Clemens Pig elected ORF chief amid funding cuts

Austria’s public broadcaster ORF held a marathon hearing with nine candidates on the Küniglberg hill. After an extended session that lasted into the late evening, APA chief Clemens Pig secured a majority of votes from the 35 foundation board members, becoming the new General Director effective 2027. Pig was the clear favorite of the governing parties ÖVP and SPÖ, while other contenders such as former ProSiebenSat.1 executive Johannes Larcher, former Puls4 manager Markus Breitenecker and ORF magazine editor Lisa Totzauer received varying levels of support.

The election comes as the government trims ORF’s financing, cutting a €93 million annual compensation and raising the ceiling on the broadcaster’s "reserve account" to €780 million. The board is also allowed to increase yearly spending by €35 million on the condition that certain channels and the radio symphony orchestra continue operating. Critics warn the cuts could breach constitutional funding guarantees, and legal challenges have been hinted at. The new director faces pressure to implement cost‑saving measures while maintaining core services.