TF1 Acquires Licensing Rights to ‘The Smurfs’ in France
PARIS — French commercial network group TF1 has acquired licensing rights to “The Smurfs” brand for France and is prepping various events such a musical show and an exhibit.
The deal was inked between TF1 Licences and Véronique Culliford’s IMPS. Both companies have worked before. TF1 Video has been a partner of IMPS for the last 10 years.
Besides TF1 Video, “The Smurfs” has so far attracted about 700 partners, including Le Lombard, Dupuis, Hachette, De Agostini-Altaya, Panini, PEZ, Chupa Chups, Ferrero, Haribo, McDonald’s, Delacre, Oreo, H&M, Zara, Benetton, Women’s Secret, MegaBrands, Ubisoft, Capcom and Tesco.
“We are happy and proud to collaborate with TF1 Licences, an experimented and audacious agent with a large experience in exploiting classic brands. We’ll be able to create synergies with the brands within the different divisions of the group, said Culliford, the daughter of “The Smurfs” creator Pierre Culliford aka Peyo.
Marina Narishkin, head of TF1 Licences, called “The Smurfs” an emblematic property that is part of French culture and appeals to young audiences as well as grown-ups.
“The Smurf” and “The Smurfs 2” grossed $27.6 million and $19.4 million, respectively, in France.
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