The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (Österreichischer Rundfunk, ORF) is the largest media group in Austria, operating as a public service media operator. It has four nationwide television channels and 12 radio stations. ORF is headquartered in Vienna and has regional studios in all nine federal provinces of Austria. The organization was established in 1924.
Media assets
Television: ORF 1, ORF 2, ORF 2 Europe, ORF III, ORF Sport +
Radio: Ö1, Hitradio Ö3, FM4; Regional stations: Radio Burgenland, Radio Kärnten, Radio Niederösterreich, Radio Oberösterreich, Radio Salzburg, Radio Steiermark, Radio Tirol, Radio Vorarlberg, Radio Wien, Radio Slovenski
State Media Matrix Typology: Independent Public (IP)
Ownership and governance
According to the ORF Act, which established the public broadcaster in Austria, ORF is a foundation tasked with fulfilling several duties and mandates outlined in the ORF Act.
The highest governing body at ORF is its Foundation Council, whose members are appointed as follows: six members by the Federal Government, in proportion to the seats of each political party in the National Council (the lower house of the Austrian Parliament); nine members by the provinces; nine members by the Federal Government at its own discretion; six members by the Audience Council, an independent body responsible for monitoring ORF’s programming (more details can be found under Editorial Independence below); and five members by the ORF staff.
The Director General of the ORF is appointed by the Foundation Council for a term of five years.
The Foundation Council’s appointment procedure allows the government to appoint members to the main governing body. However, it has been established to prevent the state from dominating or controlling the ORF.
Source of funding and budget
As a not-for-profit organization, ORF reinvests its revenues in programming and services. ORF is funded through a combination of revenues from license fees (paid by all owners of broadcast reception equipment in Austria) and advertising, in a proportion of roughly 60% to 40%.
In 2020, ORF operated with a budget of over €1bn, which was similar to the previous year, according to the station’s annual report. The price of the yearly license varies based on the province, ranging between €22.45 and €28.65 per month. In 2021, ORF’s budget increased to €1.015bn, €645m coming from license fees. In 2022, the broadcaster’s budget increased again to €1.031bn, €663m being generated through license fee.
The Austrian government approved the amendment to the ORF Act in June 2023. The following month, the lower chamber of parliament adopted the amendment. However, a week later, the upper chamber of Austria’s parliament rejected the amended law.
In January 2024, the government introduced a new funding mechanism for ORF. Under this new model, which replaces the previous financing method that required households with a TV and/or radio set to pay a license fee, a household levy was introduced. According to the new system, all households in Austria must pay €15.30 per month to support the operation of PSM. The new model is expected to increase the number of levy payers by 714,000 and generate a total revenue of €683m for the ORF.
This change in the funding model aims to ensure ORF’s financial independence and stability. However, the newly implemented model is vulnerable to potential attacks. Members of the right-wing populist party FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) have threatened to revoke the new budget levy if the party wins the Austrian elections scheduled for autumn 2024.
The funding changes at ORF have led to a set of cost-saving measures presented by the company’s management under pressure from authorities. ORF is expected to reduce expenses associated with the Radio Symphony Orchestra, the ORF Sports channel, and its streaming portals. According to ORF’s director, Roland Weissmann, the company aims to save up to €320 million by 2026 as part of the cost-saving package presented in February 2023.
The ORF’s funding model was changed at the government’s request. The center-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), one of the coalition parties, requested cuts, indicating their dislike for the public broadcaster, known for its critical coverage. The Green Party, the ÖVP’s partner, wanted to replace the license fee with a household levy to ensure the station’s financial stability in the face of future uncertainties, showing the Greens’ support for ORF, as reported by local analysts.
Editorial independence
There are no government-imposed rules on the ORF’s editorial management and policies. The broadcaster has always been seen as independent, objective, and impartial.
The law prevents politicians from becoming members of the Foundation Council. However, the station has faced more political attacks in recent years. Right-wing parties, in particular, have been highly critical of the ORF. They have called for the abolition of the license fee, knowing that such a move would jeopardize the ORF’s independence or even existence.
Despite numerous attacks, ORF remains the most trusted news service in Austria. Austrian civil society is notably robust, swiftly responding to political assaults on public service media and assertively urging politicians to avoid interfering with the ORF.
The appointment of Roland Weissmann as Director General of ORF, effective as of January 2022, has sparked concerns regarding the broadcaster’s independence. This is because Weissmann is perceived as having political affiliations with the Austrian People’s Party (OVP), which currently holds governmental power in Austria. While the appointment has not yet had a noticeable impact on the broadcaster’s editorial independence, the situation at the station is being closely monitored.
ORF has a Code of Conduct that aims to ensure the quality and credibility of its news coverage. The code was agreed upon by the editorial office committee, which a group of ORF journalists, and approved by the Audience Council and the Foundation Council.
The Audience Council is responsible for independently assessing and overseeing ORF’s editorial coverage. As outlined in the ORF Act, its primary mission is to safeguard the interests of listeners and viewers.
The Audience Council members are appointed by civil society, including professional groups, churches, and NGOs such as the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, the Conference of the Presidents of the Austrian Chambers of Agriculture, the Federal Chamber of Labour, the Federation of Austrian Trade Unions, the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Academy of Sciences.
The Audience Council operates independently, making decisions based on existing rules and laws rather than following instructions or orders.
August 2024