The head of the ABC has suggested a merger with the SBS, saying there is less distinguishing the public broadcasters now than ever before.
ABC managing director Mark Scott proposed an overhaul of the way the ABC and SBS transmit their television channels, a move that could save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars a year.
The change, if implemented, could see the broadcasters reduce their number of television channels and eventually move some channels online.
At Senate estimates hearings earlier this month, Mr Scott revived debate about whether the two public broadcasters should merge by questioning the relevance and distinctiveness of SBS in the digital age.
A new report by the Australia Institute, examining how the two broadcasters could work together more closely, argues ABC and SBS would benefit by merging their online operations.
Mr Scott said at recent Senate estimates hearing: "SBS was created well before digitisation, well before digital television.
He said that SBS was airing less foreign language than in a past and that offerings such as SBS2 were very similar to the ABC's programming.
