Numerous households must now additionally pay monthly for the ORF.

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The GIS becomes the ORF fee: although it is supposed to be cheaper for citizens, the government is asking hundreds of thousands to pay even more.

The so-called ORF fee is de facto a done deal, and its implementation in parliament is planned before the summer break. The media negotiators from the Greens and the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) are still discussing the final details and whether/which objections from the review of the law might still find their way into it. However, there should be no more significant changes.

The old Progammfee – thus that part of the GIS, which comes directly to the ORF – at a value of 18,59 euro will be reduced to 15,30 euro starting from January 1, 2024.

In the ministerial draft of the new ORF law, “ORF Rebate,” Minister Susanne Raab (VP) and Co. calculate that “around 525,000 more private households will have to pay a contribution”. In addition, around 100,000 more companies are also to pay for broadcasting. This can be expensive depending on their size (payroll per municipality). The companies will have to pay a maximum of 100 ORF contributions.

And: Those who have only paid the reduced radio GIS (between 6.31 and 7.91 euros per month) face at least doubling costs. According to the “Standard,” this also affects around 200,000 households.

The previous GIS for ORF television and ORF radio use will expire at the end of the year; as of January 1, 2024, you will then pay a new ORF fee, including streaming of ORF content (previously free). The federal levy and sales tax will be eliminated in the future, but the provincial levy will remain. Payment will be per household and not per capita.

While people in Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Vorarlberg pay only 15.30 euros, in Burgenland, it is as much as 20.40 euros. Households in Styria pay the second most, at 19.99 euros per month.

Carinthia follows close behind, with a monthly fee of EUR 19.38 starting next year. In Salzburg, ORF will cost 19.10 euros from now on. Then comes Vienna with 18.63 euros. The lowest provincial levy is in Tyrol, where each household pays 18.46 euros a month. This is because there are different levels of state levies, with only Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Vorarlberg dispensing with them.

The opposition wants an end to the ORF state fee in Vienna as well

Those who pay the current GIS fee by direct debit will have less collected in the future. Those who pay by payment slip will automatically receive a payment slip in the future, but with a lower amount. New registration or re-registration is not necessary

“There will be no bureaucratic effort for people. You are transferred to the new system,” clarifies Media Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP). Those households that are newly added will be written to directly.