Sky axing beloved channel after 16 years as viewers say it's the 'end of an era' (2025)

Sky have announced that they are pulling a channel from all their platforms very soon

Sky is set to remove POP Max from all their platforms. The broadcaster had previously 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 was already taken off Freeview last year. POP Max, which started in 2008 as Kix and was rebranded as POP in 2017, will no longer be available starting Tuesday, April 22.

Sky announced the news on its website, but other POP-branded channels will remain on the platform, although some are moving position due to the closures. On satellite, Tiny POP is moving from 618 up to 615.

Meanwhile, Tiny POP+1 will jump from 629 to 619 and POP+1 is shifting from 619 to 618.

Viewers were shocked by the news. One wrote on YouTube: "end of an era with Kix and Pop Max."

"Can't say I'm surprised though. Taking it off Freeview back in December was the final nail in the coffin," another said.

A third commented: "Didn't see that coming."

POP Max broadcasts animated programmes including Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series and Droners, reports the Express.

This is the latest setback for viewers after a number of channels were axed.

In February this year, Sky TV and Virgin Media users lost access to Eurosport services.

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

Sky isn't the only broadcaster axing channels. ITV has also removed popular channels from air recently.

In September 2023, ITV's children's channel CITV stopped broadcasting, with their kids' content shifting to the digital-only streamed channel ITVX Kids on the ITVX app.

On April 16 this year, ITV announced further reductions with the closure of ITVBe, which was home to much of the broadcaster's reality content.

The channel, which only launched in 2014 and aired shows such as The Only Way Is Essex and The Real Housewives of Cheshire, will broadcast for the last time in June after just over a decade on air.

Its shows will now transition to ITV2, which will premiere the new series of TOWIE in the autumn.

It comes as TV and film lovers rush to watch Conclave on three major streaming services following news of Pope Francis' passing earlier today (April 21).

The Pope passed away at the age of 88 just hours after making an appearance to bless Easter crowds at the Vatican on Sunday. He waved to crowds from the balcony over the entrance of St Peter's Basilica.

Conclave (2024), featuring Ralph Fiennes and directed by Edward Berger, is an adaptation of the bestselling novel by Robert Harris.

The film transports viewers within the Vatican's walls, where the College of Cardinals convenes in secrecy to elect the successor following a pope's demise.

Conclave is available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube Movies. More details can be found here.