ORF Director General Ingrid Thurnher Will Not Seek Re-Election for 2027 Term

She emphasized that this independence is crucial for the work ahead. "Diese Unabhängigkeit ermöglicht mir, das zu tun, was Voraussetzung für den Neustart des ORF ist," Thurnher continued, adding that this involves processing past issues, setting the right course, and regaining public trust.

The 63-year-old, who has been with ORF since 1985 and gained prominence as a presenter for programs like "ZiB2" and "Im Zentrum," said her decision does not mean a pause in her agenda. She intends to push through a program of transparency and accountability.

"Das nächste halbe Jahr wird intensiv, arbeitsreich – und ich werde mich mit aller Kraft dafür einsetzen, dass wir wieder der ORF werden, der wir sein wollen, auf den wir stolz sein können, auf den ich stolz sein kann," she stated.

Painful Reforms and Transparency

Thurnher was candid about the difficulty of upcoming decisions. She warned that some measures would "möglicherweise weh tun" and "Widerstand auslösen" werden.

She assured staff that she would implement recommendations where she has authority as director general, even if they are painful. The promised internal review, she said, will be carried out with transparency and consequence.

A key challenge for the next leadership will be a significant funding gap. The government plans to cut the annual federal budget subsidy to ORF by 70 to 90 million euros starting in 2027.

Looming Budget Cuts

Thurnher confirmed that planning for these cuts will begin immediately. "Wir werden gemeinsam Pläne erarbeiten, wie der ORF ab kommendem Jahr die zusätzlich notwendigen Einsparungen erbringen kann," she wrote.

The current household license fee is fixed by law at 15.30 euros until 2029. The looming budget cut has already drawn sharp criticism from Thurnher, who recently said such measures would shake the "Grundfesten" of the public broadcaster.

With the application deadline expiring at midnight, several candidates have already entered the race. They include former ProSiebenSat1 board member Markus Breitenecker, ORF magazine chief Lisa Totzauer, and business consultant Ernst Primosch.

The Race for Succession

The ORF Foundation Board is scheduled to elect the new director general on June 11. Thurnher expressed her expectations for the process, stating she trusts the board is aware of its special responsibility.

"Ich gehe davon aus, dass sich der Stiftungsrat gerade angesichts der Diskussionen der letzten Wochen seiner besonderen Verantwortung bewusst ist, und dass er im Einklang mit allen rechtlichen Voraussetzungen eine Entscheidung treffen wird, die im Interesse des Publikums und eines starken ORF ist," she said.

She also issued a direct appeal to the political sphere. "Und ich appelliere auch an die Politik, sich mit Zurufen zurückzuhalten," Thurnher stated, reinforcing her message that the broadcaster must remain independent.

A Call for Political Restraint

"Der ORF ist nicht der Spielball der Politik und er gehört auch nicht der Politik," she reminded. "Er gehört den Menschen, er gehört dem Publikum und in diesem Sinne sollten die anstehenden Entscheidungen auch getroffen werden."

Looking beyond her tenure, Thurnher committed to ensuring a structured handover. She announced plans to convene a "Planungs-Summit" in the summer with the newly appointed director general.

She confirmed she will not step back from her duties until the end of the year. "Bis 1. Jänner wird nicht auf Pause gedrückt," she wrote, promising to support the new leadership from 2027 onward in the best possible way.

Preparing the Transition

Thurnher reflected on her long career, noting that while leading ORF for another term would have been a special conclusion, her priority now is the institution's renewal. "Es geht um den ORF," she said.

The decision marks a pivotal moment for the public broadcaster as it navigates internal reform and external financial pressure, with the upcoming board election set to determine its strategic direction for the next five years.