Let me explain...Barney started out as a series of videos, let's not forget. I wish I didn't know that, but I do. So, basically, I could see Disney airing the videos as "specials" before PBS took interrest in it.
I will say this... Teletubbies is gone, but so isn't "Jakers! It's Piggly Winks!" I gotta admit, that was a cute little show. I really enjoyed it. And Mel Brooks was the voice of one of the sheep. Joan Rivers came in and voiced another Sheep second or third season.
Though the animation was pretty wooden...