Marking the celebration of 25 years of the longest-running show in television history, Twentieth Century FOX Consumer Products scores big with plans announced today for a first-of-its-kind campaign, featuring the world's most popular television family, THE SIMPSONS, and the most popular sport in the world, soccer. A broad line of branded merchandise created in conjunction with acclaimed international soccer teams, from FC Barcelona to Sport Club Corinthians, will be available to consumers in 2014 and a themed The Simpsons episode inspired by the FIFA World Cup(TM) is scheduled to air in March 2014 on FOX, just before the launch of the global sporting event.
Soccer fans worldwide will be able to own a range of products with such participating club teams, including FC Barcelona, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, Corinthians and Boca Juniors, that also feature The Simpsons branding. Each participating team's merchandise will also include never-before-created "Simpsonized" versions of its main roster, transformed into custom characters as part of the entire line of products.
Scheduled to air in March 2014, a themed episode of
The Simpsons inspired by the FIFA World Cup(TM) entitled "You Don't Have to Live Like a Referee," will feature Homer and his recruitment as a FIFA World Cup(TM) referee, after Lisa praises his integrity in a Springfield
Elementary speech
Contest held on the youth soccer field. The episode follows Springfield's most famous family as it journeys to Brazil, only to find Homer's honesty put to the test by one of the slickest South American gangsters in the soccer match-bribing business.
"2014 is the year of soccer with the FIFA World Cup(TM), serving to connect fans from cities, towns and villages around the world to experience the biggest sporting event," said Jeffrey Godsick, President, Twentieth Century
FOX Consumer Products. "This is the perfect opportunity to present a line of soccer merchandise, promotions and content that will leave an indelible imprint on
The Simpsons fans around the world."
THE SIMPSONS just began airing its much-anticipated 25th Season. Twentieth Century
FOX Consumer Products has been gearing up for this milestone with the opening of Springfield, the newly-themed area at Universal Studios Florida, and the launch of
The Simpsons Chuck Taylor All Star Collection by Converse.
Additional national and international soccer teams will sign on as part of this licensing partnership in the months ahead.
About THE SIMPSONS
The longest-running scripted show in television history,
The Simpsons exploded into a cultural phenomenon in 1990 and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises, recognizable throughout the world. Currently in production on its record-annihilating 25th Season,
The Simpsons has won 28 Emmy Awards and been nominated for an Academy Award in 2012 for the theatrical short The Longest Daycare. The Simpsons: Tapped Out is a top grossing mobile App and has ranked number one around the world on the App Store(TM) charts.
The Simpsons Movie had worldwide global acclaim and the revolutionary virtual coaster ride at Universal Studios Florida and Hollywood is a continuous hit, along with the new Springfield experience at Universal Studios Florida.
The Simpsons received a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000 and has been honored with five U.S. postal stamps personally designed by Matt Groening. Named the "Best Show of the 20th Century" by Time Magazine, in 2013 Entertainment Weekly named
The Simpsons the Greatest American Sitcom.
THE SIMPSONS is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century
FOX Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the Executive Producers. The Gracie Films Worldwide Brand Division develops and produces the licensed content for the series. Film Roman is the animation house.
About Twentieth Century
FOX Consumer Products
A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century
FOX Consumer Products licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of Twentieth Century
FOX Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and
FOX Broadcasting Company, as well as third party lines. The division is aligned with Twentieth Century
FOX Television, one of the top suppliers of
Primetime entertainment programming to the broadcast networks.
