Distribution of TV Revenues in the 2. Bundesliga 2026/27: The Dominance of Relegated Teams

Distribution of TV Revenues in the 2. Bundesliga 2026/27: The Dominance of Relegated Teams

The financial landscape of the 2. Bundesliga for the 2026/27 season reveals a significant concentration of TV revenues among relegated teams. The total distribution of TV funds for this season amounts to 246.17 million euros, with notable disparities among the clubs.

Overview of TV Revenue Distribution

| Club | Total TV Revenue (EUR) | |--------------------------|-------------------------| | VfL Wolfsburg | 24,137,975 € | | 1. FC Heidenheim | 21,665,100 € | | FC St. Pauli | 20,262,094 € | | VfL Bochum | 18,614,008 € | | Hertha BSC | 16,878,803 € | | SV Darmstadt 98 | 15,255,195 € | | Holstein Kiel | 14,904,116 € | | Karlsruher SC | 13,204,889 € | | Hannover 96 | 13,189,457 € | | 1. FC Nürnberg | 12,803,819 € | | SpVgg Greuther Fürth | 12,104,043 € | | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 10,875,734 € | | 1. FC Magdeburg | 9,832,225 € | | Eintracht Braunschweig | 9,115,182 € | | Arminia Bielefeld | 9,077,322 € | | Dynamo Dresden | 8,864,462 € | | VfL Osnabrück | 7,907,030 € | | FC Energie Cottbus | 7,479,397 € |

The Framework: 20 Percent and Remaining Steady

The revenue model for the 36 professional clubs from German-speaking markets guarantees approximately 1.121 billion euros per season for the 2025/26 to 2028/29 period. The revenue split between the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga is fixed at 80:20, a ratio that has remained unchanged following extensive discussions prior to the DFL's decision in January 2025.

For the second-tier clubs, this means their negotiating position has not improved. However, there are two notable increases:

• The annual UEFA solidarity payment to the 2. Bundesliga will rise from 8.5 million to 10 million euros, aimed specifically at youth development.
• From international media revenues, 5 million euros will be allocated to non-international Bundesliga clubs, indicating that discussions about revenue redistribution are also taking place within the Bundesliga itself.

The 2. Bundesliga remains structurally excluded from international media revenue, which is primarily distributed among Bundesliga teams.

The Four-Pillar Model from the 2. Bundesliga Perspective

The revenue distribution model applies equally across both leagues, but its impact varies significantly.

| Pillar | Share | Importance for Second-Tier Clubs | |-------------------------|-------|-----------------------------------| | Equal Distribution | 50% | Major predictable income for most clubs | | Performance | 43% | Significant disparities; relegated teams benefit greatly | | Youth Development | 4% | Realistic chance for additional income for smaller clubs | | Interest | 3% | Traditional clubs feel undervalued here |

Pillar 1: Equal Distribution

Half of the total revenue is evenly distributed within the league. For clubs without Bundesliga history, this equal share represents their entire TV income.

Pillar 2: Performance – Why Relegated Teams Lead

The performance pillar consists of three components, two of which are critical for the 2. Bundesliga:

1. Separate Five-Year Ranking (about 23% of total pool): A dedicated table for second-division teams, weighted to favor the most recent season.
2. Continuous Five-Year Ranking (about 19%): All 36 clubs are ranked together, which explains why teams like Wolfsburg, Heidenheim, and St. Pauli dominate the revenue standings.

The key takeaway is that the second-division revenue pool does not increase when a strong team is relegated; rather, it is redistributed, benefiting the relegated teams disproportionately.

Pillar 3: Youth Development (4%)

This pillar rewards clubs for fielding U23 players trained in Germany, with an increased emphasis on young player minutes starting from the 2025/26 season.

Pillar 4: Interest (3%)

Currently based on market research, starting in 2025/26, national TV viewership and membership numbers will also factor in, but the share remains at three percent.

The Numbers Tell a Story

The Relegated Teams at the Top

Wolfsburg, Heidenheim, and St. Pauli together claim 66.1 million euros, accounting for over 27% of the total second-division pool for just three clubs. The remaining 15 clubs are left to share the rest.

The Real Cost of Relegation

1. FC Heidenheim faces a loss of approximately 15.6 million euros, or over 42%, compared to the previous season, while St. Pauli sees a decrease of 12.5 million euros, or 38%. This financial drop is exacerbated over time as Bundesliga seasons drop out of the five-year ranking.

The Real Benefit of Promotion

In contrast, the three teams promoted to the Bundesliga will see significant financial gains:

| Club | 2025/26 (2. Bundesliga) | 2026/27 (Bundesliga) | Increase | |--------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------|----------| | SC Paderborn | 13.25 million € | 37.22 million € | +24.0 million € | | FC Schalke 04 | 13.75 million € | 35.71 million € | +22.0 million € | | SV Elversberg | 8.62 million € | 31.17 million € | +22.6 million € |

For SV Elversberg, the promotion leads to a fourfold increase in media revenues, unmatched by any other sporting achievement in German football.

The Financial Cliff Downward

The gap between the last Bundesliga team (Elversberg, 31.17 million euros) and the top second-division team (Wolfsburg, 24.14 million euros) is about 7 million euros, which is surprisingly small given the significance of the league boundary.

In contrast, the financial drop from the second league to the third is stark. For example, Fortuna Düsseldorf will plummet from around 16 million euros to about 1.4 million euros, a staggering loss of over 90%. Conversely, VfL Osnabrück and Energie Cottbus will quintuple their media revenues simply by being promoted.

Gross vs. Net Revenue

The reported figures are gross values, with around 7.5% allocated for league organization and operations. For clubs at the lower end of the table, this translates to substantial financial implications, emphasizing the need for careful budget planning.

The Open Question: Why the Pot Grew by 15 Percent

Interestingly, the total for the 18 second-division teams has surged from around 213 million euros to 246 million euros, an increase of over 15%. This rise occurs despite the overall national pot remaining constant at 1.121 billion euros per season. The discrepancy raises questions about the accuracy of reported figures across different sources.

The Debate from a Second-Division Perspective

Traditional clubs argue that teams like Kaiserslautern, Dresden, Schalke, Hertha, and Nürnberg bring significant audience numbers and ratings, making the 2. Bundesliga marketable. However, the three percent allocated for the interest pillar seems disproportionate to their contributions.