ABC managing director Mark Scott has foreshadowed a downsizing of the national broadcaster, including job losses, programming cuts and property sales as a result of budget cuts.

Mr Scott told Senate estimates hearings the axing of the Australia Network international broadcasting service will lead to job losses - including a reduction in the ABC's number of foreign correspondents. A voluntary redundancy process will begin within weeks.

The government cut $35.5 million from the ABC over four years in this year's budget and further cuts are expected following an efficiency review into the ABC and SBS.

The budget described this year's cuts as a "down-payment" on the efficiency review, which has been handed to the ABC and SBS managing directors in draft form."We seek to find efficiencies but sooner or later you reach the end of the efficiencies," Mr Scott said.