Constitutional Court strengthens ORF contribution: An important step for the media!

Constitutional Court strengthens ORF contribution: An important step for the media!

The Constitutional Court (VfGH) confirmed the constitutionality of the ORF contribution of EUR 15.30 per budget and month on July 2, 2025, which is considered an important step towards financial securing public service broadcasting in Austria. This decision is assessed as "trend-setting" by the ORF foundation council chairman Heinz Lederer, who emphasizes the need for stable financing for the ORF.

The VfGH made it clear that the ORF contribution is constitutional and does not violate the principle of equality. This means that households that do not use the ORF offer are not better placed than those that use it. In its reasoning, the VfGH argued that the principle of equality did not require that the contribution to the actual consumption of the ORF offer is bound. Rather, the social importance of broadcasting is crucial for the democratic and cultural task.

social importance of broadcasting

The Constitutional Court has underlined that it is in the entire social interest to ensure public discourse by broadcasting. Depending on the location, users can access the ORF offer at any time and in terms of location, which also underpins the relevance of the contribution. This is in accordance with the legal framework, which also apply in other European countries, where the radio is financed by fees.

in Germany, for example, the public service broadcasting is also financed by fees, regardless of whether reception devices are available. The Federal Constitutional Court recognized this practice as constitutional. Similar differences occur in Denmark, where a fee model was replaced by income -dependent tax financing, while Italy is faced with political struggles for the financing of the radio.

criticism of the decision

Despite the positive assessment by the VfGH, there are also critical voices, especially from the FPÖ. Media spokesman Christian Hafenecker described the decision as a "botch in law" and criticizes the changeover from the GIS fee to the ORF contribution. The federal government has also decided to freeze the contribution by 2029, which means that the ORF is forced to put on a savings package in the three -digit million range to meet the financial challenges.

Overall, the decision of the VfGH shows that the financing of the radio in Austria is a central topic that will continue to be discussed intensively in the future. The court's clear message underlines the importance of stable financing for the perception of the cultural and democratic tasks of the ORF.

Further information on the decision of the VfGH can be found on VfGH and on the regulations for radio financing in Europe Parlament.gv.at.

In the coming months, the effects of this decision will be observed on both the ORF and on the financing of the broadcast in Austria.