Pop was originally launched on 29 May 2003 by Sony Pictures Television Distribution 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 2008, before eventually being abandoned entirely

In 2012, Pop introduces semi-mascots known as the MoonGoons, These are animal-like aliens, with the 2 main ones being a blue squid named Boofus and an orange rabbit named Diggle,

On 1 September 2008, 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 10 years. The channel was also sold by Sony to Narrative Entertainment, Also, Rorry and Purrdy were gone

On 9 November 2010, 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.

Sometime in 2009 Pop began to branch into YouTube content, as they approached Joe Tasker for a new show called Swipe It! With Joe Taker, they would later acquire from content creators to use on their channel, including LankyBox, Denis and EthanGamer (the latter exclusively airing on Pop Player), Also, a talking potato from Swipe It! would become the channels new mascot untill the 2008 branding was replaced in Autumn 2012. Joe Tasker however would leave the channel around March 2012, and his show was subsequently canned (which may have had a role in the Potato being replaced).

By 2011 Alvin & the Chipmunks, Squish, Miraculous Ladybug, World of Quest and Pokemon were among the channels popular shows, the channel was sold to CSC Media Group in May 2012, who would make some sweeping changes

In late July 2012 the Russian cartoon Smeshariki/Kikoriki (referred to by Pop as GoGoRiki) was added, Also, in early August Oggy & the Cockroaches was added, The Smurfs followed in mid August,

In late September 2012 the channel rebranded with a new look, Also the potato from Swipe It stopped being the channels mascot, as new ones were added (Mentioned above), So far these new mascots have received praise for their cuteness

By January 2013 there were a lot of new shows, the only pre Summer 2012 ones left were Pokemon and World of Quest. Pop Max was the only place to see those culled shows, but Pop Max became Kix in late January, and began adding action shows such as Yu-Gi-Oh, Digimon Data Squad and Chaotic in late February.

Pop Player is to take off Alvin, Squish, Miraculous and Swipe It from 23rd of March. Write a forum convo where they refer to the new Pop as a “brave new world”
Thread Title: Pop Channel’s New Direction – A Brave New World?

User1: Hey everyone! Have you seen the news about Pop channel? It’s like we’re stepping into a brave new world with all the recent changes. It’s definitely not the Pop we grew up with!

User2: Totally! The new mascots, the MoonGoons, are adorable. I caught my little cousin watching and she’s already a huge fan of Boofus and Diggle.

User3: Brave new world, indeed. I’m gonna miss the old shows, tbh. Alvin & the Chipmunks and Miraculous Ladybug have been staples. And Swipe It! was legit entertaining, even as a placeholder between shows.

User4: I’m a bit gutted about Swipe It! going away. That talking potato mascot was surprisingly a hit in our household. 😅 Can’t believe we’re actually saying goodbye to it.

User5: It’s the circle of life for TV channels, I suppose. Pop’s evolution is impressive though. I remember when Rorry and Purrdy were the faces of the channel. Makes you realize just how much you’ve aged when a channel rebrands twice. 😂

User6: Yea, keeping Pokemon was a good move on their part. That franchise never seems to lose steam. But it’s sad to see some of the other pre-summer 2012 shows getting the chop. Are they still airing on Pop Max?

User1: @User6 Kix is what you’ll want to check for older Pop Max content now since Kix replaced it. But they are going for a different vibe, loading up on the action-packed shows like Yu-Gi-Oh and Digimon.

User7: Does anyone know if they’re bringing in any new animated series to replace the old ones? My kids love discovering new shows.

User8: @User7 They added Smeshariki/Kikoriki and The Smurfs recently, and Oggy & the Cockroaches. Lots of content to keep the little ones busy. And for the Pokémon fans, they’ll be glad with its continuous run.

User9: As much as it’s a ‘brave new world’, I kinda hope it doesn’t lose that quaint charm Pop had. That balance between nostalgic and trendy is tricky to maintain once channels start gunning for a new demographic.

Moderator: Change is always a bit daunting but it often brings in great new opportunities. Let’s stay optimistic and give the new Pop a chance! And don’t forget, Pop Kids just launched on Samsung TV Plus, so you’ve got another platform for the youngsters’ entertainment needs!

User10: Gonna take a bit to adjust, but who knows? The new lineup might just surprise us with some gems. Excited and curious to see what this ‘brave new world’ holds for Pop! 🌟

Please remember to keep the discussion friendly and respectful of others’ opinions. Let’s all embrace the new while celebrating the past of Pop!
Write a follow up where they noticed the transition to the new look began in July,and the Swipe It potato didn’t appear in the Summer promo
Thread Title: Pop’s Makeover and Final Farewell to Swipe It’s Spud

User11: Just realized—Pop’s transition to the new look technically started back in July, didn’t it? The channel’s been gradually changing things up on us for a while now.

User1: Yeah, you’re right @User11. It was kind of subtle at first. Noticed that the Swipe It potato mascot was MIA in the summer promo, which was a bit of a giveaway that things were changing.

User2: Good catch! I missed that. Probably why the rebrand hasn’t been too shocking. It’s like they’ve been prepping us for this new wave coming through.

User3: Man, and here I was, wondering why Mr. Potato had gone AWOL. Thought it was just taking a holiday, but seems like it was the start of the farewell tour. 🥺

User4: The writing was on the wall…or rather, the screen. There was this fresh and modern vibe to the summer promo that felt aligned with the so-called ‘brave new world’ we’re chatting about.

User5: Subtle and sneaky, Pop! Giving us those little breadcrumbs leading up to the big reveal. It’s like a TV channel playing a long game of hide and seek with its audience.

User12: Now that I think of it, there have been a bunch of small changes, like tweaks to the programming schedule and different styles for the promos. It’s clever, slowly acclimating us to the big change.

Moderator: That’s right, Pop fans. Networks often use a gradual approach for transitions like this. It’s less jarring for the viewers and helps build anticipation for the new look. It’s bittersweet but also exciting.

User6: So no more potato mascot, eh? I’ll miss that comical tuber. 😔 But I guess it’s time to embrace the MoonGoons with open arms!

User7: Yup! It’s the dawn of the MoonGoons era! But I guess the SneakPeek Potato will always have a place in our Pop memories.

User9: Sad to see some of the classics go and knowing the potato is peeling out of the picture. 😂 But let’s see what sort of sprouts grow from this new Pop soil. Hoping it’s nothing but good thymes!

User10: Here’s to growth and new beginnings! Pop might just pop off with this new direction. Looking forward to some exciting surprises in their lineup! 🎈🎉

Remember, nostalgia is powerful, but so is the thrill of the new. Let’s give a warm welcome to all the fresh content coming our way, and keep the discussions coming as Pop unfolds its new era!
Write a follow up where the Summer promo put a LOT of emphasis on the incoming shows and only 2 existing ones were shown
Thread Title: Pop Channel’s Summer Promo: Signaling the Incoming Content Wave

User6: Went back and watched that Summer promo again… it’s pretty obvious now. Pop put a TON of emphasis on the incoming shows, with hardly any screen time for the existing line-up. Just Pokémon and World of Quest got a brief moment, right?

User1: For sure @User6, and it makes sense. They wanted to get everyone hyped for the new roster. It’s marketing 101: Flaunt the shiny new toys to get everyone excited.

User11: Yeah, I picked up on that too. Almost felt like a grand reveal at an awards show. “And here’s the next lineup of superstar shows!” 😅 Clearly setting the stage for the future of Pop.

User3: They played it smart. As much as some of us love the old shows, it’s the fresh content that’ll pull in new viewers and keep the channel evolving.

User4: I figured as much when I saw more of the MoonGoons and less of… well, everything else during that promo. Looks like Pokémon and World of Quest were the honorary old guard making a brief cameo.

User7: Only two oldies getting love in that promo?! Talk about playing favorites. Then again, Pokémon is like eternal gold for any network.

User5: It’s exactly like they’re decorating for a party and putting up all these brand-new flashy decorations while the older, well-loved ones get pushed to the back of the shelf. Out with the old, in with the new, I guess.

Moderator: Definitely, a strategic move to put the spotlight on that fresh content. Pushing forward with the new while giving a nod to a couple of constants shows Pop is trying to maintain some continuity amidst all the change.

User9: Honestly, couldn’t help but get a little excited seeing all the new titles—I mean, it was hard not to with the emphasis they put on them. Looks like Pop’s ready to blast off into this ‘brave new world’ with all engines firing!

User10: Looked to me like they were planting seeds for their future audience. My little cousins don’t even know what Swipe It! was, but they’re already talking about some of the new shows.

User12: True, and that’s exactly what Pop is aiming for—a new generation of viewers. Yet, I do have a soft spot for nostalgia. Will be interesting to see if older fans will stick around through this overhaul.

Remember everyone, while we hold on to our favorites, let’s keep an open mind about the new batch of shows. Who knows? Among them, there might just be the next classic that we’ll look back on fondly in the years to come! Let’s continue embracing the evolution of Pop and all the potential it holds. Enjoy the viewing! Write a story where a kid threw out their plush of the Potato and got a new plush instead