ORF receives up to 35 million euros more - that is the consideration!

ORF receives up to 35 million euros more - that is the consideration!

Vienna, AT - On June 17, 2025, the National Council in Austria gave the green light for a comprehensive budget accompanying law, which includes numerous measures for financial regulation. According to vienna.at , ORF has received permission to use up to 35 million euros more from the income of the budget. However, this is linked to the condition that certain offers such as the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna (RSO) and the ORF Sport+ and ORF III division channels remain.

The decision of the National Council also regulates that the ORF contribution remains frozen at EUR 15.30 per budget and month by 2029. ORF is available up to 710 million euros from budget levies. This structured funding is part of a larger framework, which from 2026 means the end of a grant of ten million euros for the RSO and ORF Sport+ from the federal budget. Markus Poschner will be the new chief conductor of the RSO from the 2026/27 season if the financing is secured.

Details on the budget accompanying law

The budget accompanying law itself includes a total of 700 pages with its 74 articles, 72 amendments to the law, a new law and a special determination of entry, which illustrates the complexity of legislation, as in the message of ots

The central measures include aggravating access to the corridor pension and the temporary suspension of the inflation adjustment of family services. In addition, the climate bonus is abolished, which results in savings of EUR 135 million in 2025 and 257 million euros in 2026 annually. These comprehensive cuts affect not only social benefits, but also the educational budgets that are reduced by a total of 129 million euros.

national and international perspectives

Development in Austria is involved in a major discussion about the financing of public service broadcasting. In Denmark, the fee model was abolished in 2019 and replaced by income-dependent tax financing, such as Parlament.gv.at reported. In Germany, the financing is based on fees that are collected regardless of the use of reception devices.

In Italy, the RAI is fighting for a redefinition of its role as part of political power games, while Switzerland maintains a device -independent delivery system. These international developments offer an exciting context of the current decisions in Austria, where the focus is on the stabilization and securing of the ORF. The coming time will show how these regulative changes affect the media landscape in Austria.