ORF salaries: the full list and unexpected bonuses

ORF salaries: the full list and unexpected bonuses A look at salaries at Austria's public broadcaster ORF, including top management pay, presenter fees, and bonuses — one employee received a 61,000-euro bonus. Topics: News, Business.

How much do Austrian TV stars earn? This question concerns many, since public broadcasting is funded by taxpayer money. This article lifts the veil on salaries at ORF (Osterreichischer Rundfunk) and reveals the unexpected bonuses some employees receive.

What is ORF?

ORF is Austria’s public service broadcaster, comparable to the BBC. It plays an important role in shaping public opinion and provides diverse content: news, entertainment, sports, culture, and more. ORF is funded through license fees and advertising, making transparency in salary matters especially important.

Salary secrets revealed

Information about the income of management and presenters was long kept behind closed doors. But thanks to the publication of “Die komplette ORF-Liste,” some information has become public. Top management salaries at ORF significantly exceed the average income in Austria.

Bonuses and premiums

In addition to base salaries, many ORF employees receive various bonuses — payments for special achievements, participation in successful projects, or simply a “thirteenth salary” at year-end. Sometimes these bonuses reach significant amounts. One report mentions an employee who received a bonus of 61,000 euros.

Why ORF salaries matter to society

Transparency in ORF salaries is crucial: every Austrian who pays for TV and radio has the right to know how their money is spent. Openness helps prevent possible corruption and abuse. It also promotes fair compensation for all employees regardless of their position.

Steps toward greater transparency

To improve transparency, ORF should publish salary information for management and presenters (excluding personal data), strengthen public oversight mechanisms, and amend legislation to require ORF to provide more complete information about its expenditures.