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Pop Max

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Pop Max
Final logo used from 2017 to 2025
CountryUnited Kingdom
Programming
LanguageEnglish
Picture format16:9 576i SDTV
Timeshift servicePop Max +1
Ownership
Owner
Sister channels
History
Launched19 May 2008 (2008-05-19)
ReplacedPop +1
Closed7 February 2024 (2024-02-07) (Freesat)
10 December 2024 (2024-12-10) (Freeview)
22 April 2025 (2025-04-22) (Sky)
Replaced byPop and Pop Player (website and programming)
Former namesKix! (2008–2014)
Kix (2014–2017)

Pop Max (previously Kix! and then Kix) was a free-to-air children's television channel in the United Kingdom, owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited.[1] Programming that aired on the channel included cartoons, sci-fi, action and adventure series and anime and was available on Sky and on Freeview. Its target audience was 6 to 15-year-old boys.[2]

History

The channel launched at 6am on 19 May 2008, as Kix!, replacing Pop's timeshift channel, Pop +1. Kix! was the fourth children's channel to be launched by CSC Media Group. Its three sister channels were Pop, which was launched on 29 May 2003,[3] and aired animated programming (originally music videos) for a mixed audience; Tiny Pop, which was launched in 26 July 2004, [citation needed] and featured animated programmes for young children and preschoolers; and Pop Girl, which was launched on 6 August 2007, and closed on 1 October 2015, and featured programmes aimed at girls.[citation needed]

In August 2008, Kix! launched on Freesat.[4] The exclamation mark in its name was removed in May 2013, although it remained in some branding such as Sky's programme guide until 2014.[5]

Kix became available on Freeview in April 2016, alongside Pop and Tiny Pop. In August 2017, Kix rebranded as Pop Max without any changes in its schedule.[6] A stream of the channel was added to Pop Player's Freeview Play app in early 2022.[7] On 25 May 2022, Pop Max was replaced on Freeview with the Pop Player channel.[8]

Closure

On 7 February 2024, Pop Max and other Narrative Entertainment channels were removed from Freesat a month before the temporary closure of the Tiny Pop linear channel.[9] On 10 December 2024, Pop Max was removed from Freeview.

On 17 April 2025, Sky confirmed that Pop Max would be removed from Sky providers on 22 April 2025.[10] The channel closed on 22 April 2025, and its programming continued to air on the main Pop channel.[11][12]

Kix Power

In July 2013, Kix launched a Power Rangers-exclusive channel known as Kix Power, replacing Pop Girl's timeshift feed, Pop Girl +1, which varied between this channel and Kix's own timeshift channel for several years, depending on school holidays.[citation needed]

Programming

Main article: List of programmes broadcast by Pop and sister children's television channels

References

  1. ^ "Sony Pictures Television U.K. Channels Sold to U.S. Investment Firm Narrative Capital". Variety. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Kix | Showreel | CSC Media". Cscmediagroup.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Toons&Tunes launching today". Digital Spy. 29 May 2003.
  4. ^ "Freesat adds BET, five others". Digital Spy. January 2014.
  5. ^ "News". Overnights.tv. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Kix changes name to Pop Max". Digitaltveurope.com. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Pop Max Pokémon Takeover February 2022".
  8. ^ "Channel Changes and closures on Freeview". freeview.co.uk. 25 May 2022. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  9. ^ Newsdesk1, RXTV (7 February 2024). "Surprise removal of nine Freesat channels > RXTV info". RXTV info. Retrieved 7 February 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Court, Molly (22 April 2025). "Legendary children's channel on Sky axed from today after 17 years on air". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Narrative Entertainment nixes its POP Max kidsnet in the UK". Kidscreen. 23 April 2025.
  12. ^ "Pop Max shuts after 17 years". Broadband TV News. 22 April 2025.
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