ORF committee reform: government reduces influence and contribution by 2029!

ORF committee reform: government reduces influence and contribution by 2029!

The current National Council meeting, which began on March 26, 2025, is opened by a question time for Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP). On the second day of this plenary week, the ORF committee reform is decided, which caused plenty of discussions in advance. According to Vol.at will ensure that the Federal Government only sends six members in the 35-member board of foundation of the ORF as before. This should correspond to the mandate of the Constitutional Court, which had criticized the government that was too much influenced when ordering the ORF bodies.

Another important aspect of this reform concerns the public council, which will be filled by the federal government in the future. A total of nine members from the government ranks are sent, while only six members were previously planned. This reduces the total number of members in the public council from 28 to 14 by the government and 14 by legally defined bodies. The change is to be supplemented by a redefinition of the qualification requirements and a public tender, as orf.at reports.

Entry of the contribution stop until 2029

Another central point is the freezing of the ORF contribution, which is currently 15.30 euros per month. This freezing applies until the end of 2029 and means that the ORF must determine a savings requirement of around 220 million euros. Media Minister Andreas Babler (SPÖ) made it clear that despite this measure, there should be no reduction in performance in the ORF programs. The company's efficiency will be on the agenda, whereby the ORF radio symphony orchestra and other division programs should remain, as the Salzburg24.at explained.

The National Council also dealt with other topics, including a report on the national strategy against anti -Semitism and two equal treatment reports. A change in the national fund for victims of National Socialism was also decided. It is planned that the National Council President Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ) can either be represented or voted out.

reactions and planned measures

The reform has already caused critical voices. The FPÖ described the initiated reform plans as "reförmchen", while the green concerns expressed concerns about the government's influence on the ORF bodies. BABLER has announced that a more comprehensive reform of public service broadcasting should follow in the future, which will not affect the structure of the foundation and public councilors.

In addition, Babler announced that the government's advertising volume will reduce ten percent and to introduce funding to support newspaper delivery. The aim of these measures is to promote quality journalism for younger target groups. Despite the poor opportunities for the return of the "Wiener Zeitung" as a print day newspaper, the media digitalization funding remains in order to make the entire industry future-proof.