Bundesliga CEO Calls TV Money Distribution 'Absolutely Fair' As Format Talks Continue

Bundesliga CEO Christian Seifert "has called the league's current TV money distribution absolutely fair," according to Nils Lehnebach of SPONSORs. The German Football League (DFL), under the leadership of newly elected League President Reinhard Rauball, "is currently developing the new format for the distribution of TV money to the 36 Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga teams." The league "hopes to have developed a new format" to distribute the €4.64B ($5.1B) from its new domestic TV rights deal by the end of the year. The current format allocates 20% of the TV money to the 2nd Bundesliga clubs. Seifert said that "while it doesn't represent the current value of the league," it is "absolutely fair." He said, "We have to be solidary, but not socialistic." The demand of the 2nd Bundesliga clubs "to continue to receive 20% has been met with criticism by Bundesliga teams" (SPONSORs, 10/13).