Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has foreshadowed deeper cuts to the ABC and SBS in coming years, warning the ''age of entitlement'' for the public broadcasters is over.

Mr Turnbull said the broadcasters, whose funding has been cut by $43.5 million over four years, should be relieved the axe did not fall harder on them in the budget.

"Cuts have been made to the ABC in the budget which we have said are a down-payment on the review.": Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The government's efficiency review into the ABC and SBS has identified tens of millions of dollars worth of potential savings and will be presented to the ABC board for consideration this week.

The heads of ABC and SBS s argued in Senate hearings last week the broadcasters should be allowed to reinvest savings identified through the review into programs and services, an argument Mr Turnbull dismisses as ''ridiculous''.