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.
Not me. My mum was constantly telling me how nice it was outside. Go and play some footy … blah, blah, blah. The TV would have to be turned off and I’d be pushed out the door, then spend the next half hour in a fogged out haze trying to remember how to navigate in the real world.
That was called a Saturday.