Austrian Administrative Court upholds ORF household levy

The Austrian Administrative Court (VwGH) has upheld the legality of the ORF household contribution, following a previous ruling by the Constitutional Court (VfGH). This decision addresses a significant wave of legal challenges regarding the new financing model that replaced the device-based GIS fee at the start of 2024.

The current model requires a monthly payment of 15.30 euros per household, regardless of whether the residents consume ORF programming or own broadcasting devices. The VwGH ruled that this device-independent levy does not violate EU state aid law. This follows the VfGH's earlier determination that the obligation is constitutional because ORF content is widely available throughout the country, allowing even those without traditional hardware to access it with minimal effort.

The legal dispute has been extensive, with approximately 12,400 proceedings registered since the new system's implementation. The court's decision provides definitive legal precedent, effectively ending the series of complaints against the mandatory household levy.