Summary
The Pokemon Company has announced that its streaming service,Pokemon TV, is being shut down this March. The company announced the shutdown on January 8, thanking fans for their continued support and love for Pokemon TV. It is still being determined at the current time why thePokemonapplication is being shut down, or if there are plans for a similar product in the future.
The Pokemon TV website has been around since 2010, giving fans a place to binge their favoritePokemonshows, specials, and films. The official app debuted in 2013 for both Android and iPhone, and it was alsoavailable to download on the Nintendo Switchbeginning in 2021. The streaming service was home to all ofPokemon’sanimated series and films, and it was free to use. In addition to thePokemonanime and films, Pokemon TV was also home to special content like tutorials for the card game, event recordings, and more.
As stated inThe Pokemon Company’s official announcement, the application will no longer be available to download on any of the supported platforms as of January 8. If fans already have the app downloaded on their device, it will continue to run until March 28 when the service will officially sunset. The Pokemon Company did not disclose the reason for Pokemon TV’s closure, but provided fans with a list of other streaming sites where they can continue towatchPokemoncontent.
When is the Pokemon TV Shutdown?
For fans, the removal of this service may be a frustrating loss. Pokemon TV was not only free, but contained all essentialPokemoncontent in one easy-to-access location. This same content is now spread across streaming services like Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Tubi, forcing fans to seek out content from several different streaming sites, and potentially pay for therising subscription fees of services like Netflix. When compared to Pokemon TV, this is a less-than-ideal way for fans to access their belovedPokemonshows and films.
It is not yet clear why the streaming service is being discontinued, or if there are plans for something new in the works. With previous shutdowns,such asPokemon TCG Online, replacement services were already planned and ready for release only days later. With Pokemon Day and its slew of announcements on the horizon, speculation is circling about a new streaming service being revealed. Regardless of whetherPokemon TVhas been retired so The Pokemon Company can rebrand to a new service, because of financial prospects, or simply a lack of viewership, its dedicated fans will certainly miss it.
Pokemon
Pokemon is a franchise that needs no introduction. One of the most successful media empires in history, Pokemon spans games, television, films, manga, merchandise, music, and more.
