem.user_id == user.id)).scalars()
+    assert all(r.looked_up_at is None for r in rows)  # left to ask again
+
+
+def test_the_shorts_job_asks_what_an_import_could_not(db, make_user, youtube):
+    user = make_user("later@example.com")
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [None] * 5, asked=False)
+    youtube.lengths = {_vid(1, i): LONG for i in range(5)}
+    assert takeout.apply_waiting(db)["takeout_lengths_asked"] == 5
+    db.expire_all()
+    assert [n for _, n, _ in queries.watched_channels(db, user)] == [5]
+
+
+def test_a_channel_the_user_follows_is_not_asked_about(db, make_user, youtube):
+    user = make_user("follows@example.com")
+    _channel(db, 1)
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [None] * 5, asked=False)
+    db.add(Subscription(user_id=user.id, channel_id=_ch(1)))
+    db.commit()
+    assert takeout.apply_waiting(db) == {}
+    assert youtube.videos_asked == []
+
+
+# --- the channel's watched videos, ready to play ------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _fake_ensure(calls):
+    def ensure(session, yt, ids, *, explore=False):
+        calls.append((list(ids), explore))
+        for vid in ids:
+            if vid.endswith("4"):
+                continue  # gone from YouTube since its length was asked
+            session.add(Video(id=vid, channel_id=_ch(1), published_at=T0, via_explore=explore))
+        session.commit()
+
+    return ensure
+
+
+def test_a_channels_watched_videos_come_ready_to_play_and_explored(
+    db, make_user, as_user, monkeypatch
+):
+    user = make_user("play@example.com")
+    _channel(db, 1)
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [LONG, SHORT, LONG, None, LONG, LONG, LONG])
+    db.add(Video(id=_vid(1, 0), channel_id=_ch(1), published_at=T0))  # already in the catalog
+    db.commit()
+    calls = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(feed_routes, "ensure_videos", _fake_ensure(calls))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(feed_routes.quota, "backfill_reserve_reached", lambda: False)
+
+    resp = as_user(user).post(f"/api/takeout/channels/{_ch(1)}/videos")
+
+    assert resp.status_code == 200, resp.text
+    body = resp.json()
+    # Only the counted ones, newest first; the short one and the gone ones are left out.
+    assert calls == [([_vid(1, 2), _vid(1, 4), _vid(1, 5), _vid(1, 6)], True)]
+    assert [it["id"] for it in body["items"]] == [_vid(1, 0), _vid(1, 2), _vid(1, 5), _vid(1, 6)]
+    assert body["items"][0]["takeout_watched_at"].startswith("2026-05-01")
+    assert body["gone"] == 2  # one YouTube had lost before, one since
+    assert body["ok"] is True
+    db.expire_all()
+    assert db.execute(
+        select(ExploredChannel).where(
+            ExploredChannel.user_id == user.id, ExploredChannel.channel_id == _ch(1)
+        )
+    ).scalar_one()
+    assert (
+        db.get(Channel, _ch(1)).from_explore is True
+    )  # nobody follows it: the cleanup's to reclaim
+
+
+def test_a_blocked_or_unknown_channels_videos_are_refused(db, make_user, as_user):
+    user = make_user("refused@example.com")
+    _channel(db, 1)
+    db.add(BlockedChannel(user_id=user.id, channel_id=_ch(1)))
+    db.commit()
+    client = as_user(user)
+    assert client.post(f"/api/takeout/channels/{_ch(1)}/videos").status_code == 403
+    assert client.post(f"/api/takeout/channels/{_ch(9)}/videos").status_code == 404
+
+
+def test_ensure_videos_adds_an_explorations_videos_as_its_own(db):
+    db.add(Channel(id=_ch(1), title="C"))
+    db.commit()
+
+    class YT:
+        def get_videos(self, ids):
+            return [{"id": v, "snippet": {"channelId": _ch(1)}} for v in ids]
+
+    sync_videos.ensure_videos(db, YT(), ["exploredvid"], explore=True)
+    sync_videos.ensure_videos(db, YT(), ["organicvid0"])
+    db.expire_all()
+    assert db.get(Video, "exploredvid").via_explore is True
+    assert db.get(Video, "organicvid0").via_explore is False
+
+
+# --- the routes -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_the_list_route_says_what_it_holds_and_whether_a_history_was_uploaded(
+    db, make_user, as_user
+):
+    user = make_user("route@example.com")
+    client = as_user(user)
+    assert client.get("/api/takeout/channels").json() == {
+        "imported": False,
+        "pending": 0,
+        "channels": [],
+    }
+    _channel(db, 1, "Some channel")
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [LONG] * 5)
+    _watched(db, user, 2, [None] * 5, asked=False)
+    body = client.get("/api/takeout/channels").json()
+    assert body["imported"] is True and body["pending"] == 1
+    assert [(c["id"], c["title"], c["watched"]) for c in body["channels"]] == [
+        (_ch(1), "Some channel", 5)
+    ]
+    assert body["channels"][0]["last_watched_at"].startswith("2026-05-01")
+
+
+def test_a_channel_put_out_of_the_list_comes_back_when_restored(db, make_user, as_user):
+    user = make_user("dismiss@example.com")
+    _channel(db, 1)
+    _watched(db, user, 1, [LONG] * 5)
+    client = as_user(user)
+    url = f"/api/takeout/channels/{_ch(1)}/dismissal"
+    assert client.put(url).json() == {"ok": True, "channel_id": _ch(1)}
+    assert client.put(url).status_code == 200  # again: no error
+    assert client.get("/api/takeout/channels").json()["channels"] == []
+    assert client.delete(url).json() == {"ok": True, "channel_id": _ch(1)}
+    assert [c["id"] for c in client.get("/api/takeout/channels").json()["channels"]] == [_ch(1)]
+    db.expire_all()
+    assert db.execute(select(TakeoutChannelDismissal)).scalars().all() == []
+
+
+def test_a_dismissal_of_an_overlong_channel_id_is_refused_before_the_database(
+    db, make_user, as_user
+):
+    user = make_user("long@example.com")
+    assert as_user(user).put(f"/api/takeout/channels/{'U' * 33}/dismissal").status_code == 422