Tiny Pop
Tiny Pop (styled as tiny POP) is a British free-to-air children's television channel in the United Kingdom, 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.
 Logo used since 2018 | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 16:9 576i SDTV |
| Timeshift service | Tiny Pop +1 |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | 8 September 2003 (linear channel) 13 September 2023 (FAST channel) |
| Former names | Pop Plus (2003–2004) |
| Links | |
| Website | tinypop.com |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| See separate section | |
| Streaming media | |
| See separate section | |
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 will be available as a fast channel on Samsung TV Plus and Rakuten TV.[4]
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.[5]
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
- FilmOn (UK): Watch live
- Virgin TV Anywhere (UK): VirginMedia.com
Satellite
Terrestrial
- Freeview (UK): Channel 207 (SD) 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.[6]
Former logos
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 2011 to 2 September 2018
References
- "Sony Pictures Television U.K. Channels Sold to U.S. Investment Firm Narrative Capital". Variety. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- "Tiny Pop". CSC Media Group. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- "Chart Show looks to build Pop channel".
- Newsdesk1, RXTV (6 September 2023). "New POP children's streaming channels to launch > RXTV info". RXTV info. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- "TV Shows". Tiny POP. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- "Tiny Pop available on Local Freeview channel 126". TinyPop.com. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
