Tiny Pop
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{short description|British free-to-air children's channel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Tiny Pop
| logo = File:Tiny Pop logo 2018.svg
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2018
| launch_date = {{start date and age|8 September 2003}} (original)
{{start date and age|21 August 2024}} (relaunch)
| closed_date = {{end date and age|2024|3|20}} (original)
| picture_format = 16:9 1080i HDTV
| timeshift_service = Tiny Pop +1
| owner = {{ubl|CSC Media Group (2003–2014)|Sony Pictures Television (2014–2021)|Narrative Entertainment UK Limited (2021–present)}}
| former_names = Pop Plus (2003–2004)
| replaced = Great! Real (relaunch)
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| sister_channels = {{ubl|Pop|Great! TV|Great! Movies|Great! Action|Great! Romance}}
}}
Tiny Pop (styled as tiny POP) is a British free-to-air television channel, 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}} Broadcast on many of the major digital television platforms in the UK, Tiny Pop, which was launched on 8 September 2003 as Pop Plus, and shows, its target audience is children aged 7 and under.{{Cite web |title=Tiny Pop |url=http://cscmediagroup.com/showreels/322/Tiny-Pop |access-date=1 June 2014 |publisher=CSC Media Group}} The station broadcasts principally animated content sourced from various distributors.
History
=As Pop Plus=
The channel began on 8 September 2003 as Pop Plus, a secondary service to Pop.{{cite web | url=https://www.c21media.net/news/chart-show-looks-to-build-pop-channel/ | title=Chart Show looks to build Pop channel }} The channel was licensed to air animation and music, it operated the same broadcast hours as its sister channel (6am to 8pm at the time; Pop later expanded to its current 24-hour service) and was not a direct timeshift of its sibling, instead offering an alternative mix of the channel's content. (At one point the arrangement was that whilst Pop was showing music Pop Plus would show cartoons, and vice versa, but this was not always the case).
=As Tiny Pop=
On 27 July 2004, it was relaunched as Tiny Pop, which allowed the main Pop to refocus on slightly older children and reduce its use of preschooler shows.
Tiny Pop initially broadcast on satellite TV – Sky (channel 615) from the channel's launch, and Freesat (channel 605) from the launch of the platform in 2008.
On 11 October 2007, Tiny Pop was launched on Virgin Media, along with its sister channel Pop. Pop was removed in 2011, but was brought back on 25 August 2016. The station has also been made available over other cable systems.
On 14 July 2016, Tiny Pop +1 was temporarily replaced by Pop Max. The channel aired back-to-back episodes of a show from Pop. Tiny Pop +1 returned on 1 December 2016. The channel ran a second time from 9 February 2017 to 25 April 2017.
On 13 September 2023, Tiny Pop was available as a fast channel on Samsung TV Plus and Rakuten TV.{{Cite web |last=Thornham |first=Marc |date=2023-09-06 |title=New POP children's streaming channels to launch |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2023/new-pop-childrens-streaming-channels-to-launch/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=RXTV |language=en-GB}}
On 30 January 2024, it was announced Tiny Pop would move to online-only operations from 20 March 2024. It was replaced with a new channel concept, Great! Real.{{Cite web |last=Thornham |first=Marc |date=2024-01-30 |title=Popular Freeview kids channel switches to online-only |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2024/popular-freeview-kids-channel-switches-to-online-only/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=RXTV |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Eldridge |first=Kate |date=2024-01-30 |title= Tiny Pop Transitions to Digital |url= https://narrative.com/assets/files/Tiny-Pop-Transitions-to-Digital.pdf |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Narrative |language=en-GB}} The new channel would only last five months before Tiny Pop was returned to linear broadcasting over the same slots and channel space on 21 August.{{Cite web |last=Thornham |first=Marc |date=2024-08-16 |title=Sky confirms return of channel that went streaming-only |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2024/sky-confirms-return-of-channel-that-went-streaming-only/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=RXTV |language=en-GB}}
In December 2024, Tiny Pop's website was closed down and was redirected to the Pop Player website.
Programming
{{Main|List of programmes broadcast by Pop and sister children's television channels}}
Freeview
On 23 October 2014, Tiny Pop was launched on Freeview, running daily from 3 pm to 7 pm in a slot timeshared with the Community Channel. It became a full-time channel on 15 March 2017.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.tinypop.com}}
{{Children's channels in UK & Ireland}}
{{Chart Show Channels}}
{{Media in the United Kingdom|television}}
{{Freeview}}
Category:Children's television networks
Category:Children's television channels in the United Kingdom
Category:English-language television stations in the United Kingdom
Category:Television channels and stations established in 2003
Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2024
Category:Television channels and stations established in 2024
Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom
Category:Sony Pictures Television
Category:Preschool education television networks
Category:2003 establishments in the United Kingdom