Walter
Koehler, Head of ORF Natural History UNIVERSUM
ORF - Austrian Broadcasting Corporation
Walter Koehler began his career as a journalist working as a freelance for several
magazines, radio and television. After his PhD in journalism and political science
he joined the ORF. Not having forgotten his live long love for the natural world
in 1987 he worked as a filmmaker, producer and series producer for the newly founded
weekly wildlife strand UNIVERSUM. In 1992 he became executive producer for UNIVERSUM.
1994 Walter became Head of the ORF’s Natural History Unit focusing on wildlife film
originations in co-productions with most of the major players in the industry. Walter
now oversees two weekly primetime slots with about 100 shows a year from which approximately
25 percent are originations produced by UNIVERSUM for an international audience.
His record as executive producer contains numerous acclaimed wildlife epics which
one numerous festivals around the world. Recently he helped to bring Deep Blue, the Greenlight’s and BBC’s underwater adventure, from the small to the big screen.