Shock for governors: ORF receives more independence!

Shock for governors: ORF receives more independence!

Vienna, Österreich - On July 12, 2025, an essential step was announced in the Reform of the ORF. The regulatory right of the governors when ordering the ORF state directors is abolished. This measure is intended to strengthen the independence of the ORF and push back the influence of the political instances. A fundamental agreement of the government fractions on this reform was achieved, and the decision-making could be made in September after the summer break of the National Council, as vienna.at.

Neos media spokeswoman Henrike Brandstötter commented on this development and described it as a "system fracture". In her opinion, this is a success on the way to an independent ORF. The abolition of the right of hearing has been requested by NEOS for more than ten years. Brandstötter emphasizes that this step is only the beginning and that further reforms, such as the composition of the board of trustees, should follow. In addition, it is planned that entrepreneurs with several branches will no longer be used several times for the ORF household levy. This sees this as a fair and necessary change, which puts the previous regulation as unfair and superfluous in the background.

Reform of the ORF committee

The reform also provides for a fundamental redesign of the ORF bodies. The constitutional committee has decided to freeze the ORF contribution by 2029. This measure aims to reduce the state influence on ORF, especially in the foundation and public council. The adjustments are to be completed by the end of March and implemented by a national council decision, as https://www.kosmo.at/orf-beibt-bleibt-bis-2029-einfroren/).

The federal government will only appoint six members of the board of trustees instead of the previous nine. The public council, on the other hand, is increased from six to nine members. From now on, these members must also have specialist qualifications, and the selection should be advertised publicly. The remaining members are appointed by federal states, parliamentary parties and the Central Works Council, whereby the criteria for qualification were tightened.

The reform is also intended to re -occupish the board of trustees and the public council, which changes the balance of power in the ORF's top committee. The newly elected board of trustees takes over tasks such as the election of the ORF general director and the approval of financial and program plans. However, politicians from the FPÖ and the green criticized the late transmission of the application for the law and doubted the actual reduction in political influence. FP media spokesman Christian Hafenecker characterized the measures as "reförmchen", while Sigrid Maurer spoke of the Greens of a "minimal solution with some curiosities" [ots.at.