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
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]
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]
Skylanders Academy[68]
Shasha & Milo[4]
Shasha & Milo: Shorts
She-Ra: Princess of Power
Space Chickens in Space[69]
Squish[70]
Swipe It! With Joe Tasker[71]
Talking Tom & Friends[72]
The Strange Chores[73]
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 tweet where Kikoriki (Previously aired on Pop in 2011, so it's returning), Horrid Henry and Johnny Test are added to Pop, as are new episodes of Pokemon and My Goldfish is Evil, 4 random shows are removed to make way