Pop (British and Irish TV channel)

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. 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.

History
Pop was originally launched on 29 May 2003 by Chart Show Channels (CSC) Media Group as Toons&Tunes. Toons&Tunes was then later rebranded as its current name, Pop (formerly stylized as pop and POP!) in the following month.

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 ITV1, 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," that was later known by appearing on its sister channel Tiny Pop until its retirement at the end of June 2009.

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.

On 1 September 2020, Pop rebranded its on-air identity, with the premiere of Bakugan: Armored Alliance. 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.

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.

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.

Website
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, 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 the 21st September 2023 the website URL was changed to simply Pop.co.uk.

Availability

Freeview
On 20 March 2014, Pop was launched on Freeview. Prior to April 2016, Pop was only available in areas where there is a local TV channel. On 1 April 2016, Pop moved to a wider coverage nationwide freeview mix, becoming available to over 90% of the country. 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 19 July 2023, Pop reverted back to broadcasting on the local-TV multiplex, switching places with sibling film channel Great! Romance.

On-demand
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 and since May 2022, available on Freeview Channel 208.

Programming

The channel sources its programming from multiple production and distribution studios. Programming includes original shows such as Swipe It! With Joe Tasker, 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.

Related services

Pop +1
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.

Pop Kids
A FAST channel launched on Samsung TV Plus in November 2022. It shows a list of programs from across Pop and Tiny Pop. 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.

International versions
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.

There is also an 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.

References

External links

CSC Media Group
Children's television networks
Children's television channels in the United Kingdom
English-language television stations in the United Kingdom
Television channels and stations established in 2003
Television channels in the United Kingdom
Sony Pictures Television
2003 establishments in the United Kingdom