View source for Pop Max

{{Short description|Former UK children's television channel (2008-2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Pop Max
| logo = Pop Max logo 2017.svg
| logo_caption = Final logo used from 2017 to 2025
| launch_date = {{start date and age|2008|05|19|df=y}}
| closed_date = {{end date and age|2025|04|22|df=y}}
| picture_format = [[16:9]] [[576i]] [[SDTV]]
| owner = {{ubl|[[CSC Media Group]] (2008–2014)|[[Sony Pictures Television]] (2014–2021)|Narrative Entertainment UK Limited (2021–2025)}}
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| replaced = Pop +1
| former_names = Kix! <small>(2008-14)</small><br />Kix <small>(2014-17)</small>
| sister_channels = {{ubl|[[Pop (British and Irish TV channel)|Pop]]|[[Tiny Pop]]|[[Great! TV]]|[[Great! Movies]]|[[Great! Action]]|[[Great! Romance]]}}
| timeshift_service = Pop Max +1
| website = [https://www.pop.co.uk/pop-max/ pop.co.uk/pop-max]
}}
'''Pop Max''' (previously '''Kix!''' and then '''Kix''') was a British [[free-to-air]] children's [[television channel]] in the United Kingdom, owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sony Pictures Television U.K. Channels Sold to U.S. Investment Firm Narrative Capital|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/global/sony-channels-uk-sold-narrative-1234972645/|access-date=14 May 2021|website=Variety| date=14 May 2021 }}</ref> As of June 2014, it broadcast cartoons, sci-fi, action and adventure series and [[anime]] on [[Sky (UK & Ireland)|Sky]] and on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]]. Its target audience was 6 to 15-year-olds. <ref name=Kix>{{cite web |url=http://cscmediagroup.com/showreels/324/Kix |title=Kix &#124; Showreel &#124; CSC Media |publisher=Cscmediagroup.com |access-date=22 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221110620/http://www.cscmediagroup.com/showreels/324/Kix |archive-date=21 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
At 6am on 19 May 2008, Pop +1 ceased broadcast and was directly replaced on-air with Kix. Kix was the fourth dedicated kids' channel to be launched by CSC: its three sister channels are [[Pop (UK TV channel)|Pop]] which was launched on 29 May 2003,<ref name="Digital Spy - Launch"> {{cite web|url=https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/63582/toons-tunes-launching-today|date=29 May 2003|website=[[Digital Spy]]| title=Toons&Tunes launching today }}</ref> and shows cartoons and pop music videos for a mixed audience; [[Tiny Pop]], which was launched in 26 July 2004, {{citation needed|date=April 2014}} and shows cartoons for young children and pre-schoolers; and [[Pop Girl]], a defunct channel launched on 6 August 2007.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}

In August 2008, Kix! launched onto [[Freesat]].<ref name="Digital Spy - Freesat">{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/satellite/a120175/freesat-adds-bet-five-others/|date=January 2014|website=[[Digital Spy]]| title=Freesat adds BET, five others }}</ref> The exclamation mark in its name was dropped in May 2013, though remained in some branding such as Sky's programme guide until the next year.<ref name="overnights TV">{{cite web|url=http://www.overnights.tv/public/content/News.aspx |title=News
|publisher=Overnights.tv |access-date=22 February 2015}}</ref>

Kix has broadcast on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] since April 2016, following the earlier addition of Pop and Tiny Pop to the service. In August 2017, Kix rebranded as Pop Max without any changes in its schedule.<ref name="digitaltv1">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltveurope.com/2017/08/09/sony-to-rebrand-kix-childrens-channel-to-pop-max/ |title=Kix changes name to Pop Max |date=9 August 2017 |publisher=Digitaltveurope.com |access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> A stream of the channel was added to [[POP Player]]'s  [[Freeview Play]] app in early 2022.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.popfun.co.uk/pop-max-pokemon-takeover/ | title=Pop Max Pokémon Takeover February 2022 }}</ref> On 25 May 2022, Pop Max was replaced on Freeview with the Pop Player channel.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-05-25 |title=Channel Changes and closures on Freeview |url=https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/service-updates/channel-changes-and-closures-freeview |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615191723/https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/service-updates/channel-changes-and-closures-freeview |archive-date=2022-06-15 |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=freeview.co.uk}}</ref>

===Closure===
On April 17, 2025, Sky confirmed that Pop Max would be removed from Sky providers on 22 April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Court |first=Molly |date=2025-04-22 |title=Legendary children's channel on Sky axed from today after 17 years on air |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/25106254.sky-axe-legendary-childrens-channel-today-17-years/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=South Wales Argus |language=en}}</ref> The channel closed on 22 April 2025, and its programming continues to be seen through the Pop Player.<ref> https://kidscreen.com/2025/04/23/narrative-entertainment-nixes-its-pop-max-kidsnet-in-the-uk/</ref>

==Kix Power==
In July 2013, Kix launched a [[Power Rangers]]-exclusive channel known as Kix Power, replacing Pop Girl's hour-behind timeshift feed, which varied between this channel and Kix's own timeshift channel for several years, depending on school holidays.{{Cn|date=June 2025}}

==Programming==
{{Main|List of programmes broadcast by Pop and sister children's television channels}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.popmax.co.uk}}

{{Children's channels in UK & Ireland}}
{{Chart Show Channels}}
{{Media in the United Kingdom|television}}
{{Freeview}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pop Max}}
[[Category:CSC Media Group]]
[[Category:Children's television networks]]
[[Category:Children's television channels in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct television channels in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2008]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2025]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures Television]]
[[Category:2008 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2025 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]