seems like the first line I get back is valid, but the rest I don't get why 
it's happening - I don't get why you'd need anything interactive just to list 
stuff.

[root@bp6 up2date_client]# up2date --show-channels
redhat-linux-i386-7.2
No interactive mode available
Please specify either -l, -u, --nox, or package names as command line arguments.
Usage: up2date [OPTIONS] <packages>
  --configure                 graphically configure Update Agent options
  -d, --download              download packages only, even if configuration
                              says to install
  --src                       Download src packages as well as binary rpms
  --nosrc                     Do not download src packages (overrides config
                              setting if set)
  --dbpath=<dir>              Specify a path where an alternate rpm db is found
  -f, --force                 Force package installation, overriding package
                              and file skip list
  -i, --install               install packages, even if configuration says to
                              download only
  --justdb                    Only add packages to database, do not install to
                              the filesystem
  -l, --list                  list packages available for retrieval
  -h, --help                  this help screen
  -?, --usage                 Briefly describe the options
  -k, --packagedir=STRING     colon separated path of directories to look in
                              for packages
  --nosig                     do not use GPG to check package signatures
  --nox                       do not attempt to use X
  -p, --packages              update packages associated with this System
                              Profile on Red Hat Network
  --showall                   List all packages available for download
  --solvedeps=<deps>          finds, downloads, and installs the packages
                              needed to solve the list of deps
  --tmpdir=<directory>        where to store temporary files / RPMs
  -u, --update                update system with all relevant packages
  --version                   show program version information
  -v, --verbose               Show additional output
  --show-channels             Show the channel names along with the package
                              name where approriate
  --whatprovides=<deps>       shows the packages which solve the comma
                              separated list of deps
  --channel=STRING            Specify which channels to use by channel label
  --gpg-flags
  --nodownload                Do not download packages at all. For testing
                              purposes