ORS Group: Becoming a Global Player with Streaming Business
There is reason to celebrate: exactly 20 years ago, the journey of the ORS Group began. In 2005, the technology subsidiary of ORF was spun off and established as an independent company, owned by ORF (60%) and Medicur (40%). Its core mission was and remains to guarantee TV and radio transmission via terrestrial, satellite, and cable, bringing information, entertainment, and all kinds of content into Austrian living rooms and onto mobile devices.
Driven by increasing digitalization, the business has fundamentally changed. IP services and streaming solutions have opened up new opportunities. To succeed in this international growth market, ORS Group acquired a stake in Polish streaming specialist Insys Video Technologies, which has been pioneering the streaming market for nearly 20 years, in 2023. Since the end of May, ORS has held 75 percent of Insys VT.
“Antenna and satellite will continue to be key pillars of our strategy. Our broadcasting expertise and Insys VT’s streaming technologies perfectly position us to compete in this global market,” said ORS Group CEO Michael Wagenhofer at the 20th anniversary celebration.
20 Years of Innovation and Technological Change
CEO Michael Wagenhofer and CTO Norbert Grill have led the ORS Group since its spin-off in 2005. The ORS Group played a pioneering role in establishing Austria’s dual media market, contributing decisively to the country’s media diversity. It also led to the development of ORF Digital, Austria’s largest TV platform, and the establishment of digital transmission standards such as DVB-T2 and DAB+.
The move into the end-customer business came in 2013 with simpliTV. The ORS-owned TV platform offers easy access to information, entertainment, and sports on TV, whether live via streaming, antenna, satellite, or on-demand via the simpliTV app.
Today, the group's turnover amounts to 119 million euros (2005: 57 million euros), more than half generated by private TV, radio, and streaming customers.
Pioneering IP Streaming in Austria
All this technical and commercial experience now flows into the IP world. With nearly 300 employees in Austria and Poland, the ORS Group has proven its ability to deliver broadcast-grade streaming.
ORS Group is a leader in developing 5G Broadcast, a new, forward-looking transmission standard that combines the advantages of traditional frequency transmission with those of the streaming world. 5G Broadcast enables linear TV and radio programs to be transmitted directly to mobile devices to any number of users simultaneously.
This technology will be essential in the future during disasters. Authorities and emergency services can send warnings directly to the population, independent of functioning internet or mobile networks. “5G Broadcast is a key pillar for our country’s security. A transmitter architecture designed for resilience is required to function perfectly,” Wagenhofer added.
Technology Transformation: From National Leader to Global Player
Combining national strengths with developing a resilient, innovative ecosystem and international expertise in video streaming are the two pillars on which ORS Group will build its future. Looking ahead to the next 20 years, ORS Group, driven by the technology transformation toward IP, sees itself on the path from national leader in audiovisual media distribution to global player in cloud streaming services. “Together with Insys, we have started to tap into international growth markets and expand our market presence as a streaming solutions provider,” Wagenhofer said.
ORS and Insys have implemented several world-class projects, including TV streaming and platform projects with German ARD regional broadcasters, Portuguese football champion Benfica Lisbon, and the German Football Association (DFB).
To emphasize their joint international path, ORS Group and Insys VT are launching a new brand: “Big Blue Marble.” It captures the vision of two industry spheres converging to form one consolidated entity, embodying combined strengths. Furthermore, it underscores the group’s ambitions, as Wagenhofer concluded: “We want to shape the media world by being deeply rooted in Europe, with a global orientation and innovative solutions that allow people simple and reliable access to content. Big Blue Marble embodies this vision.”