Originally Posted by Statskeeper

It probably is a rights dispute between the current owner of the properties (multiple TV shows and movies) and the current owner/trainer of Lassie and the Lassie line. IIRC there was a Lassie show on Animal Planet in the late 90s or so. The 1st season featured the actual Lassie dog (descendent of Pal, the original collie in "Lassie Come Home") but then there there was a dispute and the producers continued the show with another collie from another trainer. Also the prints from the 50s and 60s need severe fixing. The last time I saw the ranger episodes (from the mid 60s) on Discovery Kids the color was faded badly and the whole show was time compressed, and there probably were cut scenes. No one is going to fork out money for junk like that.