The healing effect of the large packet of potato chips in front of the screen may be doubtful, but: health programs are important to the audience. The evaluation of the quality profile of the programs reads as follows: "With regard to the specific contributions and information that are particularly useful for the respondents, health and programs are mentioned first and foremost, especially "
"." Providing "information on health issues" is explicitly part of the core public service remit, which is fulfilled by numerous programs.
The head of the editorial department,
Astrid Spielberger, has summarized ORF's range of services on this topic for the Public Value Report.
This question can basically be answered quickly: "Yes, if you use the relevant ORF programs and also participate." But sitting in front of the television for hours on end with potato chips and beer or chocolate and iced tea is certainly not good for your health.
Health is an important topic for the population and therefore for the ORF audience, as confirmed by regular surveys and interviews conducted by media research. ORF addresses the topic of "health" in a variety of ways in its TV programs, on the one hand through health magazines and documentaries, and on the other through programs designed to encourage people to get involved. For example, young and old can get "Fit with the Stars" on ORF 2 every day. The channel "ORF SPORT+" offers a daily yoga session in "Yoga-Magazin" and "Fit aktiv für Junggebliebene" is aimed specifically at senior citizens.
ORF is also making the much-requested daily gym session for children possible. "Yoga Kids" has been on ORF KIDS since January 1, 2024. Classic yoga exercises are playfully packed into stories: the children dive into the wonderful underwater world, embark on exciting pirate adventures or float through the colorful circus ring. And at the weekend there are features on the subject of sport and exercise in "Hallo okidoki" on ORF 1.
Exercise programs are also an integral part of the health programs "Bewusst Gesund", "G'sund in Österreich" and the ORF health focuses. The presentation of exercise trends and sports is intended to make people want to try something new. The positive aspects of exercise are emphasized in as many contributions as possible on the topics of medicine and health. After all, exercise is considered the best cure in the world and helps to relieve stress, strengthen the psyche or reduce the side effects of therapies. But exercise is only one building block for a healthy and pain-free life. The health programs aim to use positive examples to show what each individual can do for their health.
They showcase people who have managed to make their lives healthier, e.g. a 140 kg woman who has become a long-distance walker or a chain smoker who now walks his laps every day.
In addition to emotions that encourage people to change their habits, the audience should also understand the background to why certain measures work, why exercise is healthy and how a balanced diet affects the body. The internet and social media are full of tips and tricks about health, "well-intentioned advice" from influencers and, unfortunately, a lot of fake news. It is difficult for laypeople to filter out what is a fad, which statements are scientifically sound and which therapies are "evidence-based" and "state of the art". Even when it comes to nutrition, there are constantly new studies and trends, some of which contradict each other. The aim here is to provide guidance through the jungle of information and to strengthen health literacy.
Knowledge is an important factor for health. Only informed and empowered patients can ask the crucial questions and talk to the doctors treating them on an equal footing. Who wants to be at the mercy of the "gods in white" without reflection? Ultimately, patients must decide for themselves which treatment they choose.
The ORF initiative "Consciously Healthy" was launched fifteen years ago to increase the population's health literacy. In two focus weeks per year, all ORF programs discuss relevant health topics that affect large sections of the population, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes or back pain. Prevention always plays a central role. In the main evening programs "Stöckl live", the audience also has the chance to have their say and ask questions directly to experts.
For twelve years, the weekly magazine show "Bewusst Gesund" has been providing information about various illnesses, presenting new therapies, giving nutrition tips and answering questions from the audience. ORF also aims to raise Austrians' health awareness with "G'sund in Österreich". In the DOKU series, ORF presenter and doctor Dr. Christine Reiler devotes herself four times a year to a relevant health topic of our time, from healthy ageing to the healing cold. In addition to the designated health formats, the daily magazines on ORF 2 also regularly address current health topics: "Studio 2" with weekly sections (medicine, pharmacy, seasonal health and exercise tips), "Guten Morgen Österreich" with regular health tips from Christine Reiler and "Mayrs Magazin" presents the latest medical developments and provides insights into current research.
Health is also a high priority on ORF III. Every week, Prof. Dr. Siegfried Meryn answers questions from viewers in "Meryn am Montag". The ORF health expert conducts in-depth discussions with specialists every Wednesday in "Meryns Sprechzimmer". Health documentaries in "Treffpunkt Medizin" round off the program.
The ORF regional studios also have regular sections or experts on the topic of health in their programs, such as "Gesund in Salzburg", the weekly section in "Salzburg heute", or "La Vita" weekly in "Niederösterreich heute".
All in all, ORF's programs are not only true of the well-known saying "Television educates", but television can also make you healthy.
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ORF mission statement
"konkret" Top 3 (395 programs in total)
Topic Date Thousands
Inflation 2022 / inflation / e-fuels
17.01. 527
AK price monitoring / Digital barrier for older people / Class action for basic supply 13.02. 525
CES 2023 / Tax concessions for photovoltaic systems in Germany 09.01. 523
"Bewusst gesund" Top 3 (95 broadcasts in total)
Topic Sender Date Thousands
Effect of FFP2 masks / Health calendar / Trampoline ORF2 21.01. 426
Ortho-Bionomy / Cardiac catheter / Onion ORF2 14.01. 418
Long-Covid / Hallux Rigidus / Mindfulness workshop ORF2 28.01. 378
Service on ORF radio, radio
Evaluation of the proportion of words by category in minutes and percent
Basis: Results of a content analysis of ORF radios in the sample week from September 11 to 17, 2023:
Ö1 9,17% 453:39
Ö3 36,59% 549:58
FM4 17.74% 315:46
Radio Burgenland 24.74% 496:04
Radio Carinthia 21.61% 489:28
Radio Lower Austria 26.40% 457:33
Radio Upper Austria 27.37% 470:30
Radio Styria 21.49% 451:33
Radio Salzburg 26.65% 581:46
Radio Tirol 28.64% 559:00
Radio Vorarlberg 22.25% 443:32
Radio Vienna 31.86% 511:03
