Austria: Financing and Transparency in the Case of the ORF. Strong Structures, Several Controversies and a Little Flexibility

Abstract

Public service broadcasting (PSB) in Austria occupies a particularly central role in this small media market. Public debates about the ORF in Austria are controversial in relation to transparency issues, but less predominant when it comes to changes in the financing regime. ORF structures are strong and largely inflexible. Changes in financing regimes and transparency as a core value have been made, following formal requests by the European Commission. Overall, consumers have adapted comparatively slowly to digital content and this contributes to ORF’s slower rate of change. Additionally, media law obstructs more stringent digitalisation efforts. Licence fees in Austria are accordingly still bound to devices, excluding the mobile phone. National debates are mainly led by political parties and ORF officials and frequently concern personnel and structural changes. ORF’s distribution of content via apps and social media accounts is subject to controversial debates. Like in Germany, commercial players claim unfair competition as ORF’s content is largely licence fee funded. In summary, ORF’s strong structures, Austrian media consumption habits, and media and competition laws foster ORF’s central position in Austria. These factors also impede further changes to its established financing regime.