ServusTV

ServusTV is an Austrian television station headquartered in Wals-Siezenheim in the state of Salzburg. The channel is owned by Red Bull Media House GmbH, a subsidiary of Red Bull GmbH, and operates within Red Bull’s broader media portfolio. That portfolio also includes the Servus magazine, whose name and regional cultural associations are closely related to the television brand. The station traces its origins to Salzburg TV, which began broadcasting in 1995 as one of Austria’s earliest private television ventures. Its initial distribution was limited to cable viewers in Salzburg. In October 2000, Salzburg TV attracted national attention when it began terrestrial transmission from the Untersberg site without the legal framework then required for private terrestrial television in Austria. Austrian authorities confiscated the transmission facility after five days. The station’s owner responded with a two-week hunger strike, and the dispute became part of the wider process that led to the legalization of terrestrial private television in Austria. Salzburg TV resumed terrestrial transmission in 2002. Financial difficulties led to a sale in 2004, when the station faced impending bankruptcy. Red Bull GmbH acquired shares in 2007, and the original owners subsequently sold their remaining interests. In 2009, the broadcaster was relaunched under the ServusTV name. The name refers to “Servus,” a greeting widely used in Austria and other areas historically connected with the Habsburg lands, giving the channel a deliberately regional and Central European identity. ServusTV combines general television programming with news, talk, documentaries, cultural content and sports. Its sports portfolio has included Austrian and German ice hockey, the FIM MotoGP World Championship, the World Rally Championship, Red Bull Air Race and Red Bull X-Fighters. The broadcaster has also carried or announced major rights such as the UEFA Champions League and Formula 1. Sports programming is particularly consistent with Red Bull’s wider media and event-marketing strategy. In Austria, ServusTV is distributed through DVB-T2 terrestrial television, the Astra 19.2°E satellite system and digital cable services including A1 Kabel TV. It has also been available through selected German cable networks and Swiss satellite distribution services. Astra distribution gives the channel a broader European footprint beyond its core Austrian audience. The broadcaster has attracted criticism over its perceived political orientation. It has been described in reference material as associated with the far right and with conspiracy-oriented commentary. Particular controversy surrounded guests and viewpoints appearing on the talk programme Talk im Hangar 7 and statements made by director Ferdinand Wegscheider in the commentary series Der Wegscheider during the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues have contributed to ServusTV’s public identity as a broadcaster with a strongly opinionated political and editorial profile, alongside its established role in Austrian entertainment and sports broadcasting.

ServusTV developed from Salzburg TV, a private Austrian television station established in 1995. The original station initially served viewers in Salzburg through cable distribution. Its attempt to expand into terrestrial broadcasting became a significant episode in the history of Austrian private television. On 25 October 2000, Salzburg TV began transmitting from the Untersberg area, but Austrian authorities considered the transmission unlawful under the rules then in force and confiscated the facility after five days. The station’s owner undertook a two-week hunger strike in protest. The confrontation occurred during a period of broader regulatory change and was followed by the legalization of terrestrial transmission by private television stations in Austria. Salzburg TV returned to terrestrial broadcasting in 2002 from its former site on UHF channel 36. The station was sold in 2004 because of impending bankruptcy. Red Bull GmbH acquired shares in 2007, after which the original owners sold their remaining interests. In 2009, the broadcaster was renamed ServusTV. The new name was drawn from “Servus,” a greeting used across Austria and other parts of Central Europe historically connected with the Habsburg Empire. The rebranding placed the station within Red Bull’s expanding media activities and linked it conceptually with the Servus magazine. ServusTV operates from Wals-Siezenheim in Salzburg and distributes its signal through Austrian terrestrial television, satellite and cable platforms. Its European reach includes Astra 19.2°E satellite distribution, selected German digital cable networks and Swiss satellite services. The channel’s programming spans general entertainment, news, talk, documentaries, culture and sport. Sports rights have included Austrian and German ice hockey, MotoGP and several Red Bull-associated action-sports properties. The broadcaster has also carried or planned coverage of high-profile competitions including the UEFA Champions League and Formula 1. A major corporate crisis occurred in May 2016. Red Bull Media House announced that broadcasting would end, with Dietrich Mateschitz arguing that the creation of a works council could undermine the channel’s independence. Most employees subsequently rejected the closure in writing and appealed directly to Mateschitz. He reversed the decision on 5 May, allowing the channel to continue. ServusTV has also become known for a politically distinctive editorial tone. The channel has been associated by commentators with far-right political figures and conspiracy-oriented discussion. A notable example was the appearance of Martin Sellner, a leading figure in Austria’s Identitarian movement, on Talk im Hangar 7. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ferdinand Wegscheider’s Der Wegscheider commentary series aired claims questioning vaccine testing and alleging the presence of genetically modified substances, while presenting ivermectin as an appropriate treatment. The press club Concordia complained to Austria’s communications authority in 2021. These controversies have shaped debate about ServusTV’s editorial standards while the station has continued operating as a Red Bull-owned Austrian broadcaster.

• 2021

  Regulatory complaint over COVID-19 commentary

  [1]ServusTVen.wikipedia.org

  Concordia files a complaint concerning disputed pandemic-related statements broadcast by ServusTV.

• 2016

  Planned closure is reversed

  [1]ServusTVen.wikipedia.org

  Red Bull Media House withdraws its announced closure after employee opposition and a direct appeal to Dietrich Mateschitz.

• 2009

  Salzburg TV becomes ServusTV

  [1]ServusTVen.wikipedia.org

  The broadcaster adopts the ServusTV name as part of its Red Bull-era repositioning.

• 2007

  Red Bull acquires a stake

  [1]ServusTVen.wikipedia.org

  Red Bull GmbH acquires shares in the television station.

• 2004

  Station sold amid financial difficulties

  [1]ServusTVen.wikipedia.org

  The station is sold while facing impending bankruptcy.

• 2002

  Terrestrial broadcasting resumes

  [1]ServusTVen.wikipedia.org

  Following the legalization of terrestrial private television in Austria, Salzburg TV resumes transmission from its former site.

• 2000

  Unlicensed terrestrial transmission triggers regulatory dispute

  [1]ServusTVen.wikipedia.org

  Salzburg TV starts terrestrial transmission from Untersberg, but Austrian authorities confiscate the transmission facility after five days.

• 1995

  Salzburg TV begins

  [1]ServusTVen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor to ServusTV begins as a cable television station serving Salzburg.

A regional Austrian television brand combining general programming, current affairs, cultural content and premium sports rights with a distinctive Central European identity and a strongly opinionated editorial profile.

• Television broadcasting · 2009

  ServusTV general television channel

  The core ServusTV service is a general-interest television channel serving Austrian viewers and selected audiences elsewhere in Europe. It combines news, current affairs, talk, documentaries, cultural programming, entertainment and sport. Distribution uses terrestrial DVB-T2 in Austria, Astra satellite transmission and cable platforms, allowing the channel to reach households through multiple delivery systems.

• Talk show

  Talk im Hangar 7

  Talk im Hangar 7 is a ServusTV discussion programme built around political and social issues. The programme has contributed to the broadcaster’s public profile by hosting strongly contrasting and controversial viewpoints, including discussion involving figures associated with Austria’s Identitarian movement.

• Commentary

  Der Wegscheider

  Der Wegscheider is a weekly commentary series associated with ServusTV director Ferdinand Wegscheider. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme became controversial for broadcasting claims that questioned vaccine testing and promoted disputed views about treatments such as ivermectin.

• Sports media

  ServusTV sports broadcasting

  ServusTV’s sports offering has included Sunday-night ice hockey coverage in Austria and Germany, the FIM MotoGP World Championship and Red Bull-linked action sports such as the Red Bull Air Race and Red Bull X-Fighters. The broadcaster has also carried or announced rights involving the World Rally Championship, UEFA Champions League and Formula 1.

• 2021

  Controversy over COVID-19 commentary

  ServusTV faced criticism over Der Wegscheider commentary that questioned the adequacy of COVID-19 vaccine testing, alleged the presence of genetically modified substances and presented ivermectin as an appropriate treatment. The press club Concordia filed a complaint with Austria’s communications authority.

  Source

• Political criticism and far-right associations

  The broadcaster has been associated in public commentary with far-right politics and conspiracy-oriented programming. Criticism has included the invitation of Identitarian movement figure Martin Sellner to Talk im Hangar 7 and the recurring appearance of COVID-19 skeptic Sucharit Bhakdi.

  Source

Read more

• 2021

  Respond to regulatory complaint over pandemic commentaryOther

  Background

  Austrian press club Concordia challenged claims broadcast in Der Wegscheider about COVID-19 vaccines and ivermectin.

  Action taken

  Concordia submitted an official complaint to Austria’s communications authority.

  Aftermath

  The complaint intensified scrutiny of ServusTV’s editorial standards and political programming.

  Source

• 2016

  Reverse planned broadcasting shutdownStrategy

  Background

  Red Bull Media House announced that ServusTV would close, citing concerns that a works council could compromise the station’s independence.

  Action taken

  After most employees opposed the closure and appealed directly to Dietrich Mateschitz, the decision was withdrawn the next day.

  Aftermath

  ServusTV remained in operation as a Red Bull-owned broadcaster.

  Source

• 2009

  Rebrand Salzburg TV as ServusTVStrategy

  Background

  After Red Bull acquired an interest in the station and the original owners sold their remaining shares, the broadcaster needed a new identity within the Red Bull media portfolio.

  Action taken

  The station changed its name from Salzburg TV to ServusTV, adopting a greeting with strong Austrian and Central European associations.

  Aftermath

  The rebranded channel continued as a broader regional broadcaster with general programming, news, culture and sports.

  Source

1. 1ServusTVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2ServusTV official websiteservustv.com