ORF III HD live stream
ORF III HD online television
ORF III HD is an Austrian free-to-air television channel operating in the cultural and documentary format. The primary language of broadcasting is German. The channel was launched on October 26, 2011, replacing the former TW1 channel. It is owned and operated by ORF (Österreichischer Rundfunk), the national public broadcaster of Austria. The channel is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and is available nationwide as well as in South Tyrol, Italy. The channel broadcasts in 720p high definition as ORF III HD.
On air, ORF III HD positions itself as a culture and information channel (Kultur und Information), moving away from the weather and tourism focus of its predecessor. The programming is built around a core of in-depth documentaries covering Austrian history, culture, nature, and society. Flagship documentary series include Erbe Österreich (Heritage Austria), which explores historical sites and national heritage; Land der Berge (Land of the Mountains), focusing on alpine nature and outdoor culture; Expeditionen (Expeditions), a nature and wildlife documentary series; and Unser Österreich (Our Austria), which portrays people and their connection to the landscape. Regular programming also includes the magazine show Österreich-Bild (Austria Image), which airs on Sunday mornings and documents life and current events across the Austrian federal states.
In addition to documentaries, ORF III HD broadcasts talk shows, cultural events, and select sports coverage. The channel airs the Kulturmontag (Culture Monday) theme night, featuring extended cultural programming. It is the home broadcaster for the Tour of Austria cycling race, providing live coverage of the event. The channel has also produced original series such as Wiener Bezirksgeschichten (Vienna District Stories), which explores the history and character of Vienna's 23 municipal districts. The program features presenter Karl Hohenlohe and has been produced as a multi-part documentary series. The channel is known for its commitment to Austrian culture and history, producing hundreds of hours of original documentary content annually.
ORF III HD is available as a free-to-air channel via satellite across Europe on the Astra system at 19.2 degrees east. The channel is also available via digital terrestrial television (DVB-T) in Austria on channel 5, as well as on cable networks and IPTV platforms. Viewers can watch online the live broadcast of ORF III HD through the ORF ON platform, which is accessible via the ORF website and mobile applications.
ORF III HD strives to serve as Austria's leading cultural and documentary channel, providing in-depth coverage of national heritage, history, and identity. The mission of the channel is to document, preserve, and promote Austrian culture through high-quality documentary filmmaking, making the country's rich traditions and landscapes accessible to a wide audience at home and abroad. Thanks to its satellite distribution, ORF III HD provides the opportunity to watch its cultural and documentary programming across Austria and Europe wherever its signal is available.

