Bohbot Kids Network

For the Australian regional television station, see GTS/BKN.
Bohbot Kids Network
NetworkBroadcast syndication
LaunchedSeptember 13, 1992; 32 years ago (1992-09-13)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerBKN, Inc.
Formerly known asAmazin' Adventures (1992–1997)
Bulldog TV (1999–2000)
Running time2 hours (1992–1995)
4 hours per week (1995–1996)
7 hours per week (1996–1997)
12 hours per week (1997–2000)
Original language(s)English

Bohbot Kids Network (more commonly referred to and on-screen as BKN, originally known as Amazin' Adventures until 1997) was a children's programming block operated by Bohbot Entertainment (later BKN, Inc.) that aired on syndicated television stations from 1992 to 2000.[1]

History

Amazin' Adventures (1992-1997)

On September 13, 1992, Bohbot Entertainment launched Amazin' Adventures, a syndicated programming block that aired for two hours on Sundays. Byrne Enterprises sold barter for the block.[2] During the 1996–1997 season, Amazin' Adventures also aired for an hour on weekdays.

Bohbot Kids Network (1997-1999)

Amazin' Adventures was re-launched as Bohbot Kids Network (BKN) in September 1997.[3] By 1997, the network had signed up 104 stations reaching 75% of the US, with 65 stations airing BKN in pattern and 35 stations signing on for three years. Stations that aired the BKN block included BHC Communications stations,[4] WCIU-TV,[5] WPGH-TV, and The WB 100+ Station Group. During BKN's first season, its programs were split into three blocks: the "Extreme Block" (Extreme Dinosaurs and Extreme Ghostbusters) and the "Comedy Block" (The Mask: Animated Series and Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog) on weekdays, and "Amazin’ Adventures" (Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys) on weekends.[5]

Bulldog TV (1999-2000)

On July 16, 1999, BKN announced that their main syndicated service would be relaunched as an action-oriented block on August 29.[6] The service was internally named "Bulldog TV" because the block's bumpers featured an animated bulldog. Bulldog TV focused on action cartoons taken from Bohbot's existing catalog and acquired shows mainly from DIC, broken up into two-hour-long blocks that aired on weekdays and Sundays. Existing BKN shows Mummies Alive!, Double Dragon, Street Sharks, Jumanji, and Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys made it to the rebranded service. Four new shows were also added: two original series, Roswell Conspiracies: Aliens, Myths and Legends and Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles and two acquisitions, Sonic Underground and Beakman's World.[7]

Bulldog TV stopped airing on most stations in 2000, but The WB 100+ Station Group continued to air reruns of BKN shows during the 2000–2001 season. During this time, BKN had their shows aired on the Sci-Fi Channel on weekday mornings.

Revival of Amazin' Adventures brand as a YouTube Channel (2023-present)

In February 2023, 41 Entertainment, the current distributor for BKN's former content, filed a trademark for "Amazin' Adventures".[8] Later on in the month, the brand was revived as a YouTube channel that offers up programs from 41 and BKN's catalogue.[9]

Programming

BKN Kids II

BKN Kids II
NetworkBroadcast syndication
LaunchedAugust 29, 1999; 25 years ago (1999-08-29)
ClosedOctober 20, 2000; 24 years ago (2000-10-20)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerBKN, Inc.
Formatanimated series
Running time4 hours (weekdays)
Original language(s)English

BKN Kids II (branded as BKN on-air) is a children's programming block operated by Bohbot Entertainment that aired in syndication from August 29, 1999, to October 20, 2000.[1]

History

With multiple offers in top 50 markets for the Bohbot Kids Network, Bohbot Entertainment scheduled the launch of a second syndication network, BKN Kids II, for September 1998 to meet the demand. BE also looked for shows from other syndicators to include in BKN Kids II.[3] With financial setbacks that had happened in the past, a consortium of banks gave Bohbot $100 million in new financing in September 1998. Two new blocks were announced at the same time as well as the new chairman/CEO of Bohbot Kids Network, Rick Ungar. BKN also indicated that long-term network affiliation agreements were under close to being finalized with Chris-Craft/United Television, Tribune Broadcasting, Paramount Stations Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group and the WB network's WeB fill-in cable network.[12] Station groups affiliating with BKN 2 at launch included Sinclair Broadcast Group, Tribune Broadcasting, Clear Channel Communications and ACME Communications.

The block's launch was postponed to August 29, 1999, coinciding with the main BKN service's rebranding as the action-focused Bulldog TV. Because both services could not initially share programming in order to grant Syndex protection,[3] BKN Kids II functioned as a more mainstream block focusing on a broader audience encompassing both boys and girls 2-11. Much of the programming formerly seen on the main service was moved to Kids II, with shows such as Mighty Max, Highlander: The Animated Series, The Mask: The Animated Series, and Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog filling out the schedule.[3]

As with Bulldog TV, BKN Kids II ceased broadcast on October 20, 2000.

Programming

References

  1. ^ a b "BKN Kids bites dust". Broadcasting. 2000-10-22. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  2. ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 26. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  3. ^ a b c d Issue 3.2. "Bohbot Syndicating Second Kids Net". Animation World Magazine. May 1998. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  4. ^ Schlosser, Joe (October 5, 1998). "Bohbot zigs out of syndication". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Bohbot Star Search". Variety. March 23, 1997. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  6. ^ "BKN acquires MONSTER RANCHER".
  7. ^ "It's Show Time! The Fall TV Preview".
  8. ^ "AMAZIN' ADVENTURES - 41 Entertainment LLC Trademark Registration".
  9. ^ "Amazin' Adventures - YouTube". YouTube.
  10. ^ Kirchdoerffer, Ed (March 1, 1996). "Bohbot expands promos". Kidscreen. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  11. ^ Issue 2.11. Kenyon, Heather (February 1998). "NATPE 1998: It's A Tough Market But Someone is Selling..." Animation World Magazine. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  12. ^ Freeman, Michael (September 28, 1998). "Bohbot's 2000 Kids Tour". Mediaweek. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.