Hee! I never watched it as a kid. But when I was in my twenties, public television stations started airing episodes here in the US at the insistence of the audience.

Here, the public tv stations beg viewers for money at regular intervals. I remember one local station "humoring" the sci fi club by showing a few episodes during a fundraiser, and promising to show more if they got enough donations. They raised so much money during the airings, they started showing Doctor Who every night of the week. Mr. M and I used to watch as newlyweds.

We got Red Dwarf by using similar tactics.

Truly, Americans are insane.