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". Later mascots would include Boofus the blue octopus and Diggle the orange rabbit (2010-2015)

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 Tasker.

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 redirected to the Pop Player website.

On 1 December 2024, Pop and Tiny Pop got turned into a hybrid streaming channel on Freeview but it continues to be a linear channel on Sky 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]

Original programming
Swipe It! With Joe Tasker[2]
Acquired programming
44 Cats[3][4]
Annedroids[5]
Battle for Dream Island
Bakugan[3]
Bakugan: Geogan Rising[3]
Bakugan: Evolutions[3]
Bakugan: Legends[3]
Barbie: A Touch of Magic[3][6]
Barbie: It Takes Two[3][7]
Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot[3]
Droners[3][8]
Grizzy & the Lemmings (also on Boomerang, CBBC and BBC iPlayer)[3][9]
The InBESTigators[3][10]
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts[3][11]
Kung Fu Sock[3][12][13]
Lego City Adventures (also on Nickelodeon)[3][14]
Lego Dreamzzz: Trials of the Dream Chasers (also on ITVX)[3][15]
Lego Friends: Girls on a Mission[3][16]
Lego Friends: The Next Chapter[3][17]
L.O.L. Surprise! House of Surprises![3][18]
Mermicorno: Starfall[19]
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (also on Disney+)[3][20]
Moley[3]
Monster High (also on Nickelodeon)[3][21][22]
Polly Pocket[3][23]
Pokémon[3][24]
Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series[3][25]
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series[3]
Power Players[25]
Power Rangers
Power Rangers Dino Fury[3][26]
Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty[3][27]
Sadie Sparks[3][28]
Shasha & Milo[3]
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power[3][29]
Skylanders Academy[3][30]
Squish[3][31]
Team Jay[32]
Total DramaRama[3][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]
Bubble's Hotel[40]
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic[36][41] (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[42]
Gigantosaurus[36][43] (2020–present)
Go! Go! Cory Carson[44]
Grizzy & the Lemmings (also on Boomerang, CBBC and BBC iPlayer)[45]
Gus – The Itsy Bitsy Knight
Hello Kitty: Super Style![46]
Jeremy & Jazzy
Little Bear (English dub of Pompon Ours)[47][48]
Masha and the Bear (also on Cartoonito)[36][49]
Mighty Express (2022–present[50])[51][52]
Molang[36][53] (2018–present)
Monchhichi[36]
Mush-Mush and the Mushables
My Little Pony: Pony Life[36] (2020–present)
Petronix Defenders (2022–present[50])[54]
Pikwik Pack
PJ Masks[36][55] (2017–present)
Remy & Boo[36]
Simon[36]
Smart Cookies[36]
Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City (2022–present)[56]
Super Grover 2.0
Super Wings[36][57] (2017–Present)
Trotties[58]
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.[59]

Annedroids
Artzooka!
Battle for Dream Island
Bakugan[60]
Bakugan: Evolutions
Da Boom Crew
Dragon Ball Super
Droners[3][61]
Ethan Gamer Plays Roblox
Grizzy & the Lemmings
The InBESTigators[3][62]
Kipo and The Age of Wonderbeasts
Kung Fu Sock
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
Monster High (also on Nickelodeon)[3][63][64]
Nate Is Late[65]
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Pokémon Journeys: The Series[66]
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[67]
Denis[68]
LankyBox[68]
Skylanders Academy[69]
Shasha & Milo[3]
Shasha & Milo: Shorts
She-Ra: Princess of Power
SheZow
Space Chickens in Space[70]
Squish[71]
Swipe It! With Joe Tasker[72]
Talking Tom & Friends[73]
The Strange Chores[74]
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)

About some shows as they are obscure

Da Boom Crew: Four foster kids create a video game about heroes going up against space alien terrorists. Then a portal appears and pulls them into a dimension which is just like the world in their game. They embark on a quest to find their missing video game cartridges and stop the sadistic extraterrestrial emperor Zorch from taking control of this intergalactic dimension.[2]

Characters
Justin – The leader and general of the crew who wears shoulder pads, and elbow pads. His weapons are two laser pistols and an arm slingshot.
Nate – The gang's ship pilot, Justin's younger brother, and his right hand man. The shortest and youngest in the group, he has short brown hair and wears a light blue top and blue jeans. He refers to himself as 'big daddy Nate' and has a fear of heights. His arsenal is a laser sword given to him as a reward by the yo-diggians for helping save commander Blurp.
Jubei – A hoverboard rider. He's Justin's friend who wears a visor cap armed with a laser shotgun, and is an accurate sharp shooter. However, when he misses a shot, he calls it the "kiki popo". He is apparently of Japanese descent.
Ricki – A whiz kid gadget creator, making her the gang's genius. She is a ginger-haired girl who wears a red track jacket with matching jogging pants, grey hiking boots, a blue wristband on her left wrist, and has ginger hair up positioned in two pigtails. She is an expert with anything mechanical, uses a vast scientific knowledge when describing things, attacks using a metal staff, has a fear of water, and even romantic feelings for her superior Justin.
Dent – A sentient robot which has been given to Ricki as a gift after she helped save commander Blurp. He resembles a flat screen computer with a hollow, metal, cylindrical body, has two robotic arms and moves around on a small set of wheels. He does not talk, but shows above-average human intelligence and uses a series of beeps to communicate. A digital face portraying his mood is shown on the screen.
"Great Commander" Blurp – Former War Commander of Planet Yodiggity in the war against Zorch. He says he is a brave commander, but his actions say otherwise.
Zorch – He wishes to conquer the galaxy by gathering the Boom Cards.
Headlock – Cohort of Zorch. He wears a dome on his head because it is abnormally small. His assistant's name is Gerone. This character was voiced by Morris Day
Hetra – Headlock's evil older sister. She and Commander Blurp were trained by the same mentor.

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.[2][3]

Characters
Tee Zeng (alternatively named Tea Zen or TZ (English dub) and Tee Yang (Spanish dub); voiced by Zhou Zhou (Chinese), Sofia Gomez (English) and Belén Marín (Spanish)) – an 8-year-old girl who lives above her family's laundrette, who turns into Kung Fu Girl through the aid of Master Kicko
Master Kicko (alternatively named Kung Fu Wa (English dub); voiced by Fu Bowen (Chinese), Alex Teixeira (English) and Juan Pablo Muñoz (Spanish)) – a Kung Fu master who was transformed into a sock
Hiro Hao/Sword Master (voiced by Jiasi Li (Chinese), Alex Machado (English) and Óscar Olivares (Spanish)) – Tee Zeng's friend from school
Manipulens (also known as Evil Star Lord; voiced by Zhankun Zhang (Chinese), Travis Roig (English) and Cristóbal Areite (Spanish)) – Kicko's rival who was transformed into a pair of glasses
Min (voiced by Mu Qiu (Chinese), Dariana Fustes (English) and Niksi Marín (Spanish)) – Tee Zeng's introverted, but adventurous best friend
Tee Zeng's mom (voiced by Chenjie Xiong (Chinese), Ghia Burns (English) and Betsabé Gutiérrez (Spanish)) – the owner of a local laundromat in Starry Island

Squish: The series follows the adventures of Squish, a 12-year-old amoeba in the town of Small Pond (a town inhabited entirely by unicellular organisms) along with his friends, Pod and Peggy, as they try to navigate school and their everyday lives while learning more about unicellular organisms.

Cast
Squish - Benjamin Bollen (French); Cory Doran (English). Squish is a 12-year-old comic book reading, Twinkie eating amoeba who also likes rap music. He is also obsessed with popularity and his image among his peers.
Pod - Simon Koukissa (French); Brandon McGibbon (English). An amoeba and Squish's best friend. He is very rational and intelligent and is fond of making gadgets and solving equations and formulas.
Peggy - Marie Nonnenmacher (French); Krystal Meadows (English). A paramecium and Squish's other best friend and enjoys spreading positivity, joy, and happiness around and making people smile. She is very optimistic and oftentimes hysterical. Since she's always so excited, she yells almost everything she says. She likes unicorns and has a pet named Fluffy.
Squish's Dad - Xavier Fagnon (French); Cory Doran (English). He is Squish's father and he tends to be immature sometimes. However, he is a good role model and father figure despite being unemployed.
Principal Planaria - Boris Relhinger (French); Robert Tinkler (English). A planarian and the principal of Squish's school. He tends to punish the students and send them to detention for every little offense. However, he shows love and compassion for the students from time to time.
Mr. Rotifer - Xavier Fagnon (French); John Stocker (English). A rotifer and Squish's teacher who tends to be very boring and dull, causing his students to fall asleep as he teaches. It is revealed that he is a good dancer and lyricist.
Vinny - Simon Koukissa (French); Robert Tinkler (English). A virus that tried to take over Squish's body. He has the unique ability to multiply himself and he can take the form of anybody he wants.
Lynwood - Xavier Fagnon (French); Cory Doran (English). He is the school bully and he has a high interest in drama and acting and once even taught Squish how to become a great actor.
Helen - Leopoldine Serre (French); Diane Salema(English). She is a student and is into Fashion and Cosmetics. She has two friends, Heather & Holly, who attend to her every need, and she has a romantic attraction to Gusfun.
Shirley - Emmylou Homs (French); Krystal Meadows (English). She is Squish's classmate and can be intimidating at times, and is also into rock music. Since she is a micro shrimp, she is very short compared to her peers. Despite this, she has ways of adapting to live like a normal organism.
Gusfun - Xavier Fagnon (French); Brandon McGibbon (English). A fungus in Squish's school who has a crush on Helen.
Franny - Diane Salema (English). She is Pod's academic rival and tends to best him at every single intellectual field they compete. She goes to school in an "Intellectual Academy" for smart organisms. In the episode "A Bellyful Of Friendship", she develops a crush on Pod (although not knowing it is him because he hid Squish in his body, wore a fake mustache, had a fake voice, and called himself "Tod")
Holly - Emmylou Homs (French); Bailey Stocker (English). She is one of Helen's friends who constantly caters to her every need.

Former programming
Pop
3 Amigonauts
The Adventures of Chuck and Friends[75]
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3[76]
Alan the Last Dinosaur[77]
The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers[79] (now on S4C)
The Animal Shelf[81]
Archie's Weird Mysteries[76]
Artzooka![75]
The Babaloos[76]
Babar[76]
Backyard Science[82]
Bakugan: Battle Planet
Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures[3][83]
Battle B-Daman
The Berenstain Bears[76]
Big Top Academy: School's Out Edition[3]
Bimble's Bucket[84]
Bindi the Jungle Girl[85]
Blazing Dragons[76]
Bump in the Night[76]
Buzz Bumble[86]
Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs[87]
The Care Bears Family[88]
Clang Invasion[89]
Clay Kids
Clifford the Big Red Dog[90]
Corduroy[88]
Cosmic Quantum Ray[91]
Cubix[91]
Cyberchase[76]
Dennis the Menace[76]
Digimon Data Squad[92]
Dinotrux[93]
Dr. Dimensionpants[94]
Dragon Ball Super[b][95]
Ella the Elephant[96]
Eliot Kid[96]
Elliot Moose[76]
Erky Perky[85]
Fairy Tale Police Department[91]
Fantomcat[97]
Finding Stuff Out[82]
Flatmania
Funnymals
Freaktown[94]
Gasp![77]
Gawayn[77]
The Gees[89]
George and Martha[76]
Girlstuff/Boystuff
Grojband[96]
Grossology[92]
H2O: Just Add Water[98]
Hanazuki: Full of Treasures[99]
Hareport[89]
Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs[100]
I.N.K. Invisible Network of Kids[80]
Iggy Arbuckle[80]
Insectibles
Inspector Gadget (now on FilmRise)
Jamie's Got Tentacles[101]
Kaleido Star
Kampung Boy[76]
Kid Detectives[80]
KikoRiki/GoGoRiki[89]
Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
King
King Arthur's Disasters[89]
The Legend of White Fang[76]
Also about a show I miss, KikoRiki: The KikoRiki are stylized rounded animals. Its Russian name, Smeshariki, is a portmanteau of the words смешные, "funny" and шарики, "little balls". The series includes complex themes and specific cultural references. Characters: Krash (Russian: Крош, romanized: Krosh), a.k.a. Pogoriki[12] and Jumpy,[1] a male sky-blue-colored rabbit and the main protagonist of Kikoriki, who is eager to jump into new adventures. Krash has a pink nose, cerulean blue eyebrows, buckteeth, and a lighter blue tail on his rear. He was born on December 29.[13] Voice: Anton Vinogradov (Russian) / Dan Green in the 4Kids dub, Peter Linz in the movies, Billy Bob Thompson in the FUN Union dub (English)
Chiko (Russian: Ёжик, romanized: Yozhik, lit. 'a little hedgehog'), a.k.a. Chikoriki[14] and Joshi,[1] a male magenta-colored hedgehog who is Krash's best friend and has a shy and cautious personality. His hair is dark purple and spiky and wears purple glasses. Chiko also has a violet-red nose and eyebrows. He was born on February 14.[13] While Krash is the brawn, Chiko is the brain. Voice: Vladimir Postnikov (Russian) / Jason Griffith in the 4Kids dub, Marc Thompson in the FUN Union dub (English)
Rosa (Russian: Нюша, romanized: Nyusha), a.k.a. Rosariki[15] and Pinky,[1] a female light pink-colored pig who is described as a fashionista. Rosa has red hair with a white cherry-blossom on it, a carnation-pink snout, heart-shaped rosy pink cheeks, and red eyelids. She also has hands and feet on the edges of her arms and legs that are pink. She was born on July 13.[13] Voice: Svetlana Pismichenko (Russian) / Kether Donohue in the 4Kids dub, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld in the FUN Union dub (English)
Pin (Russian: Пин, romanized: Pin), a.k.a. Ottoriki,[16] a male black-and-white penguin of a German origin, who is a self-taught inventor. Pin wears a brown pilot hat with burgundy glasses attached in the front and his feet and beak are red. He was born on August 9.[13] Voice: Mikhail Chernyak (Russian) / Bryan Fenkart in the 4Kids dub, Mike Pollock in the FUN Union dub (English)
Barry (Russian: Копатыч, romanized: Kopatych, lit. 'Digych'), a.k.a. Boboriki[17] and Berry,[1] a male orange-colored bear with a southern accent who lives as a farmer. Barry is also a beekeeper and accordion musician. Barry wears a yellow farmer's hat with a round-edged brim, and has a brown nose, round circular cheeks underneath his eyes, black eyebrows, and a beige tail on his rear. He also has occasional honey binges, which isn't good for him, because it make him sick. He was born on October 8. Voice: Mikhail Chernyak (Russian) / David Wills in the 4Kids dub, Mike Pollock in the FUN Union dub (English)
Olga (Russian: Совунья, romanized: Sovun'ya, lit. 'Owlnya'), a.k.a. Olgariki,[18] a purple female owl who often helps with her useful advice and wisdom.[13] She acts like a caring grandma. Olga also is darker purple as seen on the top of her head and has bangs on ears and an orange beak. Olga wears a red-violet and orange-striped hat with a puffy ball on top, and has darker purple three-toed feet. She is also the doctor of the Round Country. She was born on September 15. Voice: Sergey Mardar (Russian) / Bella Hudson in the 4Kids dub, Sondra James in the movies, Lisa Flanagan in the FUN Union dub (English)
Dokko (Russian: Лосяш, romanized: Losyash, lit. 'Mooseyash'), a.k.a. Docoriki[19] and ElDoc,[1] a golden-yellow male moose who is an eccentric and nerdy scientist. He also speaks with a British accent. Dokko has an orange nose and his horns and eyebrows are sepia-brown. He was born on May 25. Voice: Mikhail Chernyak (Russian) / David Wills in the 4Kids dub, Tyler Bunch in the FUN Union dub (English)
Wally (Russian: Бараш, romanized: Barash, lit. 'Ramash'), a.k.a. Wolliriki[20] and Fluff,[1] a male lavender-colored ram. Wally writes poetry and has an unrequited love for Rosa. Wally has purple eyebrows, horns, a pudgy and ram-like nose, and darker purple hoof-like feet on the top of his hands and feet. He was born on April 29.[13] Voice: Vadim Bochanov (Russian) / Wayne Grayson (English)
Carlin (Russian: Кар-Карыч, romanized: Kar-Karych, lit. 'Caw Cawson'), a.k.a. Bigoriki[21] and BigBig,[1] a dark blue male raven who is Olga's friend. Carlin is a retired traveler with aristocratic mannerisms. He plays the piano and also enjoys his life as an artist. Carlin wears a navy-blue bow tie. His beak is yellow and his eyelids and feet are pink. Carlin also has a tail on his rear. He was born on March 3.[13] Voice: Sergey Mardar (Russian) / Mike Pollock (English). Write a forum conversation June 27 2025 asking how are the channels doing currently

Forum user: KidTVFan123
Date: June 27, 2025
Subject: How are Pop, Tiny Pop, and Pop Max doing nowadays?

Hey everyone,

I used to watch Pop and Tiny Pop a lot back in the day, and I know they've gone through a bunch of changes over the years, especially with streaming and FAST channels now. I heard Pop switched to a hybrid streaming channel on Freeview last December, and it’s no longer on Freesat? Plus, Pop Kids split into two FAST channels recently.

I’m curious — how are these channels doing currently? Are they still popular? Has the move to streaming/hybrid formats affected what shows are available or how people watch them? Also, is the original programming like Swipe It! With Joe Tasker still going strong?

Would love to hear from fellow fans or anyone working with these channels about the current state of Pop, Tiny Pop, and Pop Max in mid-2025!

Thanks!

4 replies

Reply 1: ToonLover89
June 27, 2025

Hey KidTVFan123, I’m still a big watcher of Pop and Tiny Pop — the switch to the hybrid streaming format on Freeview actually made it easier for me to catch new episodes since I mostly watch on my smart TV now. Pop is still featuring a good mix of Pokémon, Barbie movies, and some solid original content like Swipe It! (Joe Tasker is great!).

Pop Max keeps focusing mostly on Pokémon movies and repeats from Pop, so if you’re a fan of the Pokémon franchise, it’s still a nice channel. The split of Pop Kids into separate FAST channels means there’s more free, easy access to shows, but obviously, a lot of people have moved to on-demand these days. Overall, they’re adapting well!

Reply 2: RetroKid94
June 27, 2025

I’d say Pop and Tiny Pop have definitely seen some changes, especially with the decline of traditional linear viewing. The removal from Freesat in early 2024 was a bummer for some people, but since the relaunch on other platforms, the audience has adjusted. The focus on streaming and FAST channels fits better with how kids consume content now.

The content lineup remains strong — Pokémon is still a big pull, plus newer shows like Kung Fu Sock and Squish have cult followings. The original shows are fewer but Swipe It! has decent traction among viewers who want something fresh. So yeah, they’re surviving and even thriving in their niches, but it’s more digital than old-school TV.

Reply 3: PreschoolMomUK
June 27, 2025

Tiny Pop is my go-to channel for my young kids, and I can confirm it’s still great for preschool programming. Shows like Gabby’s Dollhouse, PJ Masks, and Care Bears continue to be staples and the channel hasn’t lost its charm for early years. I also appreciate that it’s on Freeview streaming now, making access easy without a subscription.

I don’t watch Pop Max much, but from what I hear, it’s mostly Pokémon reruns and definitely aimed at those hardcore fans. The hybrid models and FAST channels have made things a bit confusing for older viewers but kids adapt fast!

Reply 4: MediaInsiderUK
June 27, 2025

From an industry perspective, Pop, Tiny Pop, and Pop Max have adapted well to the shifting landscape of kids’ TV in the UK. The move to hybrid streaming with Freeview alongside traditional platforms like Sky and Virgin Media lets Narrative Entertainment target multiple viewing audiences effectively.

Original content remains limited but strategic — Swipe It! With Joe Tasker represents their push into this space, while acquisitions like Miraculous and Bakugan continue to drive viewership. The FAST channels launched via Samsung TV Plus and others help boost reach without the fees of traditional broadcasts.

With kids’ viewing increasingly on-demand and digital, these channels’ multi-platform approaches are likely the way forward to stay relevant in 2025 and beyond.

Write a reply where 3 shows on Pop Max have carved their own niche

Reply 5: NicheViewer42
June 27, 2025

I just wanted to add that while Pop Max might seem like it mainly re-airs Pokémon content, a few shows on there have really carved out their own niche and loyal fanbases over the past couple of years.

For example:

Dragon Ball Super continues to attract hardcore anime fans who appreciate its mix of action and story arcs, keeping a steady following even though it’s a bit older now.
Nate Is Late has developed a cult following among kids who love its unique style and humor — definitely a hidden gem in the lineup.
Kung Fu Sock also stands out with its fun blend of comedy and action, and surprisingly has pulled in a diverse audience across both Pop and Pop Max.
These shows give Pop Max a bit more variety beyond just Pokémon movies, helping it hold onto viewers who want that slightly different flavor in their cartoons. It’s cool to see these smaller niches thriving alongside the channel’s big hitters!

Write a conversation asking what show is KFS's partner in crime, A user says that's easy, this other show

User:
Hey everyone, quick question about Kung Fu Sock — who’s Kung Fu Girl’s partner in crime in the show? I remember there was a cool sidekick but can’t recall the name or which show they’re from.

Reply 1:
It’s easy! Kung Fu Wa, the Kung Fu master who lives inside the sock and helps Tee Zeng (Kung Fu Girl) whenever she transforms. He’s her mentor and partner in crime, so to speak. Both are main characters in Kung Fu Sock itself.

User:
Ah, right! So the sidekick partner is Master Kicko (also called Kung Fu Wa)? I was confused if it was a character from a different show or crossover.

Reply 2:
Nope, totally from the same show. Master Kicko (Kung Fu Wa) is the magical Kung Fu master who got trapped in the sock and now guides Tee Zeng. The show is all about their teamwork. No crossovers involved.

User:
Thanks! That clears it up. Kung Fu Sock really balances the comedy and action with that duo.

Write a conversation saying I meant which other Pop show is the SHOW's partner in crime

User:
Oh, sorry, I meant which other Pop show is Kung Fu Sock’s partner in crime? Like, is there another show that they team up with or are closely connected to on Pop? Not the character, but the show itself.

Reply 1:
Ah, gotcha! If you mean a show that Kung Fu Sock kind of pairs with or shares a vibe with on Pop, I’d say Squish fits that role. Both have quirky humor and a fun, adventurous feel that appeals to similar audiences.

Reply 2:
Yeah, I agree! Kung Fu Sock and Squish seem to be the “partners in crime” shows on Pop. They both mix comedy and action in a way that fans of one usually enjoy the other.

User:
Interesting! So no official crossover, but they kind of complement each other as “partner” shows on the channel?

Reply 3:
Exactly. They often air around the same time blocks and share that playful energy. You could say Pop positions them as companion shows to keep viewers hooked with a similar style.

Write a reply with the 3 shows in that little trio

Reply 4:
To add to that, the little trio of shows that really work as Pop’s “partners in crime” would be Kung Fu Sock, Squish, and Droners. All three have that mix of action, comedy, and heartwarming friendship themes, plus they appeal to a similar age group. They’re often grouped in the schedule and help keep the channel’s vibe consistent and fun!

Write a forum conversation where I really start to miss a older show,

User:
Hey everyone, I’ve been watching a lot of Pop’s current lineup lately, and while the new shows are great, I have to say I really start to miss some of the older stuff they used to air. One show I keep thinking about is KikoRiki (or Smeshariki). Does anyone else remember that show?

I loved how quirky and funny the characters were, plus it had a lot of clever humor and some surprisingly deep themes for a kids’ show. It felt so unique compared to a lot of today’s cartoons. I’ve been trying to find it anywhere but no luck on Pop or their streaming platforms.

Is there anywhere the older stuff like KikoRiki or similar nostalgic shows are still available? Or does anyone else just really miss that kind of programming on Pop? Feels like those shows had so much charm and character.

Would love to hear if I’m alone on this one!

Reply 1:
No way, you’re definitely not alone! I used to love KikoRiki too. Those round little characters were so memorable. It was a shame when Pop phased out a lot of those older shows. They had a subtle way of teaching life lessons wrapped in humor.

Sometimes I dig through YouTube hoping to find clips or full episodes, but it’s hit or miss. Really wish there was a channel or streaming service that picked up those classics.

Reply 2:
Same here! I miss that kind of show. It wasn’t just silly cartoons — KikoRiki had heart and some clever storytelling. I feel like newer shows go more for flashy animation and fast pacing but don’t always have that same warmth.

Maybe with the rise of retro streaming platforms, we’ll see some of these shows come back someday, fingers crossed!

Reply 3:
I totally get what you mean. Pop’s current shows are great, but there was something special about the older lineups — shows like KikoRiki, Artzooka!, or Babar. They just felt different and had timeless appeal.

I hope Pop or Narrative Entertainment considers bringing back some of those titles or making some sort of “classic kids’ block” in the future to satisfy fans like us. Missing those golden oldies!

Write a conversation saying replace Boom with it, I'm sure Boom's audience are watching Squish or something instead, so it's not like it would lose THAT many viwers if it was replaced by the return

User:
Hey, what do you all think about this — Pop should just replace Da Boom Crew with KikoRiki if they ever bring it back. I mean, Boom doesn’t seem to have a huge following these days, and I’m pretty sure most of its audience are watching shows like Squish or other newer stuff instead.

So realistically, swapping Da Boom Crew out for a KikoRiki return wouldn’t lose them THAT many viewers, but it would definitely make a lot of longtime fans happy. Would love to see KikoRiki back on Pop somehow!

Reply 1:
That actually makes a lot of sense. Da Boom Crew is kind of obscure now and doesn’t seem to pull big numbers. Squish and other newer shows have probably taken over that viewer base.

Bringing back KikoRiki would be a nice throwback for sure, and might even attract some nostalgic viewers alongside kids. I’m all for it!

Reply 2:
Yeah, I agree. Networks should prioritize shows that have a loyal or growing fanbase. If Boom isn’t really making waves, then why not give KikoRiki a chance? It’s a beloved show and could bring some fresh attention to the channel.

Plus, the crossover audience between Boom and Squish probably overlaps a lot, so it wouldn’t hurt ratings too much.

Reply 3:
Totally. Channels need to balance nostalgia with current trends, and this seems like an easy win. Replace Da Boom Crew with the return of KikoRiki, keep their core audience happy, and maybe even pull in some new viewers who never got to watch it originally. Win-win!

Write a reply saying 2 current shows have left da Crew in the dust, so realistically it would MAKE viewers, not break them

Reply 4:
Honestly, two current shows have totally left Da Boom Crew in the dust in terms of popularity — Squish and Kung Fu Sock. Both have way stronger followings and buzz right now.

So realistically, swapping out Da Boom Crew for a KikoRiki comeback wouldn’t just maintain viewers, it would likely make new ones. Bringing back a classic with a loyal fanbase alongside fresh shows could actually boost Pop’s overall audience rather than break it.

Write a forum conversation where we get the update, TBH, i kind of saw Boom Crew's death coming, This is a better compromise