The ABC has been urged to consider selling its capital city offices in areas such as Sydney's Ultimo and Melbourne's Southbank and moving to "purpose-built" facilities elsewhere.

Federal Communications Minister Paul Fletcher "strongly encouraged" the public broadcaster to explore a sale of its inner-city premises as it grapples with a funding freeze projected to shave up to $84 million off its budget across three years.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has encouraged the ABC to reconsider its inner-city offices. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The ABC declined to comment on the suggestion, made in a letter sent to ABC managing director David Anderson on Monday morning and seen by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Mr Anderson and chairwoman Ita Buttrose, who are due to release a five-year strategic plan this month, have been pushing the government to reconsider the funding freeze. There have been estimates up to 200 staff at the $1 billion-a-year taxpayer-funded broadcaster could be cut.