So fun fact, this anime is truly a classic in Colombia, because shortly after it premiered it has been broadcasted every sunday morning to this day almost non-stop in one of the country's main networks. Many generations now (me included) have grown up with it and kids continue to do so, people know the stories, the main theme and try to sing along in a sort of made up japanese; I would say some might not be aware this is japanese animation (first anime for many then?).
Surely the distribution rights must be affordable, but in my book, it speaks a lot kids and adults alike keep watching year after year even when it only has 48 episodes. Most sundays you get up and put it on, after all, it's the #1 comfort series for us, and as the episodes run along, you know it is indeed sunday, you have tamal, bread and hot chocolate for breakfast and think "everything is fine, life is nice". Nostalgia at its finest.