The government has stressed that ABC directors, and then managers, control how they respond to budget cuts.

Expectations of serious funding cuts were heightened by Mr Turnbull's recent comments that the ABC could absorb up to $200 million in cuts without quality suffering.

The ABC declined to comment. A spokesman said it was still waiting for the government to indicate the size of the cuts.

The ABC has a budget of just over $1 billion and received a $35.5 million cut over four years in the May budget, as well as the axing of its contract to deliver the international TV service, the Australia Network.

A recent efficiency review into the ABC and SBS identified about $60 million in back-office savings. ABC managing director Mark Scott has said the ABC is "robustly" reviewing property, IT, procurement, human resources and finance, as well as working with the SBS to consider back-office savings.

Turnbull on Thursday said the two national broadcasters were "working up their responses" to the budget and the efficiency review, and "very substantial savings" were possible at the ABC.

"It is a lot of money [$200 million] but we're making cuts right across the government sector and so the ABC, or the SBS for that matter, cannot expect to be exempt. The question is to get the cuts in the right places, and to ensure that these businesses – the ABC and SBS – are run as efficiently as possible."

Prime Minister Tony Abbott went to the election promising no cuts to the ABC but early this year said a "lot of people feel at the moment that the ABC instinctively takes everyone's side but Australia's".