Pop (stylized in all caps) is a British free-to-air children's television channel owned by Roblox Corporation, 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, In 2023 it was sold to video-game platform Roblox Corporation.

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.[citation needed]

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. In early October 2023, it was acquired by the video game giant Roblox Corporation (who own the online game Roblox). On November 1 2023, coinciding with the launch of the Netflix animated series The Hollow on the channel, the channel re-instated it's 2010-2015 branding, The channel now runs promos for Roblox at the start of every ad break. Older programming also made a return (GoGoRiki). Some other new shows were added (Code Lyoko, The Owl and Co and Regular Show). Weekend mornings are now started with Toonattik (previously on CITV between 2005 and 2010)

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,[8] 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.[11]

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.
Write a press release about the 2023 acquisition, that Pop's current popular shows include Pokemon, Squish, Alvinnnn! And the Chipmunks and more, and that Roblox are making some changes to the channel, including it's presentation and programming