| RCI ACTION COMMITTEE Defending Radio Canada International - Canada's Voice to the World |
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| More background information on the new developments at Radio Austria International The following document is on the ROI website at http://roi.orf.at as well as a message from the Managing Director of Radio Austria International that was sent to us at the RCI Action Committee. 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. As you will see, even in the middle of a crisis, ROI is kindly mentioning the Action Committee website and our battle at RCI. Support for Radio Austria International and its Managing Director can be sent directly to the Director: roi.intendanz@orf.at RADIO AUSTRIA INTERNATIONAL – THE FUTURE On 5 July, 2001, the Austrian parliament passed a law which will lead to far-reaching changes to the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF). Among those directly affected is Radio Austria International. At the present time, ”the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation is obliged, at the request of and financed by the federal government to produce and provide an adequate international service.” In future, ” the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation may ..., contingent on the technical development and the economic viability, ... produce and propagate a radio programme as well as offer an adequate online service for Austrians abroad to report on Austria around the globe (international service)”. The consequence: The financing of ROI from tax-payers’ money, which has already been cut back by 47 percent over the past two years, will be terminated at the end of 2001. The ORF management will then be called upon to decide whether and to what extent funds will be made available for ROI. Short-wave broadcasting by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation began in 1955 with various transmission tests. In 1960, the short-wave transmitter facilities went into operation at Moosbrunn. In 1969, the ORF and the Austrian government signed a contract on the operation and financing of a regular international service. The contract was cancelled at the end of 2000. There was no discussion over ROI programme content. The Federal Chancellery, responsible for the funding, merely let it be known that, following corresponding changes to the Broadcasting Law, no funds would henceforth be provided. In the past few days, numerous statements have been published on the situation faced by Radio Austria International. Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner made the following remarks in a reply to a parliamentary question put by the Greens: ”ROI is the only Austrian electronic medium which can be heard around the world in different foreign languages. ... ROI also serves as a means of keeping in touch with the approx. 380,000 Austrian expatriates. In many countries around the world, ROI is often the only source of information about Austria. Austria needs a media window to the world such as Radio Austria International.” European MP Hans Kronberger: ”As an invaluable Austrian ambassador around the world, ROI must remain in operation. All the Austrian politicians involved with media issues are called upon to find a constructive solution across party lines to maintain and secure (the services of) ROI. It would be a regrettable mistake to underestimate the significance of this important voice of Austria around the world.” The Journalists Union, in a letter to Chancellor Schüssel and the heads of the four parliamentary factions, called for ”the financial basis of ROI to be secured in future as well by a corresponding financial contribution on the part of the Federal Chancellery.” The Union fears that based on the way the law is formulated the short-wave programme from ROI could soon be discontinued altogether. Stefan Schennach, Green Party MP and the party’s media spokesperson, underlines the concerns expressed by the Journalists Union: ”Only a clear, legal obligation can guarantee the voice of Austria in the world. The approach by the coalition is completely short-sighted because ROI is Austria’s cultural window to the world, one which is also of importance to the national business community. Austrian expatriates, Austrian experts and tourists abroad receive essential information about their home country through ROI. To do away with ROI now that we are entering the age of digitalization is simply irresponsible. Furthermore, ROI has the only multi-lingual current events service. When the third seat of the United Nations closes down its voice to the world, that is utterly absurd.” Following major cutbacks in programming in the year 2000, Radio Austria International currently broadcasts 14 hours a day via short-wave, satellite and the Internet. Included in that figure are direct broadcasts of German language news bulletins and current affairs programmes from the domestic Ö1 radio station. The remaining ten hours are filled by the ORF with further re-broadcasts from the Ö1 and Ö Regional stations. Staff at ROI was cut by more than half. The members of the staff at ROI are committed to doing their best and will, once the new arrangements are in place, produce a programme which, despite all the problems and limitations, will continue to be heard by millions of people world-wide. If you would like to give us your views on the situation at Radio Austria International, then please write to us at roi.intendanz@orf.at. Radio Canada International is also facing an uncertain future. You’ll find information under http://oocities.com/rciaction/index.html. |