Country | |
---|---|
Network | See separate section |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Picture format | 16:9 576i SDTV |
Timeshift service | Pop +1 |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
Sister channels | |
History | |
Launched | 29 May 2003 |
Former names | Toons&Tunes (2003) |
Links | |
Website | Official website |
Availability | |
Terrestrial | |
See separate section | |
Streaming media | |
See separate section |
Pop (stylized in all caps) is a British free-to-air children's television channel owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited, targeting audiences aged 6 to 10. [1] Launched on 29 May 2003 as Toons&Tunes by Chart Show Channels (CSC) Media Group, it later took on its current name and was sold to Sony Pictures Television, who in turn sold it and its local channels to Narrative Entertainment UK Limited in 2021.
Pop was originally launched on 29 May 2003 by Chart Show Channels (CSC) Media Group as Toons&Tunes. [2] Toons&Tunes was then later rebranded as its current name, Pop (formerly stylized as pop and POP!) in the following month. In September 2003, a timeshift sister network - Pop Plus, was launched. [3] Originally, the network focused on music videos with animated programming also part of the schedule, but with the numerous music video network options on British television at the time, this focus was quickly abandoned in 2004, when the animated content became much more prominent. Music videos continued to be carried on and off until 2010, before eventually being abandoned entirely.[ citation needed ] Initially, the channel broadcast animated content sourced from Granada Media's programming library under a six-month non-exclusive deal, before transitioning to content sourced mainly from DIC Entertainment and Nelvana.
In the channel's early years, links were presented by Rorry, a lime green dragon with a Scottish accent, who was animated live. He was accompanied by Purrdy, a dragon/cat hybrid who also appeared in the original Tricky programme on ITV, it was sometimes followed by a programme known as "The Cheeky Monkey Show" which features the live links of the animated coloured monkeys known as "The Cheeky Monkeys".
In July 2004, Pop Plus was rebranded as Tiny Pop with the channel's pre-school shows being moved over, alongside the Cheeky Monkeys.
On 10 August 2007, a one-hour timeshift service - Pop +1 was launched on Sky, alongside Tiny Pop +1. On 11 October, the channel was launched on Virgin Media, alongside Tiny Pop. [4]
On 19 May 2008, Pop +1 ceased broadcast and was replaced with a new sister network - Kix!.
On 1 February 2011, Pop was removed from Virgin Media to make way for the cable launch of True Entertainment. [5]
On 20 March 2014, Pop was launched on Freeview. [6] Prior to April 2016, Pop was only available in areas where there is a local TV channel. On 14 July, Pop +1 was relaunched on Sky, replacing Kix +1.
On 1 April 2016, Pop moved to a wider coverage nationwide freeview mix, becoming available to over 90% of the country. [7] The capacity vacated by Pop on the local multiplex was used to transmit Kix from 7 April 2016. Pop +1 moved to LCN channel 128, to release 127 for use by Kix, but was otherwise unaffected, continuing to broadcast locally to Manchester only until its eventual withdrawal from Freeview.
On 1 September 2020, Pop rebranded its on-air identity, with the premiere of Bakugan: Armored Alliance . [8] And on the same day, starting with Pokémon Journeys: The Series , the network became the new British home of the Pokémon anime, moving from its previous broadcasters, ITV1 and CITV, of over 20 years. [9]
On 9 November 2022, Narrative Entertainment announced the launch of a new FAST channel, Pop Kids, to stream on Samsung TV Plus, the new FAST network airs shows from Pop and Tiny Pop. [10]
Sometime in 2022, Pop began to branch into original content for the first time, as they approached Joe Tasker for a new show called Swipe It! With Joe Taker.
On 19 July 2023, Pop reverted back to broadcasting on the local-TV multiplex, switching places with sibling film channel Great! Romance. [11] In September 2023, it was announced that Pop Kids would split into two FAST channels, with Tiny Pop getting its own channel, and with Pop replacing the current FAST channel. [12]
In 7 February 2024, Pop and other Narrative Entertainment channels were removed from Freesat. [13]
Pop's website has went through many redesigns and a few URL changes, the original version from 2004 was a simple website called Popclub.tv, featuring promo art and flash games with Pop's various hosts. Around 2007 it relaunched as Popfun.co.uk, which originally had visuals based around Rorry's castle and the surrounding village, [14] but after Rorry's departure in 2010 it instead changed to reflect whatever the current style and visuals of the channel at the time was.
On 21 September 2023, the website URL was changed to simply Pop.co.uk.
Pop programming in addition to content from sister channels Pop Max and Tiny Pop are available to stream on demand from the free TV service and mobile app Pop Player [15] and since May 2022, available on Freeview Channel 208. [16] [17]
The channel sources its programming from multiple production and distribution studios. Programming includes original shows such as Swipe It! With Joe Tasker, [18] and acquired programming such as Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks , Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir and Pokémon . The channel also includes movies and specials such as the Barbie television films, Pokémon and Monster High . [19] [20]
A time shift feed called Pop +1 was available until 2008, when it was replaced by Kix!; in turn, that network's +1 feed was discontinued on 14 July 2014 with Pop +1's return.
A FAST channel launched on Samsung TV Plus in November 2022. It shows a list of programs from across Pop and Tiny Pop. [21] In September 2023, it was announced that the channel would split into two, with Tiny Pop getting its own channel, and with Pop replacing the current FAST channel. [12]
On 4 May 2017, Sony Pictures Television launched an Italian version of Pop as their first Italian free-to-air offering, with a similar line-up of programming to the UK channel. The network closed alongside its sister channel Cine Sony on 11 July 2019, after Mediaset purchased both network slots from Sony. Pop's old slot would be used for Boing Plus. [22]
There is also a Nigerian Pop channel that launched on StarTimes in 2014.
The Pakistani version of Pop is operated by Edutainment (Pty.) Ltd. under the license from Sony Pictures Television. [23]
CSC Media Group, formerly known as Chart Show Channels (CSC), was a British cable television broadcasting company. It was a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television. The company dissolved on 27 November 2019.
Tiny Pop is a British digital service and was previously a free to air television channel, owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited. Broadcast on many of the major digital television platforms in the UK, Tiny Pop, which was launched on 8 September 2003 as Pop Plus, and shows, its target audience is children aged 7 and under. The station broadcasts principally animated content sourced from various distributors.
Trace Hits was a British free-to-air music channel owned by Trace Group.
Sky Mix is a British free-to-air television channel, owned by Sky UK. Despite being a brand new channel, this is the second time that the name "Sky Mix" has been used by Sky. Among multiple previous names, Sky Replay was previously known as 'Sky One Mix' and 'Sky Mix' from 2004 to 2005.
Pop Max is a British free-to-air children's television channel in the United Kingdom, owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited. As of June 2014, it broadcasts cartoons, sci-fi, action and adventure series and anime on Sky and on Freeview. Its target audience is 6 to 15-year-old boys.
Boing is an Italian free-to-air television channel marketed at children and teenagers, owned by Boing S.p.A., a joint venture of Fininvest's MFE - MediaForEurope and Warner Bros. Discovery. It is available on digital terrestrial, television and free-to-air satellite provider Tivùsat.
Great! Movies is a British free-to-air television channel owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited that broadcasts across the UK and Ireland showing films and related content. The channel is transmitted on most of the major broadcast platforms in the UK - terrestrial, satellite and cable. The channel is only broadcast in standard-definition.
Freeview is the name for the collection of free-to-air services on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform in the United Kingdom. The service was launched at 5 am on 30 October 2002 and is jointly operated by its five equal shareholders – BBC, ITV, Channel 4, BSkyB and transmitter operator Arqiva. This article documents the history of the Freeview service, from its inception up to the present.
True Crime Xtra is a British free-to-air television channel that centres its programming on American television shows produced by CBS. It is the sister channel of CBS Reality and is owned in partnership by AMC Networks and Paramount Networks.
Great! TV is a British-English language general entertainment channel in the United Kingdom owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited. It originally launched as Sony Entertainment Television on 7 April 2011. However, it was closed on 6 February 2018 and replaced by Sony Crime Channel. It was brought back for a second time on 10 September 2019 when it replaced True Entertainment. The relaunched Sony Channel had different idents and programming than the former due to inheriting some programming from its predecessor True Entertainment and on 25 May 2021, following Narrative Capital's acquisition of Sony's channels, it was rebranded as Great! TV.
Vision TV Network is a television channel distribution service provided by Vision247 Ltd in the United Kingdom. The service carries around 35 channels in English and other languages, streamed from the internet and accessed via Freeview channel 264, EE TV boxes, mobile apps or the web.
TalkBristol is a local television station serving Bristol and surrounding areas.
Local TV is a local television network in the United Kingdom, operating eight stations serving the Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, North Wales, Teesside and Tyne and Wear areas, under the Talk TV name.
That's TV is a national television network in the United Kingdom, broadcasting via Sky, Freesat, Freeview, and Virgin Media. That's TV started off as the owner of a number of local television licences in several conurbations, but even though regional news can still be found via these services, these channels simulcast the classic hits and television schedule of the national That's TV channel for most of the day. That's Television Ltd is owned by That's Media Ltd, which is based at The Flint Glass Works in the Ancoats neighbourhood of Manchester.
Smithsonian Channel was a British free-to-air television channel that was launched as the UK version of the US documentary network Smithsonian Channel. It launched on 12 February 2019 and closed down on 6 January 2023.
Pop is a Pakistani children's free-to-air television network in Pakistan similar to the United Kingdom feed. The channel was launched on 3 June 2018. The channel dubs the animated series in the Urdu language. It is available on Paksat-1R and Apstar 7 in HD.
This is a timeline of UK children's programming on non-BBC and ITV channels.
Pop Player is a British kids video-on-demand service aimed for preschoolers and for ages 7 and over, owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited.
This is a timeline of That's TV, which provides local and national channels in the United Kingdom.
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