Demolition of the Moosbrunn transmitter postponed
At the end of the year, the Austrian shortwave stopped broadcasting. For cost reasons and because there were hardly any broadcasts about them anymore. This morning it suddenly said: “There will be a blast today!” But nothing comes of it for the time being.
The Austrian shortwave broadcasting center Moosbrunn has existed since 1959 and was used for a long time to broadcast Austria's foreign service. A modern, efficient system was built for this purpose.
After Radio Österreich International was discontinued, the system stayed alive through broadcasting time rentals. However, as of fall 2024, the primary airtime tenant, Adventist World Radio, has withdrawn from shortwave. A hit below the belt for the shortwave center.
Should be saved
Since the technical systems and the existing antennas are still in full working order, the Moosbrunn shortwave center would continue to be fully operational. Above all, the large rotating antenna offers the system a very high level of flexibility, which allows it to broadcast to almost any region of the world.
As recently as December 2024, it was said that efforts were being made to save the system and the 320-ton rotating antenna. The same thing could still be heard at the beginning of January 2025. In addition, the ORF general director is said to have said at the end of 2024 that the facility would not be blown up.
Surprising turnaround?
We don't (yet) know the exact background of what happened behind the scenes over the last few weeks. In any case, this morning it was surprisingly announced that the large rotating antenna would be blown up.
Inquired
We asked the Moosbrunn municipal office. An employee there confirmed to us that the demolition of the facility was scheduled for today, but had been canceled for the time being. He couldn't give the reasons for this. The gentleman in the Moosbrunn municipal office did not know a new date for the demolition of the facility.
What's next?
This is completely open. Based on what we have been able to find out over the last few weeks, it seems to us that some decision maker is trying to ignore all ongoing efforts and create facts. True to the motto: “The system has to go, so BOOM”.
Cheers from Bremerhaven,
Lesley Illingworth
(photo via Wikipedia)
