Pop (stylized as PoP or POP) 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.

History
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, formerly known as Tricky, an animated lime green dragon who used to host a Saturday morning show in the autumn of 1997, but was repurposed for the Pop channel. Tricky spoke with a northern English dialect, while Rorry spoke in a different voice with a Scottish accent, both versions were animated live through computer cues. 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 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]

On 7 February 2024, Pop and other Narrative Entertainment channels were removed from Freesat to make way for the closure of the linear variant of Tiny Pop,[13] however it was relaunched in 21 August in the same year, but not on Freesat.

In December 2024, Pop's website was closed down and was replaced by Pop Player.

On 1 December 2024, Pop and Tiny Pop got turned into a hybrid streaming channel on Freeview (UK) but it continues to be a linear channel on Sky UK and Virgin Media. [14]

Current programming
Pop
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 such as the Barbie television films, Pokémon and Monster High.[1]

Upcoming programming
Mermicorno: Starfall (early 2025)[2]
Original programming
Swipe It! With Joe Tasker[3]
Acquired programming
44 Cats[4][5]
Annedroids[6]
Battle for Dream Island [4]
Bakugan[4]
Bakugan: Geogan Rising[4]
Bakugan: Evolutions[4]
Bakugan: Legends[4]
Barbie: A Touch of Magic[4][7]
Barbie: It Takes Two[4][8]
Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot[4]
Droners[4][9]
Grizzy & the Lemmings (also on Boomerang, CBBC and BBC iPlayer)[4][10]
The InBESTigators[4][11]
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts[4][12]
Kung Fu Sock[4][13][14]
Lego City Adventures (also on Nickelodeon)[4][15]
Lego Dreamzzz: Trials of the Dream Chasers (also on ITVX)[4][16]
Lego Friends: Girls on a Mission[4][17]
Lego Friends: The Next Chapter[4][18]
L.O.L. Surprise! House of Surprises![4][19]
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (also on Disney+)[4][20]
Moley[4]
Monster High (also on Nickelodeon)[4][21][22]
My Goldfish is Evil! [4]
Polly Pocket[4][23]
Pokémon[4][24]
Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series[4][25]
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series[4]
Power Players[25]
Power Rangers
Power Rangers Dino Fury[4][26]
Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty[4][27]
Sadie Sparks[4][28]
Shasha & Milo[4]
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power[4][29]
Skylanders Academy[4][30]
Squish[4][31]
Team Jay[32]
Total DramaRama[4][33] (also on CBBC and BBC iPlayer)
Unicorn Academy
Films and specials
Barbie: Princess Adventure
Barbie & Chelsea: The Lost Birthday
Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams
Barbie: Mermaid Power
Master Moley By Royal Invitation
Miraculous World: New York, United Heroez
Miraculous World: Shanghai, The Legend of Ladydragon
Monster High: The Movie
Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice (also on CBBC and BBC iPlayer)
Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction (also on CBBC and BBC iPlayer)
Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (also on CBBC and BBC iPlayer)
Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (also on CBBC and BBC iPlayer)
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You![a] (also on CBBC and BBC iPlayer)
Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us[a] (also on CBBC and BBC iPlayer)
Tiny Pop
Tiny Pop airs preschool programs such as Gabby's Dollhouse, Super Wings and PJ Masks.[34]

Original programming
DinoCity
Acquired programming
Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe[35]
Apollo's Tall Tales[36]
Baby Born
Barbie: A Touch of Magic[37]
Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures[38]
Billy the Cowboy Hamster[39]
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic[36][40] (2019–present)
Caring For Each Other
Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck[36]
Cookie's Crumby Pictures
Dino Ranch
Ella, Oscar & Hoo[36]
Elmo and Tango's Mysterious Mysteries
Elmo's World[36]
Esme & Roy[36]
Gabby's Dollhouse[41]
Gigantosaurus[36][42] (2020–present)
Go! Go! Cory Carson[43]
Grizzy & the Lemmings (also on Boomerang, CBBC and BBC iPlayer)[44]
Gus – The Itsy Bitsy Knight
Hello Kitty: Super Style![45]
Jeremy & Jazzy
Little Bear (English dub of Pompon Ours)[46][47]
Masha and the Bear (also on Cartoonito)[36][48]
Mighty Express (2022–present[49])[50][51]
Molang[36][52] (2018–present)
Monchhichi[36]
Mush-Mush and the Mushables
My Little Pony: Pony Life[36] (2020–present)
Petronix Defenders (2022–present[49])[53]
Pikwik Pack
PJ Masks[36][54] (2017–present)
Remy & Boo[36]
Simon[36]
Smart Cookies[36]
Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City (2022–present)[55]
Super Grover 2.0
Super Wings[36][56] (2017–Present)
Trotties[57]
Yeti Tales[36]
Pop Max
Pop Max mainly airs TV shows from sister channel Pop, such as Pokémon, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir and Grizzy & the Lemmings. Pop Max airs movies and specials similar to Pop, but it is mostly limited to Pokémon movies.[58]

Annedroids
Bakugan[59]
Bakugan: Evolutions
Dragon Ball Super
Droners[4][60]
Ethan Gamer Plays Roblox
Grizzy & the Lemmings
Generator Rex
The InBESTigators[4][61]
Kipo and The Age of Wonderbeasts
Kung Fu Sock
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
Monster Buster Club
Monster High (also on Nickelodeon)[4][62][63]
My Goldfish is Evil!
Nate Is Late[64]
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Pokémon Journeys: The Series[65]
Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series[25]
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series
Power Players[25]
Power Rangers Dino Fury
PocketWatch Ultimate MishMash
Art For Kids Hub[66]
Denis[67]
LankyBox[67]
The Sensibles [4]
Skylanders Academy[68]
Shasha & Milo[4]
Shasha & Milo: Shorts
She-Ra: Princess of Power
Space Chickens in Space[69]
Squish[70][4]
Swipe It! With Joe Tasker[71]
Talking Tom & Friends[72]
The Strange Chores[73]
The Secret Saturdays [4]
Xiaolin Showdown [4]
Info about some of the more obscure shows:

The Sensibles - a series of short, humorous films produced by Jetix, 12foot6 and STANGA, The films tell the story of the Sensibles, who work for the GNN Galactic News Network. They are a team observing the lives of the inhabitants of Earth. They observe everyday objects that are obvious to Earthlings.

Characters
Oi – the voice and presenter of space news. His red wig has always caused him problems, especially before going on air.
Bzzz – the chief of reporters. Equipped with an antenna and microphones. Locates the reporters' target.
Zzoom – cameraman. Observes and photographs given objects.
Blerah - has an incredibly large tongue. It licks objects and scans their taste. It is thanks to information from Blerah that Oi guesses what a given object is.
Cosmic Viewers – watch GNN's Galactic News and express their fear or admiration.

My Goldfish is Evil - The series follows the adventures of 11-year-old Beanie, and his pet goldfish, Admiral Bubbles. The superintelligent goldfish has dreams of bringing a reign of terror on the city and of world domination. Frequently, he escapes from his bowl in his attempts at mischief. With Beanie's mother always failing to believe him, Beanie has to deal with him

Kung Fu Sock - Eight-year-old Tee Zeng finds an unusual sock that is actually a Kung Fu master named Kung Fu Wa from another world. Wearing the sock transforms Tee Zeng into super heroine Kung Fu Girl. She and Kung Fu Wa must complete missions and protect their home, Starry Island

Total DramaRama
Films and specials
Monster High: Electrified
Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom (also on CBBC and BBC iPlayer)
Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened (also on BBC iPlayer). Write a forum conversation where apparently Pop Max is to transform into a revival of Disney XD on Feb 10, only 6 of the existing shows will be kept,


Forum Title: Big Changes Coming to Pop Max!

User1: CartoonFan99
Hey everyone! I heard some exciting news about Pop Max! Word on the street is that it's going to transform into a revival of Disney XD on February 10. Has anyone else heard anything about this?

User2: AnimationNerd101
That's right, CartoonFan99! I saw an official announcement saying that Pop Max will be revamping its entire lineup. Apparently, only six of the existing shows are going to be kept. I'm curious which ones will make the cut!

User3: RetroCartoonLover
If they're going for a Disney XD vibe, I hope they keep some popular shows like Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir! It has such a dedicated fanbase, and it would fit perfectly with Disney’s style.

User4: FutureGenTV
I guess keeping Pokémon is a given since it’s such a huge franchise, right? It's been a staple on kids' TV for decades. What other shows do you think they might keep?

User5: KawaiiKiddo
Honestly, I’m hoping they will keep Grizzy & the Lemmings! It’s super funny and kids love it. Plus, it offers a nice mix of comedy and action, which is perfect for Disney XD's audience.

User6: GamerGeek88
Yeah, it'd be a big mistake to drop shows that are still performing well in ratings. Besides those, do you think they’ll introduce any new original content once they relaunch as Disney XD?

User7: PopMaxFan95
Absolutely! Disney XD was known for original series like DuckTales and Big Hero 6: The Series. I can only imagine that they’ll want to develop new shows that resonate with today's kids but also bring back a bit of the nostalgia!

User8: TVTrendsWatcher
With the shift, it’ll be interesting to see how they handle the branding and marketing. Will they completely drop the "Pop Max" identity, or will they keep it as a sub-brand of Disney XD?

User9: AnimationNerd101
I think they’ll completely rebrand it as Disney XD. The official statement indicated that they're looking to refresh the channel's image entirely. This could be a great way to attract a new audience while keeping some of the existing viewers!

User10: CartoonFan99
Whatever they do, I just hope the transition goes smoothly. It always feels strange when childhood channels change so much, but I guess it's also an opportunity for new content! Let’s hope for the best on Feb 10!

User11: RetroCartoonLover
Definitely! I'm excited yet nervous about the upcoming changes. It's all about finding that right balance between new and familiar. Fingers crossed that we see some fantastic content when Pop Max revives as Disney XD!


Write a reply with all 6 making it, also had a feeling Xiaolin would make it


User12:TVShowCritic
I just saw the confirmed lineup for the transition to Disney XD, and I’m pretty pumped! Here are the six shows that are making the cut:

Pokémon - No surprise here, it’s a classic and has a huge following!
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir - This show is too popular to let go; it fits perfectly with what Disney XD aims to showcase.
Grizzy & the Lemmings - Their antics are pure gold and very entertaining for kids; I’m so glad they’ve decided to keep it!
Kung Fu Sock - This one has such a unique premise, and the martial arts aspect will fit well with Disney XD’s action-oriented content!
Total DramaRama - A surprising choice, but it’s got that reality-show twist that could appeal to both kids and parents.
Xiaolin Showdown - I had a feeling this one would make it! It’s nostalgic yet appealing to a new generation. Plus, the blend of adventure and martial arts is definitely Disney XD material!
I’m really interested in how they'll market these shows and introduce new content alongside them! This revamp could be a new golden era for these beloved series! What do you all think?


Write a conversation asking if Two More Eggs (Disney XD's short sketch series) is joining as well