Blank front pages in Austria – this is how the media protest against the ORF law

Most daily newspapers in Austria appeared on Wednesday with a blank front page. They were protesting planned legislative changes aimed at reorganizing the funding of public broadcaster ORF.

In a joint letter, the newspaper publishers warned that media diversity was “existentially threatened” by the law reform proposed by the federal government. They called for the law to be revised. The planned household levy based on the German model, which is intended to guarantee broadcasting revenues of at least around 710 million euros from 2024, will enable ORF to expand its activities in the digital space. This means that the private journalistic media are “cut off from future development opportunities”.said on International Press Freedom Day.

According to ORF director Roland Weissmann, the 710 million corresponds to the net cost of the public service mandate. If the broadcaster earns more from the contributions, this amount will be transferred to a blocked account. In return, around 325 million euros in personnel and material costs would be saved between 2023 and 2026. “These are difficult times for everyone. We will be able to make good programs in the coming years and at the same time have to look closely at the money,” Weissmann recently told the APA news agency.

The ORF contribution will amount to 15.30 euros (equivalent to about 15 francs). Currently, 22.45 euros (equivalent to about 22 francs) per household and month are still due, also adding state and federal taxes, which will no longer apply in the future. To date, the ORF has received approximately EUR 670 million in broadcasting fees. The station employs about 3,000 people.

(sda/dpa)