Radiofabrik
An independent, non-commercial community radio station serving Salzburg and surrounding areas.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Radiofabrik is an independent, non-commercial and nonprofit community radio station based in Salzburg, Austria. Its purpose is to provide an open broadcasting platform for individuals, community groups and perspectives that are underrepresented in commercial and public media. Rather than operating as a conventional advertiser-funded station, Radiofabrik combines public and municipal support, project grants and self-generated income with the work of a large volunteer community. The station grew out of the pirate radio project Radio Bongo 500, which was started by Wolfgang Hirner and others in 1992, while Austria still maintained a state monopoly over broadcasting. After the Austrian broadcasting market was liberalized, Radiofabrik obtained a legal license in 1998 and became the country’s second legally operating community radio station, following Radio Helsinki in Graz. Its initial legal service consisted of a five-hour weekly slot carried by the commercial station Radio Arabella. Daily programming began in January 2002 through a shared arrangement with City Radio. When City Radio’s owner, Objektwerbung GmbH, went bankrupt in October 2003, Radiofabrik secured a full broadcasting license and moved to continuous 24-hour broadcasting. The organization’s early studio operated from a prefabricated container. In 2005, its headquarters moved into the ARGE Kultur Salzburg cultural center, where the station established permanent offices, studios, production spaces and workshop facilities. It subsequently expanded its transmission footprint through FM frequencies, cable distribution and internet streaming. Its principal FM frequencies include 97.3 MHz in Salzburg and 107.5 MHz for a wider surrounding area. In 2015, Radiofabrik opened an external studio in Bad Reichenhall, Germany, reflecting the station’s cross-border regional reach. Radiofabrik’s programming is deliberately broad and multilingual. Volunteer producers have created shows for children, young people, older listeners, migrants, cultural communities, academics, people experiencing homelessness and other audiences. The schedule spans music, local affairs, politics, culture, social issues and specialist programming, and has historically included content in more than ten languages. Advertising is excluded from the station’s editorial model. Prospective producers generally become community members and complete training covering media law, technical production and basic journalism. The station also excludes racist, sexist, violent, anti-democratic and religious-propaganda content. Alongside community programming, Radiofabrik has maintained professional or semi-professional editorial activity. Its former news magazine Magazin um 5 was discontinued in 2015 for financial reasons. From 2018, a journalism training course supported by the City of Salzburg prepared volunteers to contribute to the regional newsroom project unerhört! - der Infonahversorger. Radiofabrik also offers extensive media-education activities, including courses in presenting, audio editing, promotion and journalism; more than 1,400 participants completed its courses in 2019 according to the reference material. The station is connected to Austria’s free-radio movement and to Salzburg’s cultural sector. It belongs to the Verband Freier Radios Österreich and the umbrella organization Dachverband Salzburger Kulturstätten. It founded the community television service FS1 and holds a 24 percent share in that organization. Radiofabrik has also participated in European and cross-border initiatives concerning diversity, media literacy, civic dialogue, science communication, children’s radio and cultural exchange. Its technical work has included the development of YARM, an open radio-automation system used by several Austrian community broadcasters before development ended in 2014. Radiofabrik’s identity is therefore based not only on broadcasting, but also on participation, training, inclusion, experimentation and regional cultural infrastructure.
History
Radiofabrik’s roots lie in the Austrian pirate-radio movement of the early 1990s. Wolfgang Hirner and other founders began operating Radio Bongo 500 in 1992, at a time when broadcasting remained subject to a state monopoly. The project represented an effort to create locally controlled radio outside the established public and commercial system. When Austria’s broadcasting framework was liberalized, the group pursued legal recognition rather than abandoning the project. In 1998, Radiofabrik received a broadcasting license and became the second legally operating community radio station in Austria. Its first legal service was modest: five hours of weekly programming transmitted through the commercial station Radio Arabella. This arrangement allowed the new broadcaster to establish an audience and organizational base while operating within limited spectrum and financial resources. A major transition occurred in January 2002, when Radiofabrik began broadcasting daily through a shared arrangement with City Radio. The arrangement ended after Objektwerbung GmbH, City Radio’s owner, went bankrupt in October 2003. Radiofabrik then obtained the full broadcasting license and moved to 24-hour transmission. This change transformed it from a limited-access project into a permanent community broadcaster. The station’s physical infrastructure also developed gradually. Its early studio was installed in a prefabricated container. In 2005, Radiofabrik relocated to ARGE Kultur Salzburg, an independent cultural center, where it established proper offices, studios, production rooms and workshop facilities. The move supported the expansion of volunteer production and the station’s growing role in Salzburg’s cultural ecosystem. Its terrestrial service later used 97.3 MHz and 107.5 MHz, while cable and internet distribution broadened access across Salzburg and parts of neighboring Bavaria. A transmitter site was moved from Maria Plain to Hochgitzen in Bergheim in 2013 to improve coverage, and an external studio opened in Bad Reichenhall in July 2015. Radiofabrik’s editorial model has consistently emphasized participation and diversity. Community members can propose and produce programs after completing training in media law, technical skills and basic journalistic practice. Programming has included music, local politics, cultural affairs, social issues and specialist subjects, with contributions from children, older people, migrants, academics, people experiencing homelessness and other communities. Shows have been produced in numerous languages. The station’s content rules exclude racist, sexist, pro-violence, anti-democratic and religious-propaganda programming, while leaving substantial room for independent editorial choices. The organization has combined volunteer broadcasting with professional editorial and educational activity. Georg Wimmer coordinated programming during an important phase of the station’s development, and Eva Schmidhuber took responsibility for programme administration in 2009. Radiofabrik operated a semi-professional newsroom whose magazine Magazin um 5 was later discontinued in 2015 because of financial pressures. From 2018, a City of Salzburg-supported journalism course created a training route for volunteer editors who could contribute to the regional news service unerhört! - der Infonahversorger. The station also developed a broad workshop program covering presentation, audio editing, promotion and journalism. More than 1,400 people completed courses in 2019 according to the cited reference material. Radiofabrik’s legal and organizational structure has evolved alongside its broadcasting role. The Verein Freier Rundfunk Salzburg, a registered association representing programme creators and supporters, became the central body responsible for the service. Until 2009, a separate infrastructure company held operational functions and the license; that structure was subsequently dismantled, with the infrastructure and license transferred to the association. The station is funded through state and city grants, other project support and internally generated revenue rather than conventional commercial advertising. The broadcaster has participated in numerous European, regional and cross-border projects. These have addressed multilingual communication, diversity, civic dialogue, science, children’s media, historical memory and cultural exchange. Examples include Radiodialogues, Hörstolpersteine, Ohrenblicke, Civilmedia, Check Europe, the EuRegio Media Center and other initiatives. Radiofabrik also helped establish the community television service FS1 and holds a 24 percent share in it. It is a member of Austria’s free-radio association and Salzburg’s cultural-sites umbrella group, and has maintained programming partnerships including BBC World Service and Democracy Now. Its awards include Salzburg cultural and integration honors, adult-education radio awards, the Alternative Media Award and other recognitions. Taken together, these activities define Radiofabrik as a civic media institution as much as a radio channel.
- 2019
More than 1,400 course participants recorded
[1]Radiofabrik reports that more than 1,400 people completed its media-education courses during the year.
- 2018
Volunteer journalism course begins
[1]A City of Salzburg-supported training newsroom begins preparing volunteer editors for regional news production.
- 2015
Bad Reichenhall external studio opens
[1]Radiofabrik opens its first external studio outside Austria in Bad Reichenhall, Germany.
- 2013
Hochgitzen transmission site introduced
[1]The main transmitter is moved from Maria Plain to Hochgitzen in Bergheim to extend the station’s reach.
- 2012
FS1 community television founded
[1]Radiofabrik helps establish FS1 and retains a 24 percent share in the community television organization.
- 2011
License extended
[1]KommAustria extends the broadcasting license for ten years, through 2021.
- 2009
Association-centered organizational structure
[1]The separate infrastructure company is abandoned and the association assumes responsibility for infrastructure and the broadcasting license.
- 2005
Headquarters move to ARGE Kultur Salzburg
[1]The station leaves its container studio and establishes permanent production, office and training facilities inside the ARGE Kultur Salzburg cultural center.
- 2003
Full license and 24-hour service
[1]After City Radio’s owner enters bankruptcy, Radiofabrik obtains a full license and begins continuous broadcasting.
- 2002
Daily broadcasting starts
[1]The station begins daily programming while sharing transmission facilities with City Radio.
Products and positioning
Independent, participatory and nonprofit community media focused on local relevance, diversity of opinion, multilingual access, volunteer production and media education rather than commercial advertising.
Broadcasting · 1998
FM radio service
Radiofabrik’s core service is a continuous community-radio schedule transmitted over FM. The station uses 97.3 MHz for Salzburg and 107.5 MHz for a broader regional area including parts of Flachgau, Tennengau and neighboring Bavaria. Its programs are produced by a mixture of volunteers and editorial staff, with music, culture, local affairs, social issues and specialist shows.
Radio programming · 1998
Multilingual community programming
The station provides a platform for programs made by and for diverse communities. Historically, its schedule has included broadcasts in more than ten languages and has addressed the interests of children, young people, older listeners, migrants, cultural groups and other audiences that may receive limited representation elsewhere.
Regional news · 2018
unerhört! - der Infonahversorger
unerhört! - der Infonahversorger is Radiofabrik’s regional news initiative. From 2018, volunteers completing the station’s journalism training could participate in local newsroom production, linking media education with regular reporting about Salzburg and its surrounding region.
Education
Media education and workshops
Radiofabrik offers training in radio presenting, audio editing, promotion, media law and journalism. These courses support new community producers and build practical media literacy. The station described its program as one of the broadest course offerings among Austria’s non-commercial broadcasters.
Digital distribution
Internet live stream
Radiofabrik distributes its programming through an online live stream in addition to terrestrial FM and cable carriage. Internet distribution allows listeners outside the local transmission area to access the station’s community and cultural programming.
Broadcast technology · 2005
YARM
YARM, short for Yet Another Radio Manager, was a radio-automation software project associated with Radiofabrik. Hermann Huber presented it at Ars Electronica in 2005, and several Austrian community broadcasters used the system. Development was discontinued in 2014.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Check Your Choice and Check Europe
Austria · European Union
Radiofabrik carried out these European Parliament-commissioned communication projects, using community-media formats to engage audiences with European political and civic issues.
- 2009Campaign for broadcasting-fee splitting in Salzburg
Salzburg · Austria
Radiofabrik campaigned for a portion of broadcasting-license fee revenue to be allocated to community radio in Salzburg, arguing for stronger structural support for non-commercial media.
- 2009Hörstolpersteine and Ein Hörmahnmal
Europe
Radiofabrik participated in audio projects focused on remembrance, historical memory and public engagement through sound.
- 2008Radiodialogues – voices of diversity
Europe
This project used radio exchange and community production to highlight diverse voices and intercultural dialogue.
- 2006Civilmedia
Salzburg · Europe
Radiofabrik has participated in the annual Civilmedia convention since 2006, connecting community media, civil society and digital or broadcast communication.
- 2006EuRegio Media Center
Salzburg · Traunstein · Austria · Germany
The 2006–2009 cross-border project connected Radiofabrik with Aktion Film Salzburg and the District Office of Traunstein to support regional media work in the Salzburg–Bavaria area.
Brand decisions
2018
Launch the Lehrredaktion journalism courseProduct launchBackground
Radiofabrik sought to strengthen local reporting while broadening participation in its newsroom.
Action taken
With support from the City of Salzburg, it began an annual journalism course for volunteer radio editors.
Aftermath
Graduates could contribute to the regional news service unerhört! - der Infonahversorger.
2015
Discontinue Magazin um 5OtherBackground
The professionally staffed news magazine became financially difficult to sustain.
Action taken
Radiofabrik ended the program in 2015.
Aftermath
The station later developed a volunteer journalism-training pathway and regional newsroom activity.
2012
Establish a community television sister organizationM&ABackground
Radiofabrik pursued a broader community-media presence beyond audio broadcasting.
Action taken
It helped found FS1 and retained a 24 percent share in the community television organization.
Aftermath
The move connected Radiofabrik to Salzburg’s community-television infrastructure and expanded its media-development role.
2009
Centralize infrastructure under the associationStrategyBackground
Radiofabrik previously used a separate corporation for infrastructure and licensing functions.
Action taken
The infrastructure corporation was abandoned, with infrastructure and the broadcasting license transferred to Verein Freier Rundfunk Salzburg.
Aftermath
The association became the central organizational vehicle for the station’s broadcasting and infrastructure responsibilities.
2005
Relocation into ARGE Kultur SalzburgStrategyBackground
The station had outgrown its original prefabricated-container studio.
Action taken
Radiofabrik moved its headquarters into the ARGE Kultur Salzburg cultural center and established professional office, studio, production and workshop facilities.
Aftermath
The new infrastructure supported growth in volunteer programming, training and cultural partnerships.
2003
Move to a full-time community-radio modelStrategyBackground
The bankruptcy of City Radio’s owner ended the shared broadcasting arrangement that had supported Radiofabrik’s daily service.
Action taken
Radiofabrik obtained the full broadcasting license and began broadcasting continuously around the clock.
Aftermath
The decision established the station as a permanent 24-hour broadcaster rather than a limited weekly or shared service.
Recent events
- 2018
Journalism training newsroom introduced[1]
Product launch
With support from the City of Salzburg, Radiofabrik launched an annual journalism training course for volunteer radio editors.
- 2015
Radiofabrik opens Bad Reichenhall external studio[1]
Other
The station opened its first external studio in Bad Reichenhall, Germany, extending its cross-border production presence.
- 2015
Magazin um 5 discontinued[1]
Other
The station ended its professionally staffed news magazine because of financial constraints.
- 2011
Broadcasting license extended through 2021[1]
Regulation
KommAustria extended Radiofabrik’s broadcasting authorization for another ten years.
- 2009
Radiofabrik launches a fee-splitting campaign in Salzburg[1]
Campaign
The station campaigned for a larger allocation of broadcasting-license fee revenue to support community media in the state of Salzburg.
- 2003
Radiofabrik moves to continuous broadcasting after City Radio collapse[1]
Other
Following the bankruptcy of City Radio’s owner, Radiofabrik obtained the full broadcasting license and began operating around the clock.
- 2002
Daily broadcasting begins[1]
Product launch
Radiofabrik began daily broadcasts while sharing transmission capacity with City Radio.
- 1998
Radiofabrik obtains a legal broadcasting license[1]
Other
The former Radio Bongo 500 project became a legally licensed community broadcaster and began limited programming through Radio Arabella.
Sources2 sources
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