diff --git a/nd2reader/service/__init__.py b/nd2reader/service/__init__.py
index c0785b9..d7a068e 100644
--- a/nd2reader/service/__init__.py
+++ b/nd2reader/service/__init__.py
@@ -55,6 +55,17 @@ class BaseNd2(object):
             camera = metadata['sSampleSetting'][label]['pCameraSetting']['CameraUserName']
             yield Channel(name, camera, exposure_time)
 
+    @property
+    def channel_names(self):
+        """
+        A convenience method for getting an alphabetized list of channel names.
+
+        :return:    list[str]
+
+        """
+        for channel in sorted(self.channels, key=lambda x: x.name):
+            yield channel.name
+
     @property
     def _image_count(self):
         return self._metadata['ImageAttributes']['SLxImageAttributes']['uiSequenceCount']