Tiny Pop

British children's digital service

Television channel
  • CSC Media Group (2003–2014)
  • Sony Pictures Television (2014–2021)
  • Narrative Entertainment UK Limited (2021–present)
Sister channels
  • Pop
  • Pop Max
  • Great! TV
  • Great! Movies
  • Great! Action
  • Great! Romance
HistoryLaunched8 September 2003; 20 years ago (8 September 2003) (linear channel) 13 September 2023; 6 months ago (13 September 2023) (FAST channel)Closed20 March 2024; 3 days ago (2024-03-20) (linear channel)Former namesPop Plus (2003–2004)LinksWebsitetinypop.comAvailabilityTerrestrialSee separate sectionStreaming mediaSee separate section
Final Tiny Pop +1 logo, used from 2018 to 2024

Tiny Pop (styled as tiny POP) is a British digital service and was previously a free to air television channel, owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited.[1] 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.[2] The station broadcasts principally animated content sourced from various distributors.

History

As Pop Plus

The channel began on 8 September 2003 as Pop Plus (stylized on-screen as p⊕p), a secondary service to Pop.[3] 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.

As with other CSC channels, on-screen presenters are rarely used: programmes are introduced either by caption and voiceover alone, or through animated characters. For a time during the mid-2000s (decade), a group of animated monkeys, known as the Cheeky Monkeys, would talk about cartoons, read out jokes from viewers and show artwork; from the end of June 2009, they were replaced with three new hosts, Molly, Leo and Pip (who are also monkeys).

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 3 September 2018, Tiny Pop unveiled a new logo after seven years in use.

On 13 September 2023, Tiny Pop was available as a fast channel on Samsung TV Plus and Rakuten TV.[4]

On 30 January 2024, it was announced Tiny Pop would be ceasing its television operations from 20 March 2024. This comes after its launch on streaming platforms and will be moving fully online.[5][6]

Sky channel moves

  • As part of the major EPG reshuffle on 1 May 2018, Tiny Pop +1 moved from 625 to 624.
  • On 11 January 2021, Tiny Pop moved from 617 to 615, RTÉjr moved from 623 to 617 on Ireland.
  • On 11 January 2021, Tiny Pop +1 moved from 624 to 618, RTÉjr moved from 630 to 624 on Northern Ireland.

Programming

Tiny Pop airs preschool programs such as Gabby's Dollhouse, Super Wings and PJ Masks, the channel also has programming from sister channel Pop such as 44 Cats and Grizzy & the Lemmings.[7]

Programming segments

  • Wakey Wakey – an early morning segment which currently starts at 6am after the channel's 'through the night' back to back programming ends.
  • Play Time – afternoon segment
  • Cuddle Time – evening programming segment which starts at 6pm. It is shown until late at night/midnight and is designed to help children get ready for bed.

Availability

Cable

  • Virgin Media (UK): Channel 737 (SD)

Online

Satellite

  • Sky (UK) and Sky (Ireland): Channel 615 (SD) and Channel 618 (+1)

Terrestrial

  • Freeview (UK): Channel 207 (FAST channel) and Channel 208 (Pop Player)

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. On 7 January 2015, Tiny Pop was launched fully on DTT and as from 15 March 2017, is now broadcast 24 hours a day on Freeview. Round-the-clock service continues on satellite and cable.

Prior to January 2015, the channel had broadcast billed programmes from 06:00 to 22:30, teleshopping content from 22:30 to 01:30, and a 'Through the Night' programming block from 01:30 to 06:00. From 1 January 2015, the schedule changed to run billed content from 06:00 to 00:00, with 'Through the Night' for the remaining six hours, with the teleshopping block dropped; sister channel Pop had also removed its prior teleshopping block ahead of its move onto Freeview. Sister channel Pop also showed Tiny Pop programmes until February 2015.

On 15 March 2017, Tiny Pop changed its service on Freeview, moving to the Local Television multiplexes across the UK, meaning that the channel is only available on Freeview where a local television service (e.g. Local TV Cardiff) is broadcast.[8]

Following the closure of the linear version of Tiny Pop, it's Freeview service became an internet portal and remained on Channel 207 with increased coverage.[9]



Former logos

  • Logo as Pop Plus used from 8 September 2003 to 27 July 2004
    Logo as Pop Plus used from 8 September 2003 to 27 July 2004
  • Tiny Pop logo used from 27 July 2004 to 2007
    Tiny Pop logo used from 27 July 2004 to 2007
  • Tiny Pop logo used from 2011 to 2 September 2018
    Tiny Pop logo used from 2011 to 2 September 2018

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. ^ "Tiny Pop". CSC Media Group. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Chart Show looks to build Pop channel".
  4. ^ Newsdesk1, RXTV (6 September 2023). "New POP children's streaming channels to launch > RXTV info". RXTV info. Retrieved 6 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Newsdesk1, RXTV (30 January 2024). "Popular Freeview kids channel switches to online-only > RXTV info". RXTV info. Retrieved 30 January 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Eldridge, Kate (30 January 2024). "Tiny Pop Transitions to Digital" (PDF). Narrative. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  7. ^ "TV Shows". Tiny POP. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Tiny Pop available on Local Freeview channel 126". TinyPop.com. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  9. ^ Newsdesk1, RXTV (20 March 2024). "Surprise Freeview changes in March channel update > RXTV info". RXTV info. Retrieved 20 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links

  • Official website
  • v
  • t
  • e
Children's and teenagers' TV and radio channels in the UK & Ireland
Television
Channels
Ireland
Blocks
Ireland
Radio
Video-on-demandDefunct channels
and blocks
Channels
Blocks
  • v
  • t
  • e
Television channels in the United Kingdom and Ireland operated by Sony Pictures Television
Currently broadcasting but sold to another company
Narrative Capital Partners LLC
Great! TV
Great! Movies
Great! Action
Great! Romance
Pop
Pop Max
Former
Sold and later closed
Miscellaneous
  • v
  • t
  • e
UK national newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals
Newspapers
(History, Circulation)
Broadsheet
Compact
Middle-market
Tabloid
Magazines and
other periodicals
National
stations
BBC
Independent
/ commercial
Regional
and local
stations
BBC
Independent
/ commercial
Other
stations
Other
Principal
channels
(List)
BBC
ITV
ITV1/STV/UTV
ITV2
ITV3
ITV4
ITVBe
Channel 4/S4C
Paramount
Channel 5
5Star
5USA
5Select
5Action
Comedy Central
Comedy Central Extra
MTV
MTV Music
MTV Hits
MTV 80s
MTV 90s
Nickelodeon
Nicktoons
Nick Jr.
Nick Jr. Too
Sky UK
UKTV
Alibi
Dave
Drama
Eden
Gold
W
Yesterday
Warner Bros. Discovery
Animal Planet
Boomerang
Cartoon Network
Cartoonito
CNN International
Discovery Channel
Discovery History
Discovery Science
Discovery Turbo
DMAX
Eurosport 1
Eurosport 2
Food Network
HGTV
Investigation Discovery
Quest
Quest Red
Really
TLC
TNT Sports
Narrative Entertainment UK Limited
Services
and
platforms
Current
Defunct
Studios
Current
Defunct
Other
Companies and organisations
Major
companies
Resources
Government and
regulatory bodies
Industry and
trades bodies
Other
Regional and student media
Regional media
Student media
  • Category
  • v
  • t
  • e
Freeview
TV channels
Radio stations
Local channels
Streamed channels
TV platforms
Miscellaneous