The texture index F-2 (1 <= < F-2 <= infinity, F-2 = 1 - random distribution) is up to now the only parameter used in a global way to characterize the degree of anisotropy of a given ODF - the foremost question to be answered in applied TA. However, one number is a quite poor characteristic, and a concrete F-2-value can hardly be interpreted. It depends on many parameters and may belong to very different orientation distributions. Introducing so-called ODF-channels a one-dimensional ODF-channel histogram can be got for any ODF. Its form and spectral properties provide a comprehensive characterization of the character of anisotropy of a given ODF.