“Fear even more ORF dominance”

The new ORF law led to the expected emotional debate on Wednesday in Parliament in Vienna. As reported, among other things, the ORF fee is replaced by a household fee of 15.30 euros per month. In addition, the ORF has significantly more options online, including in social networks, and no longer has to delete its posts after seven days. While the coalition saw public service broadcasting as fit for the future, the opposition rained down harsh criticism.

The Association of Austrian Private Broadcasters (VÖP) now fears an even stronger ORF dominance, as Managing Director Corinna Drumm says. The legislature decided to further strengthen the only state-subsidized market participant: “At the same time, a weakening of the economic basis of private broadcasting is accepted.” The government’s promise to limit the advertising space in the ORF channels by EUR 25 to 30 million is not being kept.

The European Publishers Council (EPC) is also “very concerned” about the ORF amendment in an open letter. In the letter, Margrethe Vestager, Vice President of the EU Commission, is asked to check whether the amendment is in line with EU aid obligations due to fears of distortion of competition. The Association of Austrian Newspapers (VÖZ) has already contacted Brussels with a complaint about the new ORF law.