The AFL has revealed it will spend $650 million over the next five years on its 16 AFL clubs - with more money being given to several needy AFL clubs - as part of the revenue raised from its new media deal.

The AFL launched Next Generation - Securing the Future of Australian Football on Thursday at Telstra Dome, with money generated from its new media deals - television, radio and internet – as well as other sources of income to be distributed to AFL clubs, the competition, game development and facilities over the next five years.

All together, $1.4 billion will be distributed by the AFL over the next five years, in what is clearly the greatest investment in the game in the history of Australian football.

The new television deal was bought by Channel Seven and Channel 10 for $780 million, while details of the radio and new media arrangements will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

The 16 AFL clubs will receive $449 million, a base distribution which covers all increases in Total Player Payments (TPP), plus a bonus distribution of $96 million ($6 million per club) - $1.2 million per annum per club - for 2007-11.

On top of that, several clubs with low supporter bases and inferior stadium deals, will gain extra funds in 2007, ranging from $9.7 million to $6.2 million.

As a result, the Kangaroos will gain $9.7 million and the Western Bulldogs will be given $9.1 million. West Coast, Collingwood, Fremantle, Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions will gain $6.2 million.

The number of clubs receiving Annual Special Distribution (ASD) funding will be expanded and include the Kangaroos, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Richmond and Carlton. The AFL will also fund Sydney's TPP cost of living allowance.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the strategy recognised that some clubs needed greater assistance than others.

"This strategy will secure the future of the 16 AFL clubs but the commission recognises it is also vitally important to invest significant funding in the future to build the next generation of supporters," Demetriou said.

"All levels of the football industry have helped to generate the record revenues and this strategy will return benefits to all levels of the game - and also build the participation and support needed to secure a healthy future for all levels of the game," Demetriou said.

The Next Generation strategy will mean a freeze on admission prices to the premiership season and NAB Cup in 2007 as well as a freeze on the base price of club memberships, and will also result in the biggest ever investment in game development, with $208 million to be spent on growing the game in schools, Auskick, club recreation, women's football and indigenous and multicultural programs. $100 million has been allocated to game development in New South Wales and Queensland.

An investment of $65 million will also be spent over five years to improve AFL facilities at AFL venues - and also at state and community level - while an $82 million future fund to strengthen football's future and invest against any unforeseen economic issues will also be implemented.

The AFL has also set a target of 700,000 participants in Australian football by 2011 - an increase of 25 per cent.