Vienna (OTS) – The former general director of ORF Thaddäus Podgorski died tonight at the age of 88. With Thaddäus Podgorski, Austria is losing a veteran of the media industry, a tireless source of inspiration and ideas. Program changes in memoriam Thaddäus Podgorski will be announced in a separate broadcast.
“The death of Thaddäus Podgorski deeply affects me,” mourns ORF General Director Roland Weißmann. “Thaddäus Podgorski was the first TV practitioner to lead the ORF as general director – he knew the ORF like no one else. With the expansion of the 3sat program, TV regionalization and the numerous ethnic group programs, Podgorski has built essential pillars for a strong ORF. Many of his program ideas and program impulses are still fixed points in the ORF program, be it ‘Universum’, ‘Time in the Picture’ or ‘Federal State Today’. On behalf of the ORF, I wish the relatives a lot of strength and my deepest condolences go out to his family and loved ones.”
Thaddäus “Teddy” Podgorski was born on July 19, 1935 in Vienna. He spent the first years of his life in Simmering before attending the Admont collegiate high school in Styria and graduating there. Podgorski then studied art history and German for six semesters. He also earned his money as an extra in the State Opera or in smaller roles, including in basement theaters, in the Theater der Jugend and also in the Volkstheater. He started as a news anchor and reporter in 1993, at the age of 18, at the radio station “Rot-Weiß-Rot”. In 1955 he moved to the current service of the newly founded ORF television, where he soon became the inventor, director and editor of “Zeit im Bild”. He was responsible for the current service until 1963.
The next step in Podgorski’s career came in 1967, when he was promoted to chief reporter by ORF general manager Gerd Bacher. In his new role, he designed numerous successful formats, such as “Sportpanorama” and “An den Boxen”. In 1972 he became ORF’s TV sports director. He also appeared regularly in front of the camera for the shows “Jolly Joker” and “Seinerzeit”. In between, his artistic streak came to the fore again and again, for example as an actor in the role of Gestapo agent Pfalzner in “The Bockerer” or as an author with his three publications “Mohammed Ali”, “Muscles on Paper” or the Olympic book “Innsbruck and Montreal”. “.
In 1986, Thaddäus Podgorski was appointed general director of the ORF for four years. During his time in office, he was responsible for numerous decisions that are still the cornerstone of public broadcasting today. Probably his biggest project was TV regionalization, which was promoted with programs like “Bundesland today”. He is also responsible for establishing the ethnic group broadcasts, expanding the 3sat program and signing the first important contracts with broadcasters in Eastern Europe. Last but not least, the successful format “Heimat, Fremde Heimat” and the internationally renowned documentary series “Universum” also come from his directorship.
He has received several awards for his extraordinary achievements and efforts. In 1968 he received the “Grand Film Prize of Oberhausen”, in 1970 the “Golden Camera” for “Panorama” and he was also able to call himself a Romy Prize winner. He also won the “Bambi” in 1976, the “Golden Ring of Lausanne” in 1978 and the “Sports Oscar” in 1980. His most important awards include the “Great Decoration of Honor of the State of Styria”, the “Great Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria” and “Journalist of the Year – Lifetime Achievement Award” 2017.