TV Revenue Distribution in the Regionalliga 2026/27: An Overview
An in-depth look at the distribution of TV revenues in the Regionalliga for the 2026/27 season, highlighting the absence of a central distribution model and the unique agreements for each division.
TV Revenue Distribution in the Regionalliga 2026/27: An Overview
Key Takeaway
In the Regionalliga, there is no TV revenue system akin to that of the Bundesliga or 3. Liga. The league lacks a centralized rights sale, distribution system, or unified media marketing strategy. It stands as the highest tier of German football without a consistent league body, resulting in fragmented media rights management.
Five independent associations manage the league: the Norddeutscher Fußball-Verband (North), Nordostdeutscher Fußballverband (Northeast), Westdeutscher Fußballverband (West), RLSW Regionalliga Südwest GmbH (Southwest), and the Bayerischer Fußball-Verband (Bavaria). Each entity negotiates its own agreements, distributes revenues according to its own criteria, and does not disclose contract values.
Notably, the 2026/27 season brings a significant change: three of the five divisions will be exclusively partnered with a single provider.
Overview of the Five Models
| Division | League Body | Rights Partner 2026/27 | Contract Model | Distribution to Clubs | |------------|-------------|-----------------------|----------------|-----------------------| | North | NFV | LEAGUES GmbH (Stuttgart) | Exclusive rights sale, all 306 matches | Fixed base amount + variable component based on viewer demand | | Northeast | NOFV | No exclusive partner: OstSport.TV, MDR, regional media houses | Fragmented, match-specific | Not centrally regulated | | West | WDFV | LEAGUES GmbH | Exclusive production & distribution, all 306 matches | Revenue sharing, differentiated by fan allocation | | Southwest | RLSW Regionalliga Südwest GmbH | LEAGUES GmbH | Clubs as providers, platform as service provider | Majority of pay-per-view revenues to participating clubs | | Bavaria | BFV | Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR24Sport) | Cooperation, no classic rights sale | No significant rights revenue – focus on reach instead |
Changes in Regionalliga North
The most significant change for the 2026/27 season occurs in the North. In April 2026, the NFV sold media rights to LEAGUES GmbH after a competitive bidding process, with the agreement of all 18 clubs. This partner will have exclusive rights to live broadcast all 306 matches of the season.
Previously, broadcasts were available for free on the association's portal, nordfv.tv, funded through sponsorships. NFV President Ralph-Uwe Schaffert explained that this funding model was not sustainable. Consequently, broadcasts will now be placed behind a paywall, transforming a cost center for the association into a revenue source for the clubs.
The distribution system is the only one among the five divisions to be explicitly described in two stages:
- Base Amount – a fixed sum for each of the 18 clubs, regardless of league position or viewer count.
- Variable Component – based on actual viewer demand during live streams.
This structure aligns with the DFL's pillar concept of "Interest," but without a measurement institute; the criterion is based on billed stream demand rather than a fan potential study. Specific figures have not been disclosed by the NFV.
Regionalliga West: Revenue Sharing Based on Fan Allocation
The West division has experienced the most tumultuous rights developments. On December 13, 2024, the WDFV terminated its contract with Sporttotal AG due to ongoing complaints from clubs about the quality of AI-operated camera work. Since January 20, 2025, LEAGUES has been responsible for producing and distributing all matches of the “Herren-Regionalliga West powered by WestLotto” through regionalliga-west.tv, employing manual camera setups and live commentary.
The revenue model has followed a demand-oriented principle since the Sporttotal era: fans associate themselves with a club when purchasing tickets, and clubs with higher streaming demand receive proportionally higher payouts. Highlight clips remain free of charge.
Transparency Note: The original WDFV agreement with LEAGUES was set for one and a half seasons, concluding in summer 2026. An official extension announcement for 2026/27 has not been publicly documented; industry overviews still list the division as exclusively with LEAGUES. This point is marked as not confirmed by the association.
Regionalliga Southwest: Clubs as Providers
The Southwest division has the longest-standing collaboration with LEAGUES, featuring a unique legal structure. Here, it is not the league that sells rights to a platform; rather, the clubs themselves act as providers and bear responsibility for content management, camera work, production quality, and commentary.
LEAGUES provides the technical infrastructure, handles ticket sales, and distributes revenues. From the pay-per-view income, deductions include:
- Livestream production costs
- License fees for broadcasting rights to the league
- Platform fees for usage and processing
The remaining majority of funds flows directly to the participating clubs. The RLSW Regionalliga Südwest GmbH confirms this fundamental logic on its website. Additionally, the league formed a partnership with SponsoRights GmbH in 2025 to further develop marketing structures.
Economically, this means that a club with a strong fan base can earn disproportionately more under this model, but it also bears the risk of production costs. There is no solidarity component, such as a base amount as seen in the North.
Regionalliga Northeast: No Contract, No Distribution Key
The NOFV is the only league body without an exclusive media partner for 2026/27. The division will be represented by a mix of providers:
- OstSport.TV as the central streaming portal
- MDR with selected matches on free TV and in their media library
- Regional media houses with their own offerings – the "Freie Presse" is collaborating with OstSport.TV to showcase at least 30 matches focusing on Erzgebirge Aue, Chemnitzer FC, and FSV Zwickau; the Mitteldeutschland media group operates its own portal focusing on Hallescher FC and 1. FC Magdeburg II.
For the clubs, this means that media revenues are generated bilaterally and match-specific, rather than through a league-wide distribution. There is no centralized distribution system. It is noteworthy that the division with the highest concentration of traditional clubs and the largest viewer numbers is the least centrally marketed.
Regionalliga Bavaria: Focus on Reach Rather Than Rights Revenue
The BFV operates under a distinctly reach-driven model. This approach is based on a partnership with Bayerischer Rundfunk, which was extended at the association meeting in May 2026 and even expanded in July 2026.
Scope for 2026/27:
- 38 live-stream matches on BR24Sport, in the BR24 app, and in the ARD media library – one top match per matchday, regularly scheduled for Fridays at 19:00.
- For the first time, selected matches will also be broadcast on linear BR television.
- The BFV produces the live signal itself and supplies it to BR.
- Additionally, “BFV.TV” will feature narrated individual match reports for all matches, available for free on the website and YouTube, plus distribution through twelve Bavarian local TV stations.
In the 2024/25 season, the Regionalliga Bayern alone reached over 5.2 million viewers through BR offerings.
Since the association manages production and the public broadcaster does not pay standard market rights fees, there is no significant revenue pool generated here. The value lies in visibility and, indirectly, in the sponsorship marketing of the clubs. The BFV presidency decides on the use of any potential revenue according to the league regulations.
Contextualizing the Gap Between League 3 and League 4
To appreciate the scale, it is helpful to look at neighboring leagues (values per season):
| League | Central Media Revenues p.a. | Distribution | Per Club | |--------------|------------------------------|--------------|----------| | Bundesliga / 2. Bundesliga | 1.121 billion € (2025/26–2028/29) | Four-pillar model of the DFL | 32.8 – 70.6 million € (BL 2025/26) | | 3. Liga | 26.2 million € (2023/24–2026/27) | Equal distribution, 90% to the clubs | approx. 1.31 million € | | Regionalliga | no central contract | five separate models | not published |
The transition from the 3. Liga to the Regionalliga does not signify a reduction in media revenues but rather their effective disappearance. This explains a significant part of the known economic challenges in the fourth tier.
Historically, centrally distributed Regionalliga TV revenues did exist. In the 2009/10 season, payments were reduced from approximately €163,000 to about €90,000 per club, accompanied by a one-time special payment. Since then, this revenue pool has vanished.
Why Changes Are Unlikely in the Short Term
Centralized marketing requires a unified league body or at least a coordinated league format. This structure has recently failed again: in late June 2026, clubs rejected both models proposed by the DFB working group – neither the "Regional Model" nor the "Compass Model" garnered majority support across all regional associations. The DFB expressed regret over the vote and announced it would actively engage in the process moving forward.
As long as five bodies manage five leagues, there will continue to be five revenue models. However, a trend towards consolidation is evident: with North, West, and Southwest, approximately 900 live matches per season will be under a single provider in 2026/27.
Sporting Framework for 2026/27
Following the promotion regulations established in 2019, both the West and Southwest divisions will each provide one direct promotion spot. The third direct spot will rotate, with the Regionalliga Northeast taking it for the 2026/27 season. The champions from the North and Bavaria will compete in playoff matches for promotion to the 3. Liga.
