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Yes, the announcement was real—but it is no longer a future launch. WildBrain and The Pokémon Company International announced a free, ad-supported Pokémon channel in 2024, and it launched in the United States on Pluto TV on October 22, 2024. The channel initially covered the first 22 seasons of the original Ash-and-Pikachu anime. By February 2026, WildBrain said its U.S. Pokémon channels carried 25 seasons.
That makes the current story slightly different from the original headline: this is an expanded, scheduled FAST channel footprint, not a forthcoming replacement for the old Pokémon TV app or a guaranteed on-demand library of every Pokémon episode.
What “FAST channel” means
FAST stands for free ad-supported streaming television. It works more like a traditional television channel than a streaming box set:
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- Episodes play according to a live schedule.
- Commercials interrupt the programming.
- You usually cannot choose any episode and start it whenever you want.
- The schedule and available seasons can vary by platform and territory.
A FAST channel may sit beside other live channels in a streaming service’s guide. Some platforms may also list individual Pokémon seasons on demand, but that separate catalog should not be confused with the dedicated linear channel.
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What Pokémon series does it include?
The channel is centered on the original animated series starring Ash Ketchum and Pikachu. WildBrain’s 2024 announcement described a curated stream covering the first 22 seasons, broadly taking viewers from the earliest Pokémon the Series episodes through the Ash-era Sun & Moon period.
In a February 5, 2026 update, WildBrain said its additional U.S. channels on LG Channels, The Roku Channel, and VIZIO WatchFree+ gave viewers access to 25 seasons of the original animated series. The two numbers refer to different points in the rollout:
- 22 seasons: the scope announced in 2024.
- 25 seasons: the later U.S. description reported by WildBrain in 2026.
“25 seasons” should not be read as a promise that every episode is playing continuously, or that every platform carries exactly the same rotation. FAST services program and repeat episodes, and licensing or regional scheduling can affect what appears at a particular time.
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Does it include Pokémon Horizons?
There is no basis in the cited channel announcements for treating it as a home for the entire Pokémon anime franchise. The channel’s stated focus is the original Ash-and-Pikachu series, so viewers should not assume that Pokémon Horizons, movies, specials, or every other animated Pokémon production is included.
For officially listed ways to watch Pokémon episodes and films, consult The Pokémon Company’s viewing guide.
Where can you watch the channel?
The platforms publicly identified by WildBrain vary by market. Availability can also depend on the device, the platform’s current catalog, and local licensing.
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| Market | Platforms reported by WildBrain |
|---|---|
| United States | Pluto TV, LG Channels, The Roku Channel, and VIZIO WatchFree+ |
| United Kingdom | Pluto TV and Samsung TV Plus were reported in the later expansion |
| Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand | Samsung TV Plus was reported |
| Latin America | Pluto TV launches were reported across 18 countries during the latter half of 2025 |
| Canada | Canada was named in the original rollout plan, but current local availability should be confirmed on the relevant platform |
The original announcement also mentioned relationships with major services including Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, The Roku Channel, Tubi, and Pluto TV. That does not prove that the dedicated Pokémon linear channel launched on all of those services at the same time. In particular, the cited announcements do not establish a dedicated Pokémon FAST-channel launch on Tubi.
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See the announcements from WildBrain’s original distribution announcement, its Pluto TV launch announcement, and its 2026 expansion update for the reported rollout details.
How to find it on a FAST service
- Open the service’s Live TV, Channels, or electronic program guide rather than searching only its on-demand library.
- Search for Pokémon. If the service has kids’ or family categories, check there as well.
- Confirm that your country and device are supported.
- Check the live schedule before assuming that a particular season is currently airing.
- If the linear channel is unavailable, use the official Pokémon viewing guide to find separately offered streaming, rental, or purchase options.
A title page for an individual season is not proof that a platform carries the dedicated channel. For example, a service may provide an on-demand listing for a season while placing the linear Pokémon channel in a different part of its interface.
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Is this a replacement for Pokémon TV?
Not literally. The official Pokémon Support page says the Pokémon TV app and service ended on March 28, 2024. The company said it was exploring other ways to distribute Pokémon animation, but it did not describe this FAST channel as a one-for-one replacement app.
The more accurate description is that the channel is one of the distribution options available after Pokémon TV’s shutdown. It offers convenient, free, scheduled viewing, but it does not necessarily reproduce the old service’s interface, catalog, or on-demand experience. Read the official Pokémon TV sunset notice for the shutdown details.
What viewers should expect
- Advertising: free access is supported by commercial breaks.
- Limited control: the channel decides what plays next.
- Rotation: seasons and episodes may repeat or move through a schedule.
- Regional differences: channel names, catalogs, audio, subtitles, and availability may differ by country.
- Separate handling of specials and films: movies, miniseries, specials, and compilation episodes may not be part of the same channel feed.
- No guaranteed language configuration: the announcements do not establish universal Japanese audio, subtitles, or every international dub.
For viewers who want background viewing, family television, or a dose of Pokémon nostalgia, the FAST format is a useful option. For viewers who want a precise viewing order or immediate access to a specific episode, an on-demand listing is usually a better fit.
The bottom line
The headline was accurate as a 2024 announcement, but the channel has already launched. It began in the United States on Pluto TV on October 22, 2024 with a stated 22-season scope, and WildBrain later reported 25 seasons across additional U.S. channels. Check the live-TV section of your local FAST services, and do not assume that availability, schedules, or episode libraries are identical everywhere.
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