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Posted on Saturday, June 9th, 2012 at 03:39pm by Paul (ral)
Licensing deal struck for 60s Batman merchandise

POW! Warner Bros. Consumer Products have stuck a deal over certain rights of the 1960's Batman TV show.

WBCP will be able to use the likeness of the TV show's stars, including Adam West, Burt Ward, Cesar Romero and Burgess Meredith, on everything from apparel to toys, home goods, publishing and promotions. 

They will introduce the new "Batman" product opportunities to potential partners and retailers at next week's Licensing Expo, running from the 12th to 14th June in Las Vegas.

The first products are expected to be out in the spring. Retailers had requested a larger merchandise line tied to the show over the years, but WB had previously been able to use only the series' logo, POW!-packed animated opening sequence and the Batmobile for product, not the actors, due to rights issues as the series was produced by 20th Century Fox. As a result, the studio was limited to a small line of T-shirts and a die-cast Batmobile made by Mattel. The studio began negotiating with Fox, West and the estates of the show's other thesps for the rights to their likenesses in August 2009. Batman is a DC Comics character.

Brad Globe, president of Warner Bros. Consumer Products, had this to say:

"For the first time in over 40 years we will be able to offer fans a full merchandise program that captures the classic, kitschy look and feel of the original 'Batman' TV show. This new licensing program allows our partners to take advantage of the characters, gadgets and humor that made the show a smash hit in its day and a perennial favorite decades later.

Fans are hopeful that this is the first (and almost final) step on the road to seeing the 1960's show officially released!

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