Pop Max
Logo used since 2017
CountryUnited Kingdom
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format16:9 576i SDTV
Timeshift servicePop Max +1
Ownership
Owner
Sister channels
History
Launched19 May 2008 (19 May 2008)
ReplacedPop +1
Former namesKix! (2008-14)
Kix (2014-17)
Links
Websitepop.co.uk/pop-max
Availability
Terrestrial
See separate section
Streaming media
See separate section
Timeshift logo used since 30 August 2017

Pop Max (formerly Kix! and then Kix) is a British free-to-air children's television channel in the United Kingdom, owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited.[1] As of June 2014, it broadcasts cartoons, sci-fi, action and adventure series and anime on Sky and Freesat, and, as of 2023, on Freeview. Its target audience is 6 to 15-year-old boys.[2]

History

At 6am on 19 May 2008, Pop +1 ceased broadcast and was directly replaced on-air with Kix content on Sky channel 627. Medabots was the first programme to be broadcast under the Kix! identity.

Kix was the fourth dedicated kids' channel to be launched by CSC: its three sister channels are Pop which was launched on the 29th of May 2003,[3] and shows cartoons and pop music videos for a mixed audience; Tiny Pop, which was launched in 26th of July 2004, and shows cartoons for young children and pre-schoolers; and Pop Girl, a defunct channel launched on the 6th August 2007.

In August 2008, Kix! launched onto Freesat.[4]

In May 2013, Kix! was renamed to Kix.[5] The labelling on the onscreen programme guide was changed in accordance with this. However, the Kix logo continued to include the exclamation mark until summer 2014.

Unlike all the other channels from Narrative Capital, Pop Max is not on Virgin Media.

Kix broadcasts on Freeview since April 2016, following the earlier addition of Pop and Tiny Pop to the service. Until 2019, Kix transmitted on the same local-TV multiplex as Pop, so that Kix was only available in areas where Pop is available. In August 2017, Kix rebranded its identity and is now under the Pop Max brand; however, its programming remained relatively unchanged.[6] In June 2019, Pop Max moved to the G-MAN multiplex, meaning that Pop Max only broadcasts in Manchester on Freeview.[7]

In early 2022, a live Pop Max stream was added to the Freeview Play version of the Pop Player app.[8] On 25 May 2022, Pop Max was delisted from Freeview and was replaced with the Pop Player channel.[9]

On July 5, 2023. it was announced that Pop Max would return to Freeview under the local-TV multiplex on July 19th.[10]

Availability

Online

Satellite

  • Freesat (UK): Channel 604 (SD) and Manual (+1)
  • Sky (UK) and Sky (Ireland): Channel 620 (SD) and Channel 621 (+1)

Terrestrial

Kix Power and Kix +1

In July 2013, Kix received Kix Power, which replaced Pop Girl +1 on Sky.[5] Kix Power broadcast only Power Rangers. Kix Power was replaced by a Kix +1 service in October 2013, and this timeshift ran through October to November 2013. Kix Power was then reintroduced in November 2013 for a second run, to operate in the run-up to December 2013, with Kix +1 resuming at the start of January 2014. Kix Power returned again, replacing Kix +1, on an ad hoc basis around major school holiday periods.

In April 2014, Kix +1 relaunched this time as Kix +. In July 2014, Kix + was closed down and replaced with Pop +1, which closed in 2008 and was replaced with Kix. In October 2014, Kix was rebranded as Kix Power for the October half-term. In October 2015, Kix +1 relaunched, replacing Pop Girl. In June 2016, Kix +1 was removed from Freesat and was replaced with Pop +1. In December 2016, Kix Power launched on Virgin Media.

Programming

Pop Max mainly airs TV shows from sister channel Pop, such as Pokémon, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir and Grizzy & the Lemmings, the channel also airs TV shows exclusive to the channel such as Angry Birds Toons. Pop Max airs movies and specials similar to Pop, but it is mostly limited to Pokémon movies[11] The channel sources its programming from multiple independent studios.[12]

Logos

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. 1 2 "News". Overnights.tv. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Kix changes name to Pop Max". Digitaltveurope.com. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  7. ↑ "Freeview Advice | Twitter". mobile.twitter.com. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  8. ↑ "Pop Max Pokémon Takeover Feb 2022".
  9. ↑ https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/service-updates/channel-changes-and-closures-freeview
  10. ↑ "Winners and losers in next Great Freeview Channel Update". RXTV Info. 5 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "Pop Max". POP. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "What's on Pop Max?". tv24.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
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