Clemens Pig backs ORF regional studios before taking top post

ORF director general-designate Clemens Pig visited ORF Tirol, the broadcaster’s regional studio in Tyrol, on Tuesday and stressed the importance of regional programming, ORF reported. Pig, who is originally from Hall, will take up his new position on January 1, 2027.

Pig presented his management team last week after it was approved by the ORF Foundation Council. He appointed Tyrolean Silvia Lieb as finance director. Lieb was previously chief executive of Moser Holding. South Tyrolean Esther Mitterstieler was reappointed as director of the ORF Tirol regional studio.

Pig is expected to lead his team in restoring stability to the country’s largest media organisation. The ORF has faced strong criticism in recent months over scandals as well as debates about sexism and salaries.

In an interview with “Tirol heute”, Pig said he had demonstrated his political independence during 30 years in the media industry. He said he was also confident about a complaint filed against his appointment by Freedom Party Foundation Council member Peter Westenthaler, adding that the allegations were not true.

Pig said the problems at the ORF needed to be eliminated completely. The organisation should again be known publicly for what it did best, he said: producing independent news and independent programming.

He also gave a firm commitment to the regional studios. ORF Tirol provided distinctive regional programming every day, Pig said, and some of that content was also broadcast nationwide. This programming distinguished the ORF from digital platforms, he said.

Pig also defended the disputed household levy that funds the ORF. He called it the only way to ensure politically independent financing, warning that if the levy were abolished, the Finance Ministry would fund the ORF with significantly fewer resources.