Visiting Linz

New ORF Director General: Inaugural Visit with Governor Stelzer

Meeting at the Landhaus in Linz: Governor Stelzer (left) welcomed Clemens Pig and Upper Austria Director General Klaus Obereder (right) on Wednesday.(Bild: Max Mayrhofer)

The future ORF Director General, Clemens Pig, is touring the federal states. On Wednesday, his journey took him to the Linz Landhaus to meet with Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP). Also at the table was ORF Upper Austria Regional Director Klaus Obereder. What did the three powerful gentlemen discuss?

The meeting was scheduled for 12:00 p.m.: After the future ORF Director General Clemens Pig visited Salzburg’s Governor Karoline Edtstadler at the end of last week, Linz, the capital of Upper Austria, was on the agenda for Wednesday. At the Landhaus in Linz, the top executive—who will take office on January 1, 2027—was received by Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) for his inaugural visit.

Pig did not come alone: Also at the table was ORF Upper Austria Regional Director Klaus Obereder, who in the past had always been able to count on the support of the ÖVP and the provincial governor. Until quite some time ago, it was customary for the respective state governor to have a small say in the appointment of the director at the regional studio.

However, when Obereder was recently confirmed as regional director, any potential political ties were no longer an issue. After all, Pig had already promised beforehand that he would not allow himself to be influenced by politics under any circumstances. What the three powerful men discussed remains a secret. All that leaked out afterward was this: Pig spoke about his plan for a new ORF, which the public broadcaster certainly needs after all the scandals surrounding Roland Weißmann, Pius Strobl, and others. That afternoon, the new director officially introduced himself to journalists and staff at ORF Upper Austria.