| Tfou | |
| Website: | https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/tfou-lemission |
| Parent: | TF1 with “Protécréa” (Proté-création Production) |
| Channel: | TF1 |
| Headquarters: | Boulogne-Billancourt |
| Language: | French |
| Runtime: | Morning: 12:55 a.m. (TF1) and 1:30 a.m. (TFX) Wednesday morning: 12:55 a.m. (TF1) and 2:30 a.m. (TFX) Saturday morning: 5:05 a.m (TF1) Sunday morning: 4:05 a.m. (TF1) |
| Format: | 4:3 then 16:9 |
| Sister: | TFX (since January 8, 2024) |
| Formerly Known: | TF! (1997-2006) |
TFOU (in French pronounced as /tefu/) is a French children's television broadcast programming block on TF1. It was launched on 1 January 2007, replacing TF! Jeunesse (French for TF! Youth).
TF! Jeunesse first appeared on Monday, September 1, 1997 at 4:30 in the afternoon on TF1, replacing Club Dorothée, with the first episode of Beetleborgs. TF! Jeunesse was created by Dominique Poussier, the director of children's television for TF1. It was hoped that this new show would distance itself from its predecessor, whose shows had often been accused by parents and the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (the Superior Audiovisual Council) of being too violent. Poussier had previously created the morning program Salut les Toons! ("Hello Toons!"), which was presented by two CGI-generated mice, in 1996. In September 1997, she was given the difficult task of revitalizing children's programming on TF1, whose ratings had been in decline thanks to the popularity of Minikeums on France 3.
Using the same model which she had already presented with The Planet of Donkey Kong on France 2, Poussier suggested a program without animation. "T. F. Ouais" was chosen as the title for the program. The logo had been that of a defunct channel. An adult voice was the presenter of the show (Bruno Choël, the French dub voice for Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean and Ewan McGregor in Star Wars).
Interactivity with the young audience was exercised again in special operations like those organized for the presidential elections of 2007 where children were interviewed on the subject. TFOU was praised by the Foundation for Children for its activity on tolerance Parce qu'on est tous différents (Because we are all different") (Directors: Nicolas Sedel, Franck Salomé et Fernando Worcel).
In addition to new European programs, TF1 can rely on agreements with Nickelodeon (which allows it to broadcast Hey Arnold!) or the new Power Rangers series, known in France since 1993. But it is only with the arrival of Pokémon in 2000, that the channel could find audiences equal to those of Club Dorothée. Surfing on this wave, the Digimon quickly appears.
Suppose several series follow one another without making an impression. In that case, a few programs with audiences also appear (Franklin, Jimmy Neutron, Totally Spies!, Sonic Underground) and allow the channel to bounce back and resist Yu-Gi-Oh! in particular.
After creating tfou.fr, TF1's first children's website, in 2000, the TF1 Group launched the TFOU (TV channel) on the TPS satellite package, drawing inspiration from the TF! Jeunesse, but the channel targets a teenage audience were TF! Jeunesse tried to seduce the youngest. However, the programs become forgotten or unpopular. The flagship series are reserved for broadcast on TF1.
From January 8, 2024, following the morning news from TF1: Bonjour ! hosted by Bruce Toussaint, Tfou will see its program disrupted. During the week, Tfou will be broadcast on TF1 from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. then switch to TFX from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. (Wednesdays until 9:30 a.m.). At the weekend, TF1 shows cartoons on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.