| RCI ACTION COMMITTEE Defending Radio Canada International - Canada's Voice to the World |
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| Disturbing News for Radio Austria International Here is the text of a message from the Managing Director of Radio Austria International that we at the RCI Action Committee received Friday morning (July 6). This message along with another text can be found on the ROI website at http://roi.orf.at For all of us in the field of "real" international broadcasting, both broadcasters and listeners, a crisis for one station, is a crisis for all. Support for Radio Austria International and its Managing Director can be sent directly to the Director: roi.intendanz@orf.at RADIO AUSTRIA INTERNATIONAL The new situation The new Broadcasting Law was passed in Parliament on 5 July, 2001, by the governing coalition made up of the People’s Party (OVP) and the Freedom Party (FPO). It will result in far-reaching changes not only for the ORF, but for Radio Austria International (ROI) as well. From 1 January, 2002, the ORF will no longer be bound by law – as was hitherto the case -- to produce ROI’s international radio programme. The ORF may continue the Radio Austria International service, but also has to provide the funding for it. At the same time, the new legislation contains provisions which restrict the ability of the ORF to gain revenue from advertising, that is income which cannot be covered by license fees. During the parliamentary debate, MP Madeleine Petrovic, speaking on behalf of the Green Party faction, tabled a motion which would have required the ORF by law to operate Radio Austria International. The motion was defeated. As Managing Director of Radio Austria International I am deeply dismayed over this development. In every other comparable country with an international broadcasting service, that presentation of a country on the wave bands is financed by the tax-payers. The Austrian federal government, after roughly forty years, has cancelled the contract without giving any reasons for this. It is leaving up to the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, itself already financially weakened by the new law, the decision as to whether to continue its international programme at the current (already sharply reduced) level, make further cuts in programming or else to discontinue it altogether. Radio Austria International is the only medium in the country which, in addition to the German language programmes, can also be heard world-wide in five other languages. Millions of people around the globe take advantage of this opportunity to inform themselves about politics and society, art and culture in a country which their national media scarcely report about. Hundreds of thousands of Austrian expatriates (”The 10th province”) keep in touch with their former homeland via ROI. Austrian holiday-makers have come to appreciate the information and service offered by ROI. The danger that this ”media window to the world” (Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner) will become even smaller or be closed altogether is entirely real. Roland Machatschke [Managing Director, Radio Austria International (ROI)] See also: Another background document about the situation Machatschke's letter supporting the RCI Action Committee |