The present invention provides a mobile phone remote control system, a system for programming the remote control, and methods of programming or using the remote control. The mobile phone remote control system is configured to be selectively set up or programmed using a display screen and corresponding function buttons on the remote control. The remote control system may be used to control the channel of a media device such as a television based on an icon displayed on a screen of the mobile phone. The set up process allows channel numbers to be automatically assigned based on icons selected by a user and previously identified geographic information such as a mobile phone user address postal zip code.