ORF (broadcaster)

{{Short description|Austrian national public broadcaster}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Use British English|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox broadcasting network | network_name = {{lang|de|Österreichischer Rundfunk|italic=no}} | network_logo = 200px | logo_caption = Logo used since 1992 | image = Gesamtanlage ORF-Zentrum Küniglberg Eingangsansicht.jpg | caption = ORF-Zentrum Küniglberg (headquarters), designed by Roland Rainer and constructed from 1968 to 1975 | country = {{Flag|Austria}} | network_type = Public service television and radio | available = Austria; ORF 2 Europe via satellite across Europe | headquarters = ORF-Zentrum, Hugo-Portisch-Gasse 1, 1136 Vienna, Austria | key_people = Ingrid Thurnher (interim Director General, since 12 March 2026) | launch_date = {{Start date and age|1955|8|1|df=y}} (television)<br>radio predecessor founded in 1924 | past_names = {{lang|de|Radio Verkehrs AG (RAVAG)|italic=no}} | owner = Foundation under public law | website = {{URL|https://www.orf.at/}}<br>{{URL|https://der.orf.at/}} }}

'''{{lang|de|Österreichischer Rundfunk|italic=no}}''' ('''ORF''' {{IPA|de|oːɛʁˈɛf||De-at-ORF.ogg}}; {{IPA|de|ˌøːstəʁaɪçɪʃɐ ˈʁʊntfʊŋk}}, lit. ''Austrian Broadcasting'') is Austria's national public broadcaster. It is organised as a foundation under public law and is Austria's largest media organisation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Austria |url=https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2024/austria |website=Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism |date=17 June 2024 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ORF – The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/austrian-broadcasting-corporation/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |date=16 March 2026 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref> ORF operates four national television channels, twelve radio channels, the news portal ''ORF.at'', the streaming platform ''ORF ON'', and the children's service ''ORF KiDS''.<ref>{{cite web |title=ORF – The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/austrian-broadcasting-corporation/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |date=16 March 2026 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Die Geschichte des Österreichischen Rundfunks |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/chronik/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

ORF is a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Members |url=https://www.ebu.ch/about/members |website=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

== History ==

The roots of Austrian broadcasting go back to the early 1920s. Before the establishment of regular licensed broadcasting, the private and initially unlicensed station ''Radio Hekaphon'' carried out transmissions in Vienna in 1923 and is regarded as an important precursor to Austrian radio.<ref>{{cite web |title=1923: Radio Hekaphon sendet erstmals |url=https://hdgoe.at/hekaphon |website=Haus der Geschichte Österreich |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

The predecessor of ORF, the {{lang|de|Radio-Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft|italic=no}} (RAVAG), began regular radio broadcasting in Vienna on 1 October 1924. The founding of RAVAG is generally regarded as the beginning of professional or public broadcasting in Austria.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gründung der Radio-Verkehrs-Aktien-Gesellschaft (RAVAG) |url=https://hdgoe.at/ravag |website=Haus der Geschichte Österreich |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=100 Jahre RAVAG – Grundstein des Rundfunks in Österreich |url=https://www.onb.ac.at/mehr/blogs/detail/100-jahre-ravag-grundstein-des-rundfunks-in-oesterreich |website=Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |date=23 March 2024 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=100 Jahre Radio in Österreich |url=https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en/phonogrammarchiv/phonogrammarchiv/detail/100-jahre-radio-in-oesterreich |website=Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften |date=1 October 2024 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

After the Anschluss in 1938, RAVAG was dissolved and incorporated into the broadcasting system of Nazi Germany as ''{{lang|de|Reichssender Wien|italic=no}}''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Die Geschichte des Österreichischen Rundfunks |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/chronik/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=RAVAG-Mikrofon, wahrscheinlich von Kurt Schuschnigg für seine Rücktrittsrede verwendet, Wien 1938 |url=https://hdgoe.at/ravag_mikrofon |website=Haus der Geschichte Österreich |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

After the end of the Second World War, broadcasting resumed under Allied occupation. In the occupation period, broadcasting developed in a fragmented way under the four Allied zones; one of the best-known postwar stations was ''Rot-Weiß-Rot'', which operated between 1945 and 1955.<ref>{{cite web |title=1945–1955: The Red-White-Red Broadcaster |url=https://hdgoe.at/red_white_red_broadcaster |website=Haus der Geschichte Österreich |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

Television broadcasting in Austria began on 1 August 1955 with an experimental service. Regular television service followed on 1 January 1957, initially with a single channel.<ref>{{cite web |title=1957: The Start of Television Broadcasts |url=https://hdgoe.at/tv_broadcasts |website=Haus der Geschichte Österreich |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref> The direct institutional predecessor of the modern ORF, the Österreichische Rundfunk Ges. m. b. H., was established in December 1957.<ref>{{cite web |title=1957: The Start of Television Broadcasts |url=https://hdgoe.at/tv_broadcasts |website=Haus der Geschichte Österreich |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) |url=https://www.demokratiezentrum.org/ressourcen/lexikon/orf/ |website=Demokratiezentrum Wien |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

A major turning point in the broadcaster's history came with the 1964 ''Rundfunkvolksbegehren'', the first popular initiative of the Second Austrian Republic, which called for broadcasting to be freed from party-political influence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rundfunkvolksbegehren |url=https://www.demokratiezentrum.org/ressourcen/lexikon/rundfunkvolksbegehren/ |website=Demokratiezentrum Wien |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Direkte Demokratie in Österreich |url=https://www.demokratiezentrum.org/bildung/ressourcen/timelines/direkte-demokratie-in-oesterreich/ |website=Demokratiezentrum Wien |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref> The resulting broadcasting reform led in 1967 to the creation of the radio services Ö1, Ö2, and Ö3.<ref>{{cite web |title=1967: Die Gründung von Ö1, Ö2 und Ö3 |url=https://hdgoe.at/oe1-oe2-oe3 |website=Haus der Geschichte Österreich |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

In 1974, ORF was transformed into a public-law broadcaster. According to the European Court of Human Rights, the 1974 Broadcasting Act established ORF as a public-law corporation operating on a non-profit basis and entrusted with a public-service mandate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) |url=https://www.demokratiezentrum.org/ressourcen/lexikon/orf/ |website=Demokratiezentrum Wien |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ÖSTERREICHISCHER RUNDFUNK v. AUSTRIA |url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre?i=001-23942 |website=HUDOC – European Court of Human Rights |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

== Organisation ==

ORF is a non-profit foundation under public law. Its governing bodies are the Director General, the {{lang|de|Stiftungsrat}} (Foundation Council), and the {{lang|de|Publikumsrat}} (Audience Council).<ref>{{cite web |title=AUT-2023-3-003 |url=https://www.vfgh.gv.at/downloads/Bulletin_2023_3_AUT-2023-3-003_G_215_2022.pdf |website=Constitutional Court of Austria |date=5 March 2023 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ORF – The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/austrian-broadcasting-corporation/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |date=16 March 2026 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

On 12 March 2026, after the resignation of Director General Roland Weißmann, the ORF Foundation Council appointed ORF radio director Ingrid Thurnher to the provisional management of the broadcaster pending a new selection process.<ref>{{cite web |title=ORF-Stiftungsrat: ORF-Radiodirektorin Ingrid Thurnher mit der Geschäftsführung des ORF betraut |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/aktuell/sr_gf_thurnher100.html |website=der.ORF.at |date=12 March 2026 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eurovision broadcaster ORF's director general quits over harassment claim |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/eurovision-broadcaster-orfs-director-general-quits-over-harassment-claim-2026-03-09/ |work=Reuters |date=9 March 2026 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

== Radio ==

ORF operates three nationwide radio channels—Ö1, Ö3 and FM4—as well as nine regional radio services produced by its regional studios.<ref>{{cite web |title=ORF – The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/austrian-broadcasting-corporation/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |date=16 March 2026 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

The nine regional services are: * Radio Burgenland * Radio Kärnten * Radio Niederösterreich * Radio Oberösterreich * Radio Salzburg * Radio Steiermark * Radio Tirol * Radio Vorarlberg * Radio Wien

ORF's audio content is also available online, including via ORF Sound.<ref>{{cite web |title=Online-Angebote |url=https://der.orf.at/public-value/digitalisierung102.html |website=der.ORF.at |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

== Television and streaming ==

ORF operates four national television channels: * ORF 1 * ORF 2 * ORF III * ORF Sport +<ref>{{cite web |title=ORF – The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/austrian-broadcasting-corporation/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |date=16 March 2026 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

In addition, ORF provides the satellite service ORF 2 Europe, which makes much of the ORF 2 schedule available unencrypted across Europe.<ref>{{cite web |title=ORF 2 Europe: ORF 2 unverschlüsselt via Digitalsatellit |url=https://der.orf.at/kundendienst/tv-radio-empfang/orf2europe100.html |website=der.ORF.at |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

ORF is also a partner in the cultural channel 3sat together with Germany's ARD, ZDF and Switzerland's SRF.<ref>{{cite web |title=ORF – The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/austrian-broadcasting-corporation/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |date=16 March 2026 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

On 1 January 2024, ORF launched ''ORF KIDS'' as a children's streaming service.<ref>{{cite web |title=Die Geschichte des Österreichischen Rundfunks |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/chronik/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref> On 22 May 2024, ''ORF ON'' replaced ''ORF TVthek'' as ORF's central video platform.<ref>{{cite web |title=Die Geschichte des Österreichischen Rundfunks |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/chronik/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=GESCHÄFTSBERICHT 2023 |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/recht-grundlagen/2023-geschaeftsbericht102.pdf |website=der.ORF.at |date=22 January 2025 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref> Since 1 April 2026, ORF KiDS programming has also been carried linearly on ORF 1.<ref>{{cite web |title=ORF KiDS ab 1. April 2026 in ORF 1 |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/programmangebote/fernsehen/sendungen/sendungen-n-r/orf_kids118.html |website=der.ORF.at |date=26 March 2026 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

== Regional studios ==

ORF has one regional studio in each of Austria's nine federal states. These studios produce regional radio programmes and regional television news for the local opt-outs of ORF 2.<ref>{{cite web |title=ORF – The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/austrian-broadcasting-corporation/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |date=16 March 2026 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

== Funding ==

Since 1 January 2024, ORF has been financed primarily through the ''ORF-Beitrag'', a compulsory contribution charged per household address and, in many cases, business address, rather than through the previous device-based GIS licence-fee system.<ref>{{cite web |title=Austria |url=https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2024/austria |website=Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism |date=17 June 2024 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tough start for ORF’s new house levy funding model |url=https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/rough-start-for-orfs-new-household-levy-funding-model/ |website=Public Media Alliance |date=15 January 2024 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Broadcasting fees: Exemption from ORF contribution fee |url=https://pflege.gv.at/en/broadcasting-fees |website=pflege.gv.at |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

The base ORF contribution is €15.30 per month. In some Austrian states, additional state charges apply. The contribution is collected by ORF-Beitrags Service GmbH (OBS).<ref>{{cite web |title=Broadcasting fees: Exemption from ORF contribution fee |url=https://pflege.gv.at/en/broadcasting-fees |website=pflege.gv.at |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ORF-Beitrag & Zahlung |url=https://www.obs.at/zahlung |website=OBS |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

ORF also carries advertising and receives other commercial income, within limits laid down by Austrian broadcasting law.<ref>{{cite web |title=ORF – The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/austrian-broadcasting-corporation/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |date=16 March 2026 |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

== Logos ==

ORF's first corporate logo, known as the ''ORF eye'', was introduced in 1968 and designed by the Austrian illustrator Erich Sokol. In 1992, ORF adopted its current logo, designed by the British graphic designer Neville Brody.<ref>{{cite web |title=Die Geschichte des Österreichischen Rundfunks |url=https://der.orf.at/unternehmen/chronik/index.html |website=der.ORF.at |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

{{Gallery | File:ORF-Logo.svg | ''ORF eye'' logo (1968–1992; sporadic use thereafter)

| File:Österreichischer Rundfunk, ORF, Altes Logo.svg | On-screen wordmark (1968–2000) | File:ORF logo.svg | ''ORF bricks'' logo (1992–present) }}

== See also == * Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * [https://www.orf.at/ Official website] {{in lang|de}} * [https://der.orf.at/ Official corporate website] {{in lang|de}} * [https://www.obs.at/english OBS English information on the ORF contribution fee]

{{Navboxes |title = Articles related to ORF (broadcaster) |list = {{ORF}} {{European Broadcasting Union Members}} {{EU TV}} {{EU Radio}} }} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Osterreichischer Rundfunk}} Category:ORF (broadcaster) Category:Radio in Austria Category:Television in Austria Category:Publicly funded broadcasters Category:German-language television networks Category:European Broadcasting Union members Category:1955 establishments in Austria Category:Organizations established in 1955 Category:Austrian news websites