Weberhofer outlines plans to lead ORF’s Carinthia studio

Martin Weberhofer, who will take over as director of ORF’s Carinthia regional studio on January 1, 2027, has said he plans to build on its existing strengths while bringing its coverage closer to people in the regions, ORF reported.

Weberhofer presented his plans on the “Kärnten heute” programme on Wednesday. He will succeed Karin Bernhard, who is retiring after three successful terms.

Weberhofer has worked at the Carinthia studio for 36 years. He said the studio was the most successful of ORF’s regional studios across radio, television and digital media, and that it needed “evolution” rather than a revolution.

“We will of course continue what has proven successful,” Weberhofer said. He added that the studio wanted to reach people even more closely in regions including the Upper Möll Valley, the Lavant Valley and the Lesach Valley, accompanying them where they live, work and go about their daily lives.

Asked how ORF could attract younger audiences as streaming platforms change media habits, Weberhofer said radio remained highly popular and that “Kärnten heute” continued to serve as a kind of “virtual campfire” for the province.

He said ORF needed to make its content available wherever people were, including social media, the internet and ORF ON, so that audiences could find the content that interested them.

Weberhofer was also asked about announced savings of 93 million euros across ORF and the possibility of dismissals. He said many employees in Carinthia would leave in the coming years due to retirement, creating both a challenge and an opportunity in deciding how positions should be filled.

He said new production technologies and greater efficiency behind the scenes could help, but added that his goal was for audiences to notice as little as possible because the studio’s main purpose was to make programmes for the people of Carinthia.

Addressing concerns about ORF’s reputation following the dismissal of former director-general Roland Weissmann and the suspension of Pio Strobl, Weberhofer said the regional studio needed to engage with people, take their concerns seriously and meet them on equal terms.

After 36 years of travelling throughout Carinthia, he said he had encountered considerable goodwill towards the studio and believed that this could help protect its image.