Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull says there is no need for the ABC to make cuts to programming in response to funding losses.

A government-commissioned efficiency review of "back of house" operations at the ABC and SBS has been handed to the public broadcasters, but its recommendations have not been made public.

There is speculation the ABC board is looking at axing programs including Lateline as a result of the funding cuts.

But in his weekly blog, Mr Turnbull said the savings sought from the ABC were not of a scale that would require reductions in program expenditure and that it would be wrong to suggest otherwise.

"The ABC may choose to cut programming rather than tackle back-office and administrative costs, but that's the ABC's call," Mr Turnbull wrote.

"If the ABC want to make programming decisions to adjust to viewing and listening trends, respond to the changing media cycle, ensure it is not, in its view, over-servicing its audience in a particular genre, or shift its resources to target online and mobile content, that is its choice.

"Those programming decisions will often be controversial, whether it is dropping or moving a news program or not renewing, for example, Janet King. But they are decisions for the management and board of the ABC, not the Government."

Mr Turnbull said programming cuts were the "laziest" way for a public broadcaster to save money.

"The harder but better thing to do is to restructure, reform and modernise the business and that is exactly what the efficiency study makes clear to the management," he wrote.

"Following the completion of the efficiency study, the ABC board and management know that there is ample capacity to achieve substantial savings without cutting the resources available for programming."

Savings go to Canberra, not reinvestment

An ABC spokesman said the corporation's board had an obligation to ensure it ran efficiently and effectively but also to reinvest in its future.

"In the past, the ABC has used efficiency savings to fund its new digital initiatives like iView and a string of other mobile and online services," the spokesman said.

"Government cuts mean efficiency savings will now go to Canberra and reinvestment funds will have to come from somewhere else.

"The investment in news has enhanced ABC news coverage, particularly in regional areas."

This week, the Australia Network went off the air after the Government withdrew funding for the broadcaster earlier this year.

The ABC has launched Australia Plus, a new multi-platform international service, which will screen blocks of ABC entertainment, sport, education and English learning content through Asia and Pacific broadcast partners.