Diversity, tolerance, culture and understanding was in short supply back in the 80’s - and seems a few European countries didn’t like the word ‘ninja’ in kids tv programs, and also cut some content too.

Wiki has the reason for TMHT as this - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles#Teenage_Mutant_.22Hero.22_Turtles

(’…since local censorship policies deemed the word ninja to have excessively violent connotations for a children’s program…’)

So we had ‘Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles’ until 2003 (I never realised there was a difference or content was cut) - I imagine the reason why it wasn’t renamed back to ‘Ninja’ earlier was likely to do with costs etc.

Looking back, many kids were all out with friends or playing sport / music, getting into mischief etc - watching tv was for rainy days and kids who were being punished / ill / recovering from accidents etc (and computer gaming was for winter). I vividly remember the old girl bellowing out ‘be back for tea (dinner) and not before, and don’t be late either!’

Not at all like today’s youth.