FREIRAD

What FREIRAD does

FREIRAD (legally FREIRAD Freies Radio Innsbruck) is a non-commercial community radio station headquartered in Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, and is described on its own website as "Tirols einziges und erstes Freies Radio" — Tyrol's only and first free radio. It broadcasts on three FM frequencies covering distinct sub-regions of Tyrol (105.9 MHz Greater Innsbruck, 106.2 MHz Völs–Telfs, 89.6 MHz Hall–Schwaz), complemented by a live internet stream and an on-demand media archive called the Radiothek. The station operates an open-access production model: any individual or community group can participate, free of charge, in creating and broadcasting their own radio programming through workshops, open studio access, and dedicated broadcast windows such as FREIfenster (weekly Monday slot), 'Locals on air' (bi-weekly regional music slot), and the cultural programming strand KulturTon.

The station's core technology stack is conventional broadcast infrastructure (FM transmitters plus web-based live streaming and an HTML-based media archive), with no proprietary software, apps, or APIs. Content is archived and distributed via a partnership with CBA (Cultural Broadcasting Archive / cba.media). FREIRAD operates in 10 languages (German, English, Spanish, Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish, Chinese, French, Italian, Polish, Croatian) and serves as a participatory media platform for civil society organizations, immigrant and diaspora communities, regional musicians, and volunteer radio producers who lack access to mainstream commercial media.

The business model is that of a non-profit association funded by donations, member contributions, and public grants rather than commercial sales or advertising. Participation and listening are free; revenue is generated via the website's "Unterstützen" (Support) channel and (implicitly) Austrian community media public funding mechanisms administered under the supervision of RTR. The station sits within a dense ecosystem of Tyrolean civil society partners (e.g., AEP, ZeMiT, HOSI Tirol, Verein Multikulturell) and Austrian/international free radio associations (VFRÖ, CMFE, AMARC), which collectively form its distribution and community-engagement backbone.

Name

FREIRAD

Legal name

FREIRAD Freies Radio Innsbruck

Website

https://freirad.at

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FREIRAD is a non-commercial community radio station in Innsbruck, Austria, broadcasting on three FM frequencies across Tyrol with live streaming and an on-demand archive. It provides free, open-access radio production to civil society groups, immigrant communities, regional musicians, and volunteer producers, funded by donations and public grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Free radio service
• Live audio streaming
• On-demand radio archive
• Media production workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Innsbruck

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor / Membership Support: FREIRAD operates as a non-profit community radio station. The station relies on public support, donations, and member contributions to sustain operations. The website includes a dedicated 'Unterstützen' (Support) section indicating active fundraising from the community.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FREIRAD operates a non-commercial community radio station in Innsbruck, Tyrol, broadcasting on three FM frequencies (105.9 MHz, 106.2 MHz, 89.6 MHz) and providing live internet streaming plus the Radiothek on-demand archive. Any individual or community group can participate as a radio maker at no charge, with workshops offered to train new producers. Programming is delivered in 10 languages and covers civil society, cultural, immigrant, and regional music topics not represented by mainstream commercial media.

Product overview

FREIRAD operates as a community radio platform centered around its main broadcasting service, with supporting features including an on-demand archive (Radiothek), dedicated community broadcast windows (FREIfenster, Locals on air), cultural programming (KulturTon), and educational workshops. The platform emphasizes open access and non-commercial broadcasting for diverse communities in the Tyrol region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KulturTon: A program/show on FREIRAD focusing on cultural content

Products and services

• FREIRAD Freies Radio Innsbruck (community radio broadcast service) Non-commercial community radio broadcast service operating on three FM frequencies in Tyrol (105.9 MHz Großraum Innsbruck, 106.2 MHz Völs-Telfs, 89.6 MHz Hall-Schwaz) with live internet streaming and multilingual programming for community groups, civil society actors, and individual listeners.
• Radiothek On-demand audio archive allowing listeners to replay past FREIRAD programs and podcasts at any time via the website.
• FREIfenster Weekly community broadcast window on Mondays 19:00-20:00 offering community groups and individuals a dedicated slot to produce and air single episodes on their own themes.
• Locals on air Dedicated broadcast window every second Wednesday at 14:00 for regional artists and bands to present their music on FREIRAD, supporting a database of regional musicians.
• KulturTon Cultural programming segment on FREIRAD featuring arts and cultural content for the regional Tyrolean community.
• Radio Production Workshops Training programs teaching community members how to produce and create their own radio content, supporting open access participation in FREIRAD's broadcasting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Open access radio production for all civil society actors regardless of commercial means

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AEP – Arbeitskreis Emanzipation und PartnerschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEP is a feminist and anti-discrimination organization. FREIRAD partners with AEP as part of its network of Tiroler civil society organizations, collaborating on themes related to emancipation, gender equality, and partnership.
• ZeMiT – Zentrum für Migrant_innencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZeMiT is the Center for Migrants in Tyrol, providing integration services. FREIRAD collaborates with ZeMiT to provide a platform for migrant communities to participate in local media production.
• Universität InnsbruckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFREIRAD partners with the University of Innsbruck for joint programming and content sharing. The station also collaborates with the Innsbrucker Gender Lectures program.
• ORANGE 94.0, Radio FRO 105,0, Radiofabrik 107,5, Radio Helsinki 92,6coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFREIRAD is a member of the network of Austrian Free Radios (Freie Radios in Österreich). These stations share resources, programming, and advocacy for non-commercial community radio at the national level.
• VFRÖ – Verband Freier Rundfunk ÖsterreichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVFRÖ is the Austrian Association of Free Radios. FREIRAD participates in VFRÖ's advocacy, research, and network activities representing Austria's non-commercial community radio sector.
• CMFE – Community Media Forum EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMFE is a European-level organization for community media. FREIRAD participates in CMFE activities and events representing community radio perspectives at the European level.
• AMARC International – World Association of Community RadiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMARC is the global umbrella organization for community radio worldwide. FREIRAD participates in AMARC and its European branch AMARC Europe, connecting Tyrol's community radio to international community media movements.
• CBA – Cultural Broadcasting ArchivecoreTechnology or IntegrationCBA (cba.media) is the Austrian community media archive where FREIRAD's recorded content is stored and made accessible online. CBA provides the technical infrastructure for archiving and distributing community radio content.
• TKI – Tiroler Kulturinitiativen / IG Kultur TirolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTKI is the platform for Tyrolean cultural initiatives. FREIRAD collaborates with TKI on cultural programming and community engagement within Tyrol's independent cultural scene.
• Verein MultikulturellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVerein Multikulturell supports multicultural integration in Austria. FREIRAD partners with this organization to support multicultural programming and community outreach.
• HOSI – Homosexuelle Initiative TirolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOSI Tirol is the Tyrolean LGBTQ+ organization. FREIRAD collaborates with HOSI on programming that addresses LGBTQ+ perspectives and community issues.
• Autonomes FrauenLesbenZentrumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Autonomous Women's and Lesbian Center in Innsbruck partners with FREIRAD on feminist programming and content related to women's rights and LGBTQ+ issues.
• RTR – Rundfunk & Telekon Regulierungs GmbHcoreOthersRTR is the Austrian regulatory body for broadcasting and telecommunications. FREIRAD operates under RTR's licensing and regulatory framework and is referenced in RTR's study on the importance of free radio for participation, media competence, and public discourse.
• Bettellobby TirolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBettellobby Tirol advocates for people experiencing poverty and homelessness. FREIRAD partners with Bettellobby as part of its mission to amplify voices of marginalized communities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Radio Ypsilon: Lower Austrian free community radio operating within the same VFRÖ framework. Direct peer operating on an open-access model targeting civil society and minority voices comparable to FREIRAD.
• Radiofabrik 107.5: Salzburg-based free community radio broadcasting on 107.5 MHz. Direct peer in the Austrian VFRÖ association, sharing FREIRAD's open-access broadcasting philosophy and nonprofit structure.
• Radio CORAX: Non-commercial community radio in Halle (Saale), Germany, with a comparable open-access, multilingual programming approach. Direct peer in the broader European free/community radio movement that FREIRAD is plugged into via CMFE/AMARC.
• Radio Helsinki 92.6: Free community radio station based in Graz, Austria, broadcasting on 92.6 MHz. Direct peer as a fellow Austrian non-commercial community radio operating under the same VFRÖ framework and open-access model as FREIRAD.
• Freies Radio Salzkammergut (Freistadt): Another Austrian Freies Radio in the VFRÖ network providing open-access community broadcasting. Direct peer with a similar regional, non-commercial, community-partnered radio model.
• Radio FRO 105.0: Austrian free community radio in Linz broadcasting on 105.0 MHz. Direct peer under the VFRÖ network with the same open-access, multilingual, civil-society-partnered programming model as FREIRAD.
• Radio B138: Upper Austrian community radio affiliated with VFRÖ. Direct peer operating the same open-access programming model for civil society and minority audiences in Austria.
• ORANGE 94.0: Vienna's free community radio on 94.0 MHz, the largest of the Austrian Freie Radios. Direct peer offering the same open-access, multilingual community programming model as FREIRAD, with national-scale reach.

Emerging players

• doityourself.fm (DIY FM): Austrian internet-only community radio project providing a digital open-access broadcasting platform. Emerging peer that overlaps with FREIRAD's mission but bypasses FM licensing, representing a potential alternative model.

Others

• Community Media Forum Europe (CMFE): European umbrella body for community media, of which FREIRAD is a member. Ecosystem-level peer representing the broader community radio sector across Europe, relevant for benchmarking and advocacy alignment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freirad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FREIRAD