Be it for tradition, to digest on the couch, to deal with a hangover or even a short escape from the hustle and bustle of the family: the television and radio program is also waiting this year in the “quiet time” around Christmas and New Year’s Eve with tried-and-tested classics, big shows, reviews and the best -Of programs. An overview of the largest domestic broadcasters:
The ORF wants to reach everyone during the holidays, as the public media company has proclaimed “Christmas for you and me and everyone.” On December 24th, ORF 2 will once again invite representatives from politics and world religions as part of a “Light in the Dark” program to collect donations for a good cause. On December 25th, the main evening will feature the “Helene Fischer Show” with music, artistry and entertainment. Before that, the papal Christmas blessing is sent from St. Peter’s Square to all over the world at lunchtime. Various church service broadcasts can also be found in the program.
The “dream ship” starts its engines towards the US landlocked state of Utah (December 26th), Nusantara and Corsica (January 1st), while the “mountain doctor” begins its service in eight new episodes of the 17th season from January 3rd. Things will be less contemplative on ORF 2 on January 2nd, when the corpse of a woman is found with a diving weight around her neck in “Die Toten vom Bodensee”.
At the turn of the year, ORF 2 will be presenting the “Big New Year’s Eve Show” with Hans Sigl and Francine Jordi from 8:15 p.m. Music and dance then move on to the year 2024, when “On the Beautiful Blue Danube” will be played on both ORF 1 and ORF 2 and five dance couples from the Vienna State Ballet in Melk Abbey will perform a waltz performance. On January 1st – how could it be otherwise – Vienna will be at the center of the world with the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert (11.15 a.m., ORF 2). For the second time, Christian Thielemann conducts the musical highlight in the Musikverein.
ORF 1 is also thinking about the younger generation and is showing two episodes of “Pippi Longstocking” early on December 24th, before the animated films “The Grinch” and “Frozen 2” can be seen in the afternoon. In the main evening, things get romantic with “Love doesn’t need a vacation.” On December 25th and 26th there will be many episodes of “New Stories from Pumuckl” served. “Weber & Breitfuß” and the Hollywood film “Death on the Nile” are also shown on ORF 1. The new season of “Sisi” will be broadcast in triple episodes on December 27th and 28th. On December 29th, the main evening will be “No more funny – the satirical annual review of 2023”. On the night of 2024 there will be a reunion with well-known classics with “A real Viennese doesn’t go down” (10.40 p.m.) and “Dinner for One” (11.40 p.m.). Speaking of classics: ORF III is also relying on these on December 31st, as “MA2412” fills large parts of the afternoon. The cultural channel will show “Die Fledermaus” live from the Vienna State Opera from 8:15 p.m.
On January 1st, the ORF has reason to celebrate, as the new streaming platform “ORF ON” is launching. As a treat, the public media company is presenting all ten episodes of “Beasts” at the start. The series was penned by “Vorstadtweiber” creator Uli Brée. But documentaries and classic series and films should also be available.
At ServusTV you can see a certain penchant for Westerns. In addition to “Old Shatterhand” (December 23rd, 12:50 p.m.), “Winnetou and Shatterhand in the Valley of the Dead” (December 26th, 5:40 p.m.) and “Play me the song of death” (December 26th, 8:15 p.m.) is also “The Hateful Eight” by Quentin Tarantino (December 28th, 10:05 p.m.) can be seen. Aside from the genre film, “Legendary Christmas” on December 22nd at 9:10 p.m. will “rethink festive dishes.” On December 24th, Rolando Villazon will perform Christmas songs from 5:25 p.m. There will also be music on December 26th at 11:35 a.m., when John Williams conducts the Vienna Philharmonic and pieces from “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter” will be played. On December 31st, a cabaret annual review as well as “Real Viennese – The Sackbauer Saga” awaits the ServusTV audience.
ATV relies on feature films such as “Forrest Gump” (December 23, 8:15 p.m.) and “Ice Age Collision Ahead!” (December 24th, 8:15 p.m.). “James Bond” fans should make a note of December 31st, as the private channel will show numerous films with the secret agent from 10:30 a.m.
With Puls 4, on the other hand, there is no shortage of series products from the USA. Several episodes each of “How I Met Your Mother”, “The Big Bang Theory” and “Two and a Half Men” will be shown at Christmas. The channel shows “Bad Santa” at prime time. “The Mummy” will be shown on December 25th and “Maleficent: Forces of Darkness” on December 26th in the main evening program. On December 31st, Puls 4 will be celebrating “The Big Bang Theory” from 9 a.m. to midnight.
In the radio program, Ö3 focuses on the “Christmas miracle” in the usual manner. From Tuesday at 10 a.m. Robert Kratky, Gabi Hiller and Andi Knoll will be broadcasting from Bad Ischl for 120 hours. In return for donations for “Light in the Dark”, desired hits are played. Live music is also provided.
On December 24th, Ö1 will also be fulfilling music wishes in favor of “Licht ins Dunkel”. “Christmas with Ö1” starts at 3 p.m., with stories, conversations and music at the center of the four-hour program. Like every year, “Silent Night, Holy Night” will be played at 4:57 p.m., 5:57 p.m. and 6:57 p.m. – for all those who don’t want to sing themselves or need support. On December 25th at 11:03 a.m. “The Nutcracker” will be shown in the “Matinee”. At the “Ö1 Concert” from 7:30 p.m. you will hear a recording from the Vienna Music Association of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio”. On December 26th, Manuel Rubey and Simon Schwarz will be cooking Christmas food on “Küchenradio” (1:10 p.m.) while listening to their favorite music. On December 31st from 6:04 p.m. “Gröbster Unfug” takes you on a journey through time through the 2023 cabaret season. And at 11:03 p.m. the Ö1 New Year’s Eve Jazz Night begins including the ringing of the Pummerin and the Danube Waltz.
FM4 will host “Christmas in the Swamp” on December 24th from 10 p.m. to midnight with guests such as author Barbi Markovic and musician Ronia. Elisabeth Scharang will be going out to forester Marcella Mühlbach on December 26th for an “FM4 Field Recording”. The radio station will celebrate the end of the year on December 31st from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the “FM4 Annual Charts Top 100”.
