:Pop Max
{{Short description|Former UK children's television channel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Pop Max
| logo = Pop Max logo 2017.svg
| launch_date = {{start date and age|2008|05|19|df=y}}
| closed_date = {{end date and age|2025|04|22|df=y}}
| picture_format = 16:9 576i SDTV
| owner = {{ubl|CSC Media Group (2008–2014)|Sony Pictures Television (2014–2021)|Narrative Entertainment UK Limited (2021–2025)}}
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| replaced = Pop +1
| former_names = Kix! (2008-14)
Kix (2014-17)
| sister_channels = {{ubl|Pop|Tiny Pop|Great! TV|Great! Movies|Great! Action|Great! Romance}}
| timeshift_service = Pop Max +1
| website = [https://www.pop.co.uk/pop-max/ pop.co.uk/pop-max]
| terr_chan_1 = See separate section
| online_chan_1 = See separate section
}}
Pop Max (previously Kix! and then Kix) was a British free-to-air children's television channel in the United Kingdom, owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited.{{Cite web|title=Sony Pictures Television U.K. Channels Sold to U.S. Investment Firm Narrative Capital|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/global/sony-channels-uk-sold-narrative-1234972645/|access-date=14 May 2021|website=Variety| date=14 May 2021 }} As of June 2014, it broadcast cartoons, sci-fi, action and adventure series and anime on Sky and on Freeview. Its target audience was 6 to 15-year-olds. {{cite web |url=http://cscmediagroup.com/showreels/324/Kix |title=Kix | Showreel | CSC Media |publisher=Cscmediagroup.com |access-date=22 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221110620/http://www.cscmediagroup.com/showreels/324/Kix |archive-date=21 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}
History
At 6am on 19 May 2008, Pop +1 ceased broadcast and was directly replaced on-air with Kix. Kix was the fourth dedicated kids' channel to be launched by CSC: its three sister channels are Pop which was launched on 29 May 2003, {{cite web|url=https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/63582/toons-tunes-launching-today|date=29 May 2003|website=Digital Spy| title=Toons&Tunes launching today }} and shows cartoons and pop music videos for a mixed audience; Tiny Pop, which was launched in 26 July 2004, {{citation needed|date=April 2014}} and shows cartoons for young children and pre-schoolers; and Pop Girl, a defunct channel launched on 6 August 2007.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}
In August 2008, Kix! launched onto Freesat.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/satellite/a120175/freesat-adds-bet-five-others/|date=January 2014|website=Digital Spy| title=Freesat adds BET, five others }} The exclamation mark in its name was dropped in May 2013, though remained in some branding such as Sky's programme guide until the next year.{{cite web|url=http://www.overnights.tv/public/content/News.aspx |title=News
|publisher=Overnights.tv |access-date=22 February 2015}}
Kix has broadcast on Freeview since April 2016, following the earlier addition of Pop and Tiny Pop to the service. In August 2017, Kix rebranded as Pop Max without any changes in its schedule.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltveurope.com/2017/08/09/sony-to-rebrand-kix-childrens-channel-to-pop-max/ |title=Kix changes name to Pop Max |date=9 August 2017 |publisher=Digitaltveurope.com |access-date=19 December 2017}} A stream of the channel was added to POP Player's Freeview Play app in early 2022.{{Cite web | url=https://www.popfun.co.uk/pop-max-pokemon-takeover/ | title=Pop Max Pokémon Takeover February 2022 }} On 25 May 2022, Pop Max was replaced on Freeview with the Pop Player channel.{{cite web | url=https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/service-updates/channel-changes-and-closures-freeview | title=Updates and alerts | date=26 January 2024 }}
The channel closed on 21 April 2025, and the network's programming continues to be available on the Pop Player.{{Cite web |last=Thornham |first=Marc |date=2025-04-17 |title=Sky confirms removal of children's channel |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2025/sky-confirms-removal-of-childrens-channel/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=RXTV |language=en-GB}}
Kix Power
In July 2013, Kix launched a Power Rangers-exclusive channel known as Kix Power, replacing Pop Girl's hour-behind timeshift feed, which varied between this channel and Kix's own timeshift channel for several years, depending on school holidays.
Programming
{{Main|List of programmes broadcast by Pop and sister children's television channels}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.popmax.co.uk}}
{{Children's channels in UK & Ireland}}
{{Chart Show Channels}}
{{Media in the United Kingdom|television}}
{{Freeview}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pop Max}}
Category:Children's television networks
Category:Children's television channels in the United Kingdom
Category:Defunct television channels in the United Kingdom
Category:English-language television stations in the United Kingdom
Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom
Category:Television channels and stations established in 2008
Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2025
Category:Sony Pictures Television