Marking the celebration of 25 years of the longest-running show in television history, Twentieth Century FOX Consumer Products scores big with plans announced on Tuesday 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 FIFA World Cup-themed The Simpsons episode is scheduled to air in Mar. 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 St. 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 Mar. 2014, the FIFA World Cup-themed episode of The Simpsons, entitled “You Don’t Have to Live Like a Referee,” will feature Homer and his recruitment as a FIFA World Cup 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, 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.”
Additional national and international soccer teams will sign on as part of this licensing partnership in the months ahead.
About The Simpsons
The Simpsons just began airing its much-anticipated 25th season. 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. Named the “Best Show of the 20th Century” by Time Magazine, in 2013 Entertainment Weekly named The Simpsons the Greatest American Sitcom.
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.
