Distribution of TV Revenue in Eredivisie 2026/27: Breakdown for All 18 Clubs
The Eredivisie distributes €117.5 million in TV revenue for 2026/27, with significant disparities among clubs. This article breaks down the distribution model and amounts for each club.
Distribution of TV Revenue in Eredivisie 2026/27: Breakdown for All 18 Clubs
In the 2026/27 season, the Eredivisie will allocate approximately €117.5 million in national media rights among its 18 clubs. This funding originates from a contract with ESPN, the sports broadcaster owned by the Walt Disney Company, which is set to run until mid-2030.
Unlike leagues in Germany or England, the distribution model in the Netherlands does not feature a high base amount. Instead, it is primarily based on a ten-year performance ranking. Clubs that consistently perform well over a decade receive significantly more than newly promoted teams. Consequently, the Eredivisie exhibits one of the most unequal distributions among Europe’s top leagues, while still maintaining a high level of solidarity towards the second tier.
Key Figures at a Glance
| Metric | Value 2026/27 | |--------------------------------|----------------| | Distribution Volume Eredivisie | approx. €117.5 million | | Average per Club | approx. €6.5 million | | Highest Individual Amount (PSV) | €14.73 million | | Lowest Individual Amount (Telstar) | €3.37 million | | Spread from First to Last | Factor 4.4 | | Share of Top 3 in Total Pot | approx. 34% | | Share of Top 5 | approx. 50% | | Share of Bottom Six Clubs | approx. 18% | | Media Partner | ESPN / Eredivisie Media & Marketing (Disney, Eredivisie CV, KNVB) | | Contract Duration | until the end of the 2029/30 season |
How the Distribution Key Works
The distribution key for the Eredivisie is intentionally straightforward and consists of three main components:
1. Points Based on Final Standings. After each season, clubs earn points according to their final position: the champion receives 18 points, the runner-up 17, and so forth down to one point for the last-placed team.
2. Weighting by Recency. The ten most recent seasons are considered, but not equally weighted. The latest season counts tenfold, the second latest ninefold, and so on, with the oldest season counting as one.
3. Distribution Based on Ranking Share. Approximately 95% of the distributable amount is allocated based on this ranking. The remainder is determined by other undisclosed criteria.
Mathematically, a maximum of 990 points (18 points × weight sum of 55) can be achieved by a club that wins the championship for ten consecutive years. PSV Eindhoven recently amassed around 940 points, or about 95% of the maximum. This illustrates the gap at the top more effectively than any single season.
Practical Effect: A club's position in the final standings not only affects European competition qualification but also influences media revenue for the next decade. A single spot in the TV ranking can equate to up to nearly one million euros per season in the middle of the table.
Distribution of All 18 Clubs in the 2026/27 Season
| Club | TV Money 2026/27 | Share of Total Pot | Note | |-----------------------------|------------------|--------------------|---------------------------------| | 1. PSV Eindhoven | €14.73 million | 12.5% | Champion 2025/26, undisputed leader | | 2. Feyenoord | €13.22 million | 11.2% | Surpassing Ajax consistently | | 3. Ajax Amsterdam | €11.70 million | 9.9% | Approx. €3 million loss over two years | | 4. AZ Alkmaar | €10.19 million | 8.7% | Stable in the top group | | 5. FC Utrecht | €9.38 million | 8.0% | | | 6. FC Twente | €8.15 million | 6.9% | | | 7. SC Heerenveen | €6.93 million | 5.9% | | | 8. NEC Nijmegen | €5.71 million | 4.9% | Largest climber in the ranking | | 9. Sparta Rotterdam | €4.78 million | 4.1% | Overhauled by NEC | | 10. Fortuna Sittard | €4.37 million | 3.7% | | | 11. FC Groningen | €4.09 million | 3.5% | | | 12. Go Ahead Eagles | €3.80 million | 3.2% | Multi-year upward trend | | 13. PEC Zwolle | €3.56 million | 3.0% | | | 14. Excelsior Rotterdam | €3.47 million | 2.9% | | | 15. Willem II | €3.44 million | 2.9% | Promoted, benefits from past points | | 16. ADO Den Haag | €3.42 million | 2.9% | Promoted, benefits from past points | | 17. SC Cambuur | €3.40 million | 2.9% | Promoted, benefits from past points | | 18. SC Telstar | €3.37 million | 2.9% | Lacks relevant ranking history |
Total €117.7 million 100%
The individual amounts are based on media reports regarding the ranking calculation; Eredivisie CV does not officially publish club amounts.
Insights from the Numbers
The top clubs pull ahead, but at a slower rate than elsewhere. PSV receives 4.4 times what the last-placed club gets, showcasing a significant disparity compared to the Bundesliga or Premier League, where base amounts are more prominent. However, compared to Portugal, a direct competitor in the UEFA five-year ranking, the Dutch distribution is considered relatively balanced, which the Eredivisie CV cites as a reason for the Netherlands surpassing Portugal in the coefficient ranking.
Ajax is structurally losing, not just in sports. Dropping from second to third in the TV ranking costs Ajax about €1.5 million compared to Feyenoord. More importantly, the mechanism means that weak seasons have a ten-year impact, making it difficult for Ajax to close the revenue gap with PSV even with a sporting recovery.
The baseline is relatively high. Newly promoted teams without ranking history still receive around €3.4 million. A purely linear 95% distribution based on points would yield significantly less for a club with zero points, suggesting that the distribution key includes an undisclosed minimum or base amount.
The difference from club budgets remains substantial. For clubs with budgets exceeding €100 million, TV revenue constitutes only a single-digit to low double-digit percentage of their income. Conversely, for clubs at the bottom of the table with budgets in the low tens of millions, it often represents their largest single revenue source.
The ESPN Contract: Source of the Funds
The current contract was unanimously approved by all 18 Eredivisie clubs in October 2023 and finalized in February 2024. The rights are marketed through Eredivisie Media & Marketing (EMM), a joint venture involving the Walt Disney Company, Eredivisie CV, and the KNVB.
Key points include:
- Duration: five years, from the 2025/26 season through to the end of 2029/30.
- Volume: The guaranteed annual payment rose from approximately €90 million to about €140 million with the new cycle. Additionally, a one-time payment in two installments was agreed upon.
- Scope: In addition to the Eredivisie, ESPN will broadcast the Keuken Kampioen Divisie (second tier) almost entirely live, as well as the Azerion Vrouwen Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, Johan Cruijff Shield, and matches involving Jong Oranje.
- Structural Change: Sponsorship and international media rights for the Eredivisie reverted to Eredivisie CV with the new contract and will be marketed separately. Thus, the international rights do not contribute to the described pot.
- Competition Law Concerns: Several Dutch telecommunications providers criticized the direct extension without an open tender and approached the competition authority ACM.
Solidarity Downwards: 15% for the Second Division
A distinctive feature of the Netherlands compared to most European leagues is that around 15% of media revenues are allocated to the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. This is justified by the high turnover between the two divisions; over the years, many clubs have experienced both leagues, making “yo-yo clubs” more of a norm than an exception.
Additionally, there is a lesser-known balancing mechanism: top clubs participating in European competitions contribute a portion of their UEFA bonuses to a common fund. This helps to mitigate the widening gap that would otherwise result from Champions League revenues. For the 2026/27 season, this particularly affects PSV, Feyenoord, and NEC (Champions League), AZ and Twente (Europa League), as well as Ajax (Conference League).
Context: Eredivisie in Comparison
The Eredivisie operates in a different economic league than the five major leagues. For perspective, the total national distribution volume of the Eredivisie is less than what a single Premier League club at the bottom of the table receives.
The key structural difference lies not in the volume, but in the principle: the DFL distributes across multiple pillars with significant equal shares and a five-year consideration, while the Eredivisie relies on a single ten-year performance ranking. This results in a distribution that is slower and path-dependent—sporting success pays off later, while a decline in performance lingers longer.
Outlook: Potential Changes by 2030
The ESPN contract extends until mid-2030, providing planning stability until the end of the 2029/30 season. Three points remain open:
- Distribution Discussion. Smaller clubs argue that the skewed distribution entrenches the sporting gap; top clubs cite audience share and competition context. A reform of the distribution key during the current contract period is deemed unlikely, but it may become a topic for the cycle starting in 2030/31.
- International Rights. Since the new contract, these are held by Eredivisie CV and marketed separately. Growth in this area will not automatically flow into the same distribution key.
- ACM Process. The outcome of the legal dispute regarding the non-tendered award could impact the next allocation process.
FAQ
How much TV money is distributed in the Eredivisie for the 2026/27 season? The 18 Eredivisie clubs will distribute approximately €117.5 million from national media rights. This does not include shares for the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, the association, or the separately marketed international rights.
Which club receives the most money in 2026/27? PSV Eindhoven with around €14.73 million, followed by Feyenoord (€13.22 million) and Ajax (€11.70 million).
How is the TV money distributed in the Eredivisie? About 95% is distributed based on a ranking of sporting performance over the last ten seasons. Each club earns points per season based on their final standings (champion 18 points, last place 1 point), with the most recent season weighted tenfold and the oldest season weighted once.
Why does Ajax receive less than Feyenoord? Ajax's drop from second to third in the TV ranking results in a loss of around €1.5 million compared to Feyenoord. More importantly, the ten-year ranking mechanism means that Ajax's weaker recent seasons have a disproportionately strong impact on their revenue.
How much does a promoted team receive? Clubs without relevant ranking history receive around €3.4 million. Promoted teams with previous Eredivisie seasons, like Willem II, ADO Den Haag, and SC Cambuur, receive slightly more due to their historical points still being counted within the ten-year window.
Who broadcasts the Eredivisie on television? ESPN, a channel of the Walt Disney Company, markets the rights through the joint venture Eredivisie Media & Marketing. The contract runs until the end of the 2029/30 season.
Does the second Dutch league also receive TV money? Yes. About 15% of media revenues are allocated to clubs in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie—a relatively high solidarity share in European comparison.
Is the distribution in the Eredivisie more unequal than in the Bundesliga? Yes. In the Eredivisie, the first-placed club receives about 4.4 times what the last-placed club gets, while the Bundesliga's distribution is significantly more equal due to a higher share of equal distribution.
