If you enjoy watching TV through Sky, Freeview, or Virgin Media, there are changes coming to the standard TV guide that will impact what you can watch. It has been announced that two popular children’s channels, Pop and Tiny Pop, will no longer be available starting from next month. This decision will affect millions of households that currently tune in to these channels.
The removal of Pop and Tiny Pop from the airwaves is scheduled for December 2025. These channels, which offer free content, feature well-liked shows like Pokémon, LEGO Friends, Hello Kitty, Power Players, and Monster High, catering to young viewers throughout the day and night.
This closure is due to the channels no longer being financially sustainable, as explained by Paul Dunthorne, MD of Narrative, the company behind the Great! portfolio of channels. He stated that the commercial value of kids’ TV in the UK has drastically decreased, leading to the decision to shut down the Pop channel by the year’s end.
Following the shutdown, the content will still be accessible through online platforms known as FAST channels. However, viewers will need an internet-connected TV to access these online-only services.
Dunthorne mentioned that the Pop presence will be maintained on FAST channels available on Freeview, Samsung, LG, and other platforms in the UK and internationally, as these platforms still offer commercial opportunities.
Additionally, alongside the channel closures, the Pop Player app and website will also cease operations.
Despite the disappointment for families relying on these channels for kids’ content, there is some positive news on the horizon. Sky has announced the launch of Disney Jr., a children’s TV channel featuring shows for kids aged 2-6. This new channel, set to debut on November 13 as part of the Sky Kids package, will include popular titles like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends, Bluey, Doc McStuffins, and Sofia the First.
Disney Jr. will be accessible with the Sky Kids pack via the TV guide or on demand on various Sky devices such as Sky Glass, Sky Stream, Sky Q, and Sky+, as well as through the Sky Go app. Additionally, Disney Jr. content will continue to be available for streaming on Disney+.