Pop
Pop is an American pay television network focused on general entertainment and popular-culture programming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Pop is an American pay television channel whose identity has evolved from a cable-programming guide into a general-entertainment network. It began in 1981 as a barker service that displayed localized channel and program listings for cable operators. The service initially operated under the Electronic Program Guide name and later became known primarily as Prevue Guide, Prevue Channel, and Prevue. Its early function was practical rather than editorial: viewers could consult a continuously scrolling or rotating display of television schedules, while cable providers used the channel to promote programming and services. Over time, the channel added short-form entertainment news, promotional interstitials, and other features around the listings service. A major change followed United Video Satellite Group's acquisition of TV Guide magazine in 1998. After the acquisition, the channel was relaunched as TV Guide Channel and eventually as TV Guide Network. Its programming expanded beyond schedules into full-length entertainment-industry content, including celebrity-news formats, reality programming, awards-season coverage, and red-carpet specials. This repositioning reflected the growing value of television brands as recognizable media destinations rather than merely technical utilities. The original electronic-guide proposition gradually became less important as digital set-top boxes, interactive program guides, and other television interfaces became standard. Under Lionsgate ownership after 2009, the network moved further toward general entertainment, including reruns of scripted dramas and sitcoms. In 2013, CBS Corporation acquired a 50 percent interest, and the channel was renamed TVGN. The listings function was subsequently reduced and phased out; by 2014, carriage agreements no longer required listings to be displayed, and listings were absent from the network's high-definition simulcast. CBS and Lionsgate announced a further relaunch in 2014, and TVGN became Pop on January 14, 2015. The new brand was positioned around popular culture and fandom, with an announced slate of approximately 400 hours of original programming. Its early Pop-era programming included a reality series associated with New Kids on the Block and the Canadian sitcom Schitt's Creek. Schitt's Creek became the channel's most prominent critical success and was the first Pop program to receive Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. CBS bought Lionsgate's remaining 50 percent stake on March 12, 2019, making Pop a wholly owned CBS cable property. Later that year, the CBS and Viacom merger placed the network within ViacomCBS's domestic media organization. The integration produced organizational redundancies and a reduction in Pop's original-programming ambitions. Several projects, including later seasons of Flack and Florida Girls and the series Best Intentions, were released from their commitments so that they could be offered to other outlets. After 2020, the network increasingly relied on acquired programming, procedural dramas, franchise series, films, and library content rather than a large volume of original commissions. Pop remains a U.S. pay television brand within the Paramount corporate portfolio. Its schedule has included programs such as ER, Scorpion, series from the NCIS and Law & Order franchises, films, and selected sports-entertainment programming. The network's distribution has contracted from its reported mid-2000s peak, but it continued to reach approximately 60 million U.S. pay-TV households as of November 2023. Its present role is that of a broadly distributed entertainment channel rather than a program-listings service or a primary original-series outlet.
History
Pop traces its history to 1981, when it was introduced as an electronic program-listings service for cable television systems. The original service displayed localized schedules and channel information in a continuously updated format. It functioned as a promotional and informational channel, commonly known as Electronic Program Guide and later as Prevue Guide, Prevue Channel, or Prevue. Short entertainment segments, promotional material, and program information were gradually added around the listings presentation. The service changed direction after United Video Satellite Group acquired TV Guide magazine in 1998. It was relaunched as TV Guide Channel and later TV Guide Network, using the TV Guide name to support a broader entertainment-media proposition. The channel began carrying full-length programs about television and celebrity culture, including entertainment news magazines, reality formats, awards coverage, and red-carpet programming. This expanded schedule reduced its dependence on being a passive scrolling guide. The technological environment then shifted. Cable and satellite systems increasingly offered integrated electronic program guides through set-top boxes, making a dedicated listings channel less necessary. Following Lionsgate's acquisition of TV Guide Network in 2009, the network moved further into general entertainment and added reruns of scripted series. CBS acquired a 50 percent stake in 2013, and the service was renamed TVGN. The channel progressively discontinued its traditional listings role; by June 2014, its carriage agreements no longer required schedule displays, and listings were not included in the high-definition simulcast. CBS and Lionsgate announced the Pop relaunch on September 18, 2014. The rebrand took effect on January 14, 2015, with an emphasis on pop culture, fandom, and accessible entertainment. Pop announced a substantial original-programming plan, including approximately 400 hours of original content. The network carried projects such as a reality series involving New Kids on the Block and the Canadian sitcom Schitt's Creek. The latter became Pop's most visible awards success and received Primetime Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Comedy Series. Pop also expanded its distribution during this period, including an addition to AT&T U-verse in March 2016. On March 12, 2019, CBS acquired Lionsgate's remaining half of the network. Pop therefore became a wholly owned CBS cable property. The CBS–Viacom merger completed in December 2019 moved Pop into the combined company's cable-network structure. Integration reduced duplication across the portfolio and contributed to job losses and the cancellation or release of several planned projects. Second-season renewals for Flack and Florida Girls, as well as the order for Best Intentions, were withdrawn or made available for other outlets. After 2020, Pop's original programming was substantially reduced as the merged company concentrated investment on larger and more strategically prominent brands. The channel continued as a general-entertainment service featuring acquired series, procedural dramas, franchise programming, films, and selected legacy content. Its schedule has included ER, Scorpion, titles from the NCIS and Law & Order franchises, and professional wrestling programming from Total Nonstop Action or Impact Wrestling and Paragon Pro Wrestling at different points in its history. Under the current Paramount Skydance corporate structure, Pop remains an active U.S. pay television brand. Its reported reach was approximately 60 million pay-TV households in November 2023, below its reported 84 million-household peak in 2007.
- 2023
Reported U.S. pay-TV reach
[1]The channel was reported to be available to approximately 60 million U.S. pay television households in November.
- 2019
CBS became sole owner
[1]CBS acquired Lionsgate's remaining 50 percent interest in Pop.
- 2019
CBS and Viacom merged
[1]Pop entered the combined company's domestic media and cable-network structure.
- 2016
Added to AT&T U-verse
[1]Pop became available on AT&T U-verse on March 1.
- 2015
Pop brand launched
[1]TVGN became Pop on January 14, introducing a new entertainment and fandom-oriented identity.
- 2014
Pop rebrand announced
[1]CBS and Lionsgate announced that TVGN would be relaunched under the Pop name with a popular-culture focus.
- 2013
CBS acquired a 50 percent stake
[1]CBS became a co-owner and the channel was renamed TVGN.
- 2009
Lionsgate acquired TV Guide Network
[1]Ownership by Lionsgate was followed by a stronger move toward general entertainment and rerun programming.
- 1998
Transition toward the TV Guide brand
[1]Following United Video Satellite Group's acquisition of TV Guide magazine, the service was relaunched as TV Guide Channel.
- 1981
Launch as an electronic program guide channel
[1]The service began as a cable barker channel showing localized program and channel listings.
Products and positioning
A U.S. general-entertainment pay television network built around popular culture, fandom, acquired series, films, and selected original programming.
Pay television network · 2015
Pop TV
Pop's core offering is a U.S. linear pay television network. It operates as a general-entertainment channel rather than as the electronic listings service that defined its earliest decades. Its schedule combines acquired scripted series, procedural dramas, films, entertainment programming, and selected original or library content. The network has been distributed through cable, satellite, and other pay-TV systems.
Original television programming · 2015
Pop original programming
During the early Pop era, the network commissioned programs built around celebrity culture, fandom, reality television, and comedy. Notable programming included a reality project involving New Kids on the Block and the Canadian sitcom Schitt's Creek. Original production was later reduced after the CBS–Viacom integration as the parent company concentrated resources on higher-priority brands.
Former television network identity · 1998
TV Guide Channel and TV Guide Network
Before becoming Pop, the network operated as TV Guide Channel and TV Guide Network. Under those names it combined television listings with entertainment-news magazines, reality formats, awards coverage, red-carpet specials, and other programs related to the television and celebrity industries.
Controversies
Political criticism of 24UR’s editorial orientation
The supplied reference describes recurring accusations from the Slovenian right-wing SDS party that 24UR displays a left-wing bias and does not adequately cover alleged political corruption. The material presents these as political criticisms, not adjudicated conclusions.
Political allegations concerning 24UR’s editorial bias
The reference material records recurring accusations by Slovenia’s right-wing SDS party that 24UR has a left-wing editorial bias and fails to report sufficiently on alleged networks of political and state-enterprise corruption. The supplied material does not establish these allegations as proven misconduct.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Pop network relaunch
United States
The TVGN-to-Pop relaunch repositioned the service around popular culture and fandom rather than electronic program listings. The launch was supported by a large planned slate of original programming and a more conventional entertainment-network schedule.
Outcome. The rebrand established Pop as a general-entertainment network and produced the channel's best-known critical success, Schitt's Creek, although the original-programming strategy was later scaled back.
Brand decisions
2019
CBS acquired Lionsgate's remaining stakeM&ABackground
Pop had been jointly owned by CBS and Lionsgate since CBS acquired a 50 percent interest in 2013.
Action taken
CBS purchased Lionsgate's remaining 50 percent interest, making Pop wholly owned by CBS.
Aftermath
The subsequent CBS–Viacom merger placed Pop within a larger cable portfolio and led to organizational consolidation and a reduced development slate.
2019
Consolidation of Pop's programming operationsStrategyBackground
After CBS and Viacom merged, the combined company integrated overlapping cable-network functions and emphasized internally produced programming for its established brands.
Action taken
The merged organization cut redundant roles and withdrew or released commitments involving Flack, Florida Girls, and Best Intentions.
Aftermath
Pop's original-programming ambitions were curtailed, and the network became more dependent on acquired series, films, and library programming.
2015
Launch of the Pop network brandProduct launchBackground
CBS and Lionsgate wanted to give TVGN a clearer entertainment identity and attract viewers interested in popular culture and fandom.
Action taken
TVGN was relaunched as Pop on January 14 with a planned slate of approximately 400 hours of original programming.
Aftermath
Pop developed a recognizable original-programming profile, with Schitt's Creek becoming its most prominent awards success.
2014
End the listings-centered identityStrategyBackground
Integrated electronic program guides had made a dedicated schedule-listings channel less essential, while the network's owners sought a broader entertainment proposition.
Action taken
The service reduced and ultimately phased out its traditional listings function and prepared to relaunch as Pop.
Aftermath
The channel moved toward popular-culture, reality, comedy, scripted rerun, and general-entertainment programming.
Recent events
- 2019
CBS acquired Lionsgate's remaining stake in Pop[1]
M&A
CBS purchased Lionsgate's 50 percent interest, making Pop a wholly owned CBS cable network before the CBS–Viacom merger later that year.
- 2019
Pop was integrated into the CBS–Viacom cable organization[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The CBS–Viacom merger placed Pop within the combined company's domestic media networks and led to organizational consolidation and changes to the channel's development slate.
- 2016
POP TV expands its original-production slate[2]
Product launch
The channel announced what was described in the reference material as its richest home-production season, including returning franchises and new factual, reality, comedy and entertainment programmes.
- 2015
Pop launched under its new brand[1]
Product launch
TVGN officially adopted the Pop name on January 14, beginning a new programming and positioning phase for the network.
- 2014
TVGN announced its relaunch as Pop[1]
Campaign
CBS and Lionsgate announced that TVGN would be rebranded as Pop, shifting the network toward programming centered on popular culture and fandom.
- 2008
POP TV upgrades 24UR studio and presentation[2]
Other
For the channel’s thirteenth anniversary, 24UR received a redesigned studio and visual identity and began broadcasting in high definition and the 16:9 aspect ratio.
- 1999
24UR becomes Slovenia’s most watched television news programme[2]
Other
The reference material states that 24UR reached a 47% audience share in September 1999 and surpassed TV SLO 1’s principal news programme.
- 1995
POP TV begins regular broadcasting and launches 24UR[2]
Product launch
POP TV commenced official broadcasts on 15 December 1995. Its principal news programme, 24UR, was part of the launch schedule and initially ran as a short evening bulletin.
Sources4 sources
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