Sky

 are pulling POP Max from all their platforms from Tuesday April 22. The broadcaster had hosted the main channel POP Max and POP Max +1 on Sky Q and Sky+HD and POP Max HD on Sky Glass and Sky Stream. The channel had already been removed from Freeview last year. POP Max began in 2008 under the moniker Kix and was rebranded as POP in 2017. Sky announced the news on it’s website however other POP branded-channels will remain on the platform although some are moving position as a result of the closures. On satellite, Tiny POP is moving from 618 up to 615, while, Tiny POP+1 will jump from 629 to 619 and POP+1 is shifting from 619 to 618.

Viewers were stunned by the news. “End of an era with Kix and Pop Max,” one wrote on YouTube. “Can’t say I’m surprised though. Taking it off Freeview back in December was the final nail in the coffin.” Another commented: “Didn’t see that coming.” POP Max shows animated programmes including Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series and Droners.

This is the latest blow to viewers afer a slew of channels were axed. In February this year Sky TV and Virgin Media users lost access to Eurosports services.

This was due to Eurosport owners – Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) – moving content over to its TNT Sports and Discover+ platforms instead.

Sky aren’t the only broadcaster axing channels as ITV have also pulled popular channels from air in recent times.

In September 2023 ITV’s children’s channel CITV ceased broadcasting with their kids offering moving to the digital-only streamed channel ITVX Kids on the ITVX app.

On April 16 this year ITV announced further cuts with the closure of ITVBe, which housed much of the broadcasters reality content.

The channel only launched in 2014 and aired shows such as The Only Way Is Essex and The Real Housewives of Cheshire.

It will broadcast for the final time in June after j ust over a decade on air.

Its shows will now move over to ITV2 which will debut the news series of TOWIE in the autmn