End of an Era: Pokemon TV Shutdown Leaves Fans in Limbo

The Legacy of Pokemon TV

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.

Pokemon TV

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.

The Impact on Fans

For fans, the removal of this service may be a frustrating loss. 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.

What's Next for Pokemon Fans

With the shutdown of Pokemon TV, fans are left wondering what the future holds for Pokemon content streaming. The removal of this service has left a void that is not easily filled, as fans are now required to seek out Pokemon content across multiple platforms, leading to a less cohesive viewing experience. As The Pokemon Company continues to expand its brand and offerings, fans remain hopeful that a new and improved streaming service will be introduced in the near future, providing a centralized platform for all their Pokemon content needs.