Response to the album was slow. Todd Rundgren asserts that it was "underpromoted," having a reputation of being "damaged goods because it had been walked around to so many places." Due to the enthusiastic response to the music videos from the record, Australian and British audiences were the first to develop interest. The BBC television program "The Old Grey Whistle Test" aired a clip of the live band performing the nine-minute title track. According to "Classic Rock," the response was so overwhelming that they screened it again the following week. They later invited the band to perform "Paradise" live. "As a result, in the UK, 'Bat' became an unfashionable, uncool, non-radio record that became a 'must-have' for everyone who heard it, whether they 'got' Steinman's unique perspective or not."