Kids WB! scores with 'Batman'

Weblet buys 13 more episodes

By MARC GRASER

The WB netlet has picked up 13 episodes of the animated series "Batman Beyond" for its Kids WB! Saturday morning programming block, after the series' ayem and primetime preems scored superhero ratings last week.

National ratings showed that the Jan. 10 hourlong primetime preem of the futuristic takeoff of the Dark Knight's crime-fighting adventures attracted a 2.7/9 among kids age 2-11 and 2.6/4 among households, beating repeat episodes of "7th Heaven" in the 7 p.m. hour.

The episode is debuting in two parts over two Saturday mornings in its new 9:30 a.m. timeslot. The first aired Jan. 9.

Although ratings are not yet available for the Saturday ayem shows, the network expects the numbers to top its half-hour Batman/Superman serial, which averages a 2.0/9 Saturday mornings at 9.

New episodes of the series will air Saturday mornings on the network's Kids WB! lineup, starting during the regular 1999-2000 season.

"We're absolutely thrilled that this futuristic new Batman is making an impression with young viewers," said Jean MacCurdy, prexy of Warner Bros. Television Animation, which produces the series.