This is how the income is distributed
© Imago
Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt together receive as much TV money as the 18 clubs of the 2nd Bundesliga. Around 221 million euros wave the second division clubs in the 2025/26 season-this emerges from “Kicker” reports that refer to figures from the German Football League. The 18 first division teams get almost six times this sum.
Four-pillar model: This is how the TV money is distributed
The DFL distributes the income from the marketing of the TV rights according to a four-pillar model: Column 1 provides for an equal distribution of 50 percent of the funds-the clubs within the two leagues receive the same amount depending on the league affiliation. Pillars 2 comprises 43 percent and distributes the money using a five -year ranking according to services. The pillars 3 (youngsters) and 4 (interest) regulate the award of the remaining four and three percent.
After returning to the Bundesliga, Hamburger SV sorts itself out in the last place in the TV revenue. Compared to the late 2024 estimates for the 2024/25 season, the red pants can now look forward to 14.3 million euros more. On the other hand, the 1. FC Köln occupies 13th place after the direct return and leaves clubs like Werder Bremen and FC Augsburg. The Domstadt residents increase their income by 16.4 million to EUR 43 million. The top trio still forms FC Bayern, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen – but with losses. 83.4 million euros (-7.7 million) go to Munich, 76 million euros to BVB (-5.8 million) and EUR 75.5 million (-5 million) to the workself.
In total, the DFL pours out to the 36 professional associations of the Bundesliga and the 2nd league less than before. If the league association had planned for the last season with almost 1.4 billion euros, it is now around 1.35 billion euros. In 13 first division clubs there is a minus, in addition to the two promoters, only VfB Stuttgart (+0.7 million to 55.5 million), the 1st FSV Mainz 05 (+4.6 million to 55.4 million) and FC St. Pauli (+0.2 million to 32.8 million) growth.
The relegated VfL Bochum and Holstein Kiel lead the field in the lower house, but have to put a minus of 20.1 million or 13.4 million euros away. Hertha BSC and FC Schalke 04 also lose a lot of TV revenue-for them they are at EUR 5.6 million and EUR 5.5 million. The Berliners fall from second place to third place in the table, the royal blue from three to six. The distribution to the 18 second division clubs is EUR 221 million 22 million euros below the value from the pre-season.