Why is the Pokemon TV App shutting down? Why is the popular Pokemon TV app shutting down? Learn all there is to know about the closing date as well as the reason why it is shutting down.
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 the Pokemon application is being shut down, or if there are plans for a similar product in the future.
“Thank you to all our fans who have enjoyed Pokémon TV over the years. The Pokémon TV app and website will sunset and the service will end on March 28, 2024. Beginning on January 8, 2024, fans will no longer be able to download the Pokémon TV app from the App Store, Google Play, Roku Channel Store, Amazon Appstore, Nintendo eShop, and Pokemon.com,” the official website reads. “However, those who already had the app downloaded on their devices prior to January 8, 2024, will still be able to watch available content until the app fully sunsets on March 28, 2024.”
Why is the Pokemon TV App shutting down? What is the Pokemon TV website and how long has it been around?
The Pokemon TV website has been around since 2010, giving fans a place to binge their favorite Pokemon shows, specials, and films.
The official app debuted in 2013 for both Android and iPhone, and it was also available to download on the Nintendo Switch beginning in 2021. The streaming service was home to all of Pokemon’s animated series and films, and it was free to use. In addition to the Pokemon anime and films, Pokemon TV was also home to special content like tutorials for the card game, event recordings, and more.
As stated in The 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 to watch Pokemon content.
What does this mean for Pokemon fans?
For fans, the removal of this service may be a frustrating loss – as Pokemon TV was not only free, but contained all essential Pokemon content 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 the rising subscription fees of services like Netflix. When compared to Pokemon TV, this is a less-than-ideal way for fans to access their beloved Pokemon shows 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 as Pokemon 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 whether Pokemon TV has 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 TV’s biggest draw is that it gives users free access to multiple seasons of the anime. However, Pokemon TV was more than just that, and also included various specials, such as Path to the Peak, Hisuian Snow, and Bidoof’s Big Stand. Last but not least, Pokemon TV also gave users access to past Pokemon World Championships and Top Deck Academy seasons. Having all of that Pokemon content in one place was a lot more convenient than having to seek it out through various streaming services, most of which require monthly subscription costs.
Conclusion
It will be interesting to see if The Pokemon Company has a replacement lined up for Pokemon TV like it did when Pokemon TCG Online came to an end last year, but nothing has been announced just yet.
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