The first in a series that examines the role of radio broadcasting in the process of socioeconomic and cultural change in three countries with different types of broadcasting organization--Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Venezuela--this volume focuses on Austria. It deals with the cultural implications of broadcasting structures and their ownership and financing, with special attention to both commercial and noncommercial advertising, and includes a short description of the historic and legal evaluation of Austria's national broadcasting system. Specific chapters cover the historical development of radio in Austria; legal arrangements and organizational structure (the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation and the organizational structure of radio); economic and technical conditions, including revenue and expenditures; the radio program itself (normative basis, program philosophy, program departments, channel structure and international program exchange); radio research in both program content and audience structure; and radio workers. Concluding remarks summarize the 12 main characteristics of radio in Austria and discuss possible issues for the future. (LMM)