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The Audiovisual Media
Since its infancy, radio and television was the exclusive domain of the public sector, controlling not only the two national television channels and the four national radio networks, but also the entire transmission equipment all over the country. The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) is institutionalized by law and governed a Board of Trustees (Kuratorium), composed of representatives of the political parties, the Federal Government and the Governments of the provinces (Bundesländer). The Board elects the Director-General for a four-year term, decides on large investments and controls the whole organization.
The ORF operates two television channels and four radio channels in accordance with its legal mandate. According to the 1998 figures, ORF television programmes reach a daily market share among adults of 61 per cent (in cable and satellite homes: 50 per cent), ORF radio programmes even 76 per cent (1999). ORF competes directly with a variety of German language channels which are available in the cable networks and by satellite. By 1998, some 80 per cent of all Austrian households were able to receive foreign television programmes either as terrestrial overspill, by individual satellite receiver or as cable television subscribers. Language largely determines television viewing habits in Austria. Foreign channels in other languages reach only a statistically insignificant number of viewers.
Broadcasters
A nationwide license for terrestrial private television broadcasting was granted in the first instance to ATV Privatfernsehen GmbH on January 31st, 2002. This decision of KommAustria was confirmed by the Federal Communications Board. Since June 2003, ATV can be received via outdoor antenna all over Austria.
Non-nationwide licenses for terrestrial private television broadcasting in the conurbations of Vienna, Salzburg and Linz were granted on July 29th, 2002. They have already been approved by the Federal Communications Board and are therefore legally effective. Furthermore, additional local licenses not covering the entire federal territory were granted for terrestrial analogue private television in Bad Ischl, Bad Kleinkirchheim, western Styria and in Steyr.
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