Yeap when the TV show was going on in my Country ( Brasil )
they had the Band RUSH and the song Tom Sawyer for the Main Theme.

I know the MacGyver Serie was Broadcasted in many other places but
Did they ( local Tv ) used the Original Theme or they used a new theme ?

Yeah I've heard about that once before. I think it's the exception to the rule.

I actually wonder how they obtained rights to alter the show in that way, because the TV company would have been under a contract and copyright obligation to not alter the content of the show.

TV shows (for the most part) must be broadcast as they are presented to the TV company. There are various exceptions and rights granted, like using scenes to make a promo-ad etc, but to replace the theme tune, seems like quite a big change to me, and I can't help wondering firstly why they did it, but secondly if they where actually allowed to do it.

I'm wondering the same thing why would they change it.

The actual theme(s) was used in our country. Only big difference they used footage from season 4 and 5 in them in the actual episodes.

Most recent happening I know about countries using other themes or songs over opening credits was with Prison Break. That also involved Belgium. Places where that happens I call it disrespectful towards the makers of the show and a terrible raping of the show itself. The Belgium airings of Prison Break is guilty on that, because during the airing of I think it was the 2nd or the 3rd season they used an in our country popular song of some black rapper who'd won one of those Idol programs or something to promote his song. And what was worse is that the magazines said the creators of Prison Break asked specifically for him. It was actually the broadcasting channel that edited the song on it. That's how it was aired at the time. I was so angry about that. I mean the composer probably has put so much work and effort into making a cool introduction theme and they just simply erase it and abuse it to promote other songs. Than my brother lend some dvd's from a friend who probably downloaded it illegally but straight from the American television. In the end it appeared it never was the way I just said. The actual theme song was used in the States but the magazine said that this singer was asked by the creators of Prison Break to promote his own song in a way. That was about the biggest lie I have ever read. Frankly I find it rather disgusting that broadcasting channels profits from others their successes to promote stuff of their own. Using the introduction footage of a popular show with a song of a young and upcoming singer to make more money on it is sick in my opinion. How low can you go?

We also had a German song for "Prison Break". In season one it was only as much as a trailer, the two lines that were sung (translated) "Hold out a little longer, I'm getting you out".

I didn't even notice at first, because as usual I fast forwarded

In third season a whole song was made out of those lines. It sounds pretty cool, though, and the singer already was famous, so certainly didn't need the promotion. I have no idea how and why it happened the way it happened, nor what the original would sound like.

The original theme song of Prison Break is only 33 seconds long and going from slow to real fast.

Ok just to show you a little more






* Theme from the TV Show PROFISSAO PERIGO = Profession Danger
( that's how it was called in Brasil )