What is the meaning of the word "channel"?

Definitions:

(often plural) a means of communication or access noun
- it must go through official channels
a deep and relatively narrow body of water that allows passage for vessels noun
- The lost swimmer was hit by a boat in the channel.
a passage for water or other fluids to flow through noun
- The fields were crossed with irrigation channels.
a path over which electrical signals can pass noun
- a channel is typically what you rent from a telephone company
a television station and its programs noun
- a satellite TV channel
a way of selling a company's product either directly or via distributors noun
- possible distribution channels are wholesalers or small retailers or retail chains or direct mailers or your own stores
to direct the flow of verb
- channel information towards a broad audience