Bumper's Block

Bumper ' s Block was a children's programming block that aired on Vision Network on Saturday nights from September 1991 until March 1997. It was hosted by Naomi Karma and Felix Olajide, as well as the titular mascot, Bumper, and aired a variety of both then-current and older children's programming. It was the first ever children's television strand in Kuboia to have an official name.

Though the block ended suddenly in March 1997, many of the programmes that aired on Bumper's Block continued to air on its successor, KT.

History
Bumper's Block debuted on 14th September, 1991 at 7:00p.m., with The Incredible World of Riddles being its first programme to air. It was created as a test to see if families and adults without children would react well to children's programming airing at a later period of the day - beforehand, programmes for children were usually only aired in the morning. Despite receiving criticism at first, with some branding its gimmick "unusual", Bumper's Block was popular in its heyday.

The block usually ran from 7:00p.m. to 9:25p.m., immediately after the news. In 1993, its runtime was increased so it would continue airing until 10:00p.m., though sometimes it would end at a slightly earlier time depending on Vision Network's schedule for the night. Bumper's Block only aired during the school term - it did not run on Saturdays that occured during the Easter, Summer, November or Christmas school holidays.

Discontinuation
In 1996, TVVC's children's department suffered budget cuts in order to give funds to its Viacom division MTV Networks Kuboia. The cuts stopped Bumper's Block from receiving any new original programming.

On 27th March, 1997, it was revealed that Bumper's Block would be axed after its final day on-air on the 29th. The decision was supposedly made in order to allow regular programming to occupy the Saturday evening timeslot, and so TVVC could represent children's programming in a more "accessible" manner.

In September 1998, Vision 1 received another new children's programming strand, KT, which also launched as a channel in 1999. It is generally considered a successor to Bumper's Block, as many of Bumper's Block's programming was carried over to KT, and it even used a similar presentation packaging during its first few years on-air.

Revival hoax
In September 2021, a group of Kuboian adults set up fake a Facebook account claiming that Bumper's Block would be returning as a nighttime strand on Vision One in 2022. Several days later, TVVC confirmed on their Twitter account that there were no plans for a Bumper's Block revival, and the Facebook account was fake. After a few of the people behind the hoax came clear, they became the victims of online shaming.

Sponsorship
From September 1995 to January 1997, Bumper's Block was sponsored by King P Delivery. During the in-vision continunity links, Karma and Olajide would show a special 6-digit number code, which would grant customers a special offer, such as 30% off food. In order to use the offer, customers would have to phone up King P Delivery and state the code after making their order. The offer was valid from 6:30p.m. to 9:00p.m. every night Bumper's Block ran.

A few television experts criticised the sponsorship and deals as promoting and encouraging unhealthy food.

Original programming
Bumper's Block comissioned eleven different original programmes during its lifetime, eight of which were animated and three that were in live-action.
 * The Incredible World of Riddles (premiered 1991)
 * Alice in Wonderland (premiered 1992)
 * Harvy's House (premiered 1992)
 * Zev's Ventures (premiered 1993)
 * Greenwood Forest (premiered 1993)
 * Blue Owl (premiered 1994)
 * Rat Labyrinth (premiered 1994)
 * The Adventures of Charlie and Tutu (premiered 1994)
 * Family Feud (premiered 1995)
 * Ouraine (premiered 1995)
 * The New Adventures of The Sweet Treets (premiered 1995)

Acquired programming
Most of Bumper's Block's acquired programming came from the BBC (Fireman Sam, Noddy's Toyland Adventures, Oakie Doke, Pingu and Spot), DIC Entertainment (The Get Along Gang, The Littles, The Wizard of Oz and the Mario and Sonic cartoons), and other international sources (Danger Mouse, Garfield and Friends and The Raccoons).

TVVC acquired the rights to some Disney animated series in late 1994. Both Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears and The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh premiered on the block on 14th January, 1995.

VHS releases
In September 1995, TVVC Video released a VHS titled The Best of Bumper's Block. Another VHS, Bumper's Block: The New Generation, was released in October 1997.

Legacy and other media
Bumper's Block and its programming have continued to receive frequent mentions and references since the strand's discontinuation. It has in particular been centred around questions in Kuboian game shows in the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. Some surveys that were carried out in the late 2010s and 2020s reveal that a large portion of Kuboians who were born after Bumper's Block was axed were still familiar with its name.

References and homages
A plush toy of Bumper makes an appearance in a few episodes of the Kuboian animated television series Cindi and Friends.

Bumper and Harvy from Harvy's House made appearances during the Children's Appeal Day telethon in 2003.

Kuboian rapper Sissy Missy, who was a contestant on Rat Labyrinth in 1995, pays homeage to Bumper's Block in her 2005 single "Bring It Back". Bumper also appears in the song's music video.

Open Eagle has ranked Bumper's Block number one in their "Top Ten Things From the 90s We Miss" list and number four in their "Top Ten 90s Stuff Kids Today Still Recognise" list. They also ranked Bumper number nine in their "Top Ten Kuboian Icons" list.