Celebrate Instead of Saving?

“Big ORF Party” Draws Criticism in Times of Crisis

ORF Director General-designate Clemens Pig and Ingrid Thurnher. Cost-cutting measures are planned at Küniglberg, yet instead there is a large “awards party.”(Bild: APA/MAX SLOVENCIK)

The ORF Foundation Board meets for the first time with Franz Medwenitsch as the successor to Vice Chair Gregor Schütze. The agenda focuses on the necessary savings in the millions and how to streamline operations. But on the very day of the major debate on budget cuts, an expensive party at Küniglberg is causing a stir.

The ORF faces tough cuts. On Thursday, the Foundation Board— with a new lineup following the resignation of Vice Chair Gregor Schütze and the official election of Franz Medwenitsch as his successor at the start of the meeting—is addressing the most important financial issues. For example, the “cost-saving plan” is on the Board of Trustees’ agenda. As early as Monday, the Finance Committee discussed the financial future of the public broadcaster. This is because, starting in 2027, the federal government will cut approximately 93 million euros annually from the ORF’s federal budget. “The years 2027 through 2029 will be the greatest economic challenge I can recall—and that’s 20 years,” said Medwenitsch.

Fewer Executives at ORF?
Management positions are apparently also in the crosshairs of the cost-cutting program. Members of the Foundation Board are calling for streamlining the organizational structure and reducing the number of division and department heads. Due to long notice periods, this process must begin while Ingrid Thurnher is still serving as Director General. The future of the Radio Symphony Orchestra (RSO) is also being cited as a potential target for cost-cutting. The budget must be finalized by November 15, and a special meeting will be held in late October to address this. By then, it should also be clear which areas will be most affected by the cost-cutting package. However, Foundation Board Chairman Heinz Lederer sees at least “no majority on the board” in favor of a fee increase. There had been fears that the billion-euro shortfall would be plugged in this way.

ORF Director General-designate Clemens Pig and Ingrid Thurnher. Cost-cutting measures are planned at Küniglberg, but instead there’s a big “awards party.”(Bild: APA/MAX SLOVENCIK)

Also on the agenda is the Wolf vs. Westenthaler case. According to FPÖ Foundation Board member Peter Westenthaler, “ZiB 2” anchor Armin Wolf is said to have violated the ORF Code of Ethics when, during the “campaign” for the Director General position, he attacked the candidate and “Exxpress” editor Eva Schütz on social media. Wolf claimed her publication was a “racist fake news mill.”

On Thursday, the main topic in the ORF Foundation Board’s meeting room will be money.(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

“ORF Party at the Expense of Mandatory License Fee Payers”
Shortly before the meeting began, Westenthaler also expressed frustration over another issue. That’s because the “ORF Program Presentation 2027, including the ORF Awards” is taking place on Thursday evening at Küniglberg. A “big ORF party at the expense of compulsory license fee payers,” as the Foundation Board criticizes. Tens of thousands of euros are reportedly being spent on this party with show acts—“in times of austerity, that’s a mockery,” says Westenthaler. 

The ORF defends the program presentation as “one of the most important informational events for the Austrian advertising industry,” which “serves as a key driver of business for the domestic advertising industry and numerous Austrian companies that promote their products—within the strict legal parameters—in the high-quality public broadcasting environment of the ORF’s wide-reaching media.” The resulting advertising bookings are projected to total around 224 million euros in 2025. “This makes the program presentation not only an industry event but also an important milestone for value creation across several economic sectors.”