Surprising turnaround in the GIS broadcasting fee: The Greens could envision funding the ORF from the federal budget in the future – under certain conditions. Until now, the eco-party has always opposed such a plan. Coalition partner ÖVP is “surprised” about the new initiative.
According to green media spokeswoman Eva Blimlinger, budget funding is conceivable “only if you index it (i.e. adjust it automatically for inflation, mind you) and legally set an amount guaranteed by a two-thirds majority in the National Council”, she said. in the “Courier”. Because then the ORF is not dependent on the respective governments.
“ensuring independence from politics”
In the “Standard”, Blimlinger described this variant as “realistic”, the conditions being precisely the stated conditions, “which ensure independence from politics”. There is still a levy on the table for every household – regardless of whether and how ORF is consumed there. Blimlinger’s proposal in this regard would be “spread out according to social criteria”, namely a full exemption (as is currently the case with the GIS), a cheaper rate and the normal rate.
The results should be available in March
For Blimlinger, “not an option” is an extension of the existing GIS allowance to include devices for streaming use. Because then the legislator would have to determine whether a tablet or a laptop falls under the GIS, and for mobile phones from which screen size the compensation is due. One has yet to talk about this with Media Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP), concrete negotiations on the ORF law are still ongoing, Blimlinger said. The results are expected to be out in March, she said.
Model should be cheaper for users
In any case, the model should be cheaper for users. Also because the government levies levied with the GIS in seven federal states would no longer apply. “It will be less than now. You have to look at how the taxes that seven of the nine states collect together with the GIS can be replaced, for example through a 15a agreement. For that reason alone it would certainly be cheaper because the state tax would be abolished.”
ÖVP is reserved
The ÖVP was reserved: “I am surprised by the initiative of colleague Blimlinger, who has so far categorically rejected the financing of the ORF from the budget. We will evaluate them in the ORF negotiating rounds. I do not think about unfinished plans discuss the future of ORF in the media and leave ORF employees and taxpayers at a loss,” ÖVP media spokesman Kurt Egger said in a statement to APA on Saturday.
ORF law: VfGH has lifted some provisions
The new regulation is necessary because the Constitutional Court (VfGH) ruled in the summer that it is unconstitutional that people who only watch or listen to ORF programs on the Internet do not have to pay a program fee (the so-called “streaming gap”). The Constitutional Court has repealed some provisions of the ORF law as unconstitutional, and the legislature has until the end of 2023 to introduce a new regulation.
Weißmann: “Leave the decision where it has to be made”
ORF boss Roland Weißmann last said in mid-October that he had a preferred model, but did not want to disclose it. “It’s important to leave the decision where it needs to be made,” he said at the time. “Of course, in theory there are also variants in which one would no longer have to go back to the GIS device in its current form. For this reason too, we need a timely solution so that we know how to position ourselves,” says Weißmann.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
