ORF overhauls programming rules ahead of FIFA World Cup draw and Eurovision 2025
ORF is updating its programming rules after two decades while preparing for major sporting and entertainment events. The broadcaster will air the FIFA World Cup draw on December 5 across multiple platforms. Meanwhile, plans for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and UEFA Euro 2028 are also taking shape.
At a recent Public Council meeting, ORF Director-General Roland Weißmann outlined the broadcaster’s upcoming commitments. The FIFA World Cup draw on December 5 will be shown live on ORF, ORF On, and streamed via ServusTV ON. All 104 matches, including those involving Austria, will remain free-to-air.
ORF’s four TV channels currently hold a 34.6% market share, the highest since 2016 or 2017 (excluding pandemic years). This strong performance comes as the broadcaster reviews its 20-year-old programming guidelines for modernization.
For the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025, ORF is organizing the event as a Green Event. Tickets go on sale November 24, with a two-step verification process to block fake accounts. The contest aims to promote Austria to 170 million TV viewers and two billion social media users.
In a separate move, ORF and ServusTV have agreed to a sublicensing deal for UEFA Euro 2028. ORF will grant ServusTV a sublicense for the tournament, while ServusTV will reciprocate for ORF’s coverage.
Austria’s media sector is also uniting against tech giants. ORF, private TV networks, and the newspaper association are pooling legal resources to create a joint legal office.
The FIFA World Cup draw will be widely accessible on ORF’s platforms, ensuring free coverage for all Austrian matches. With Eurovision ticket sales starting soon and UEFA Euro 2028 sublicensing secured, ORF’s updated guidelines and legal cooperation reflect its evolving role in media. The broadcaster’s current market share highlights its continued influence in Austrian television.
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