• by Wayne Friedman , September 18, 2014

POP, in some 80 U.S. million homes, will launch in the first quarter of 2015 with more than 400 hours of what the companies call “fan-fueled original programming.”

“A strong brand differentiates a network from its peers,” states Brad Schwartz, president, entertainment and media, POP, in a release. “The inspiration for POP is simple -- when something stands out from the rest, it pops.

Schwartz adds: “When something is so good that it earns a culture of fandom, that’s POP -- and that’s what we want our channel to symbolize, a fresh new media personality that puts us firmly alongside the audience.”

TVGN averaged 176,000 viewers in prime time in the second quarter of this year (tied for 56th place among all cable networks) as well as 54,000 in prime time among 18-49 viewers (tied for 49th place) and 45,000 prime time women 25-54 (tied for 50th place).

One of its newest original TV shows will be “Rock This Boat: New Kids on the Block,” which follows fans of the popular boy band.

In January 2013, TV Guide Network announced a name change to TVGN -- to  de-emphasize the channel's ties to TV Guide Magazine. In March 2013, CBS and Lionsgate entered into a 50/50 joint venture to operate the network.