Ozzy merchandise hits €200m

Merchandise sales based on Ozzy Osbourne and his family are predicted to reach €200m this year.

Last month, basic products like T-shirts and mugs hit US retailers' shelves.

Items such as backpacks, trading cards and watches will be hitting stores in the next 30 to 60 days.

The firm developing the merchandise for The Osbournes has already signed up 55 licensees to produce themed goods.

Signatures Network projects retail sales tied to the show will total €200m this year.

"We touched upon an extraordinary slightly different view of family values," said Signature Network chief executive Del Furano.

"There's interest for condoms, slot machines and video games," Furano said.

Family chains like Target and Kmart, as well as toy retailers, will be carrying the "edited versions of the family's irreverent attitude," he added.

That includes T-shirts with slogans like The Osbournes: The Parents You Wish You Had.

Celebrities like the Osbournes usually receive about 15 to 20% of wholesale volume of the merchandise. Wholesale volume is typically half of retail sales. That means they could reap almost €20m.