Ex-Foxtel boss Peter Tonagh and former Australian Communications and Media Authority acting chairman Richard Bean are understood to be heading up the government's efficiency review of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the SBS.

Mr Tonagh stepped down from his role as chief executive of pay-TV platform in January after two years in the role, later being replaced by Fox Sports boss Patrick Delany. The newly merged Fox Sports and Foxtel is 65 per cent owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and 35 per cent owned by telecommunications company Telstra.

Former Foxtel boss Peter Tonagh is set to head the efficiency review into the ABC. Credit:Louie Douvis

Mr Bean, a former legal counsel and network business manager for Network Ten, spent seven years as general counsel for telco Unwired.

An efficiency review of the public broadcasters was announced by Communications Minister Mitch Fifield in May as part of the 2018 Budget, which froze the ABC’s funding until 2022, saving the government $83.7 million.