Austria

[AT] ORF Licence Fee Increased

IRIS 2008-2:1/9

Robert Rittler

Gassauer-Fleissner Attorneys at Law, Vienna

On the proposal of its Director General, the Foundation Board of ORF (Austrian public service broadcaster) has decided to increase the ORF licence fee. The decision was adopted by 15 votes to 13, with two abstentions.

On 1 June 2008, the ORF licence fee will rise by 9.4%; each household will have to pay EUR 15.10 per month to receive television channels. Households only wishing to receive radio programmes will pay EUR 4.20 per month. The increase will provide ORF with around EUR 41 million of additional annual income from 2009.

The fee must be paid by everyone in Austria who can receive ORF radio and/or television channels. Anyone who uses a reception device must also pay a broadcasting fee to the Federal Government (EUR 1.16 per month for TV sets, EUR 0.36 for radios). In addition, radio users must pay EUR 0.48 per month to support the arts. Finally, the Länder also tax radio and TV users, with the proceeds being used for cultural purposes.