Freedom of the Press - Austria (2005)
| Publisher | Freedom House |
| Publication Date | 27 April 2005 |
| Cite as | Freedom House, Freedom of the Press - Austria (2005), 27 April 2005, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4734514923.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Status: Free
Legal Environment: 8
Political Influences: 8
Economic Pressures: 5
Total Score: 21
Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 79
Religious Groups: Roman Catholic (73.6 percent), Protestant (4.7 percent), Muslim and other (17 percent)
Ethnic Groups: German (88.5 percent), indigenous minorities [includes Croatians, Slovenes, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma] (1.5 percent), recent immigrant groups [includes Turks, Bosnians, Serbs, Croatians] (10 percent)
Capital: Vienna
The federal constitution and the Media Law of 1981 provide the basis for free media. Seldom-used legal restrictions are in place that forbid reporting deemed detrimental to morality or national security. Libel and slander laws protect politicians and other government officials and in some cases lead to self-censorship. Amendments to the Private Television Act entered into force on August 1, 2004, and for the first time, nationwide private broadcasters are allowed to function. The state-owned Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) is now required to share one of its television frequencies with a new private commercial broadcaster, PULS TV, which went on the air in June 2004. Cable networks are required to rebroadcast nationwide programs, including ORF programs, and some regional programs. The broadcast media remain dominated by the ORF, which operates two television stations and four radio channels that provide balanced news coverage. However, cable and satellite offer access to a variety of German-language channels. Daily newspapers, both national and regional, have significant circulation and compete intensely. Foreign investors have a solid presence in the market, and ownership concentration is high; many radio stations have ties to print outlets in addition to ownership links between daily papers and weeklies. Press subsidies help newspapers survive and are designed to encourage pluralism. Internet access is unrestricted and widely available.
