Amazin' Adventures

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.

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.

In August 1996, Bohbot announced that in addition to the standard Sunday block, an additional block titutively titled ''Amazin' Adventures Anthology'' would also be broadcast. This block aired on weekdays for an hour a day.

Bohbot Kids Network (1997–1999)

''Amazin' Adventures'' was re-launched as Bohbot Kids Network (BKN) in September 1997. 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, WCIU-TV, 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.

Bulldog TV and BKN Kids II (1999–2000)

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. 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. Station groups affiliating with BKN 2 at launch included Sinclair Broadcast Group, Tribune Broadcasting, Clear Channel Communications and ACME Communications.

On July 16, 1999, BKN announced that their main syndicated service would be relaunched as an action-oriented block on August 29. 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 such as '' Mummies Alive!'', ''Double Dragon'' and '' Street Sharks'' made it to the rebranded service while two new original series, '' Roswell Conspiracies: Aliens, Myths and Legends'' and '' Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles'' were also added. The secondary syndicated service, BKN Kids II (branded as BKN on-screen) launched on the same day and broadcast a different lineup of shows in order to grant Syndex protection,Issue 3.2. 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. Two acquisitions, '' Sonic Underground'' and '' Beakman's World'', also aired on Kids II. During this time, BKN had their shows aired on the Sci-Fi Channel on weekday mornings.

Bulldog TV and BKN Kids II ceased to broadcast on October 20, 2000. The WB 100+ Station Group continued to air reruns of BKN shows during the 2000–2001 season.

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". Later on in the month, the brand was revived as a YouTube channel that offers up programs from 41 and BKN's catalogue.

Programming

Amazin' Adventures

BKN

Bulldog TV

BKN Kids II

References

{{Animated television series created for syndication
First-run syndicated television programs in the United States
Television programming blocks in the United States