Reported direct to channel (6)
I believe the answer is:
strait
'to channel' is the definition.
(strait is a kind of channel)
'reported direct' is the wordplay.
'reported' shows a homophone (sound like).
'direct' becomes 'straight' (similar in meaning).
'straight' is a homophone of 'STRAIT'.
(Other definitions for strait that I've seen before include "Narrow sea passage" , "Narrow stretch of water for artist" , "Hardship - narrow passage of water" , "Narrow - artist (anag)" , "Narrow passage joining two large areas of water" .)