The BBC's director general, Matt Brittin, has said the corporation's current financial position "may well mean" that some television channels and radio stations have to close.
Speaking about the broadcaster's finances, Brittin described a situation in which difficult choices will be necessary to ensure the BBC can sustain its core services. He stressed that the potential closures are a consequence of the financial constraints facing the organisation rather than a reflection on the value of particular services.
The warning sets out a stark choice for the publicly funded media organisation as it considers how to allocate limited resources across television, radio and digital output. Any decision to shut services would come after internal reviews and would affect listeners and viewers who rely on those channels.
Brittin did not identify which services might be affected or give a timetable for any changes. He indicated that the BBC will need to weigh priorities and make trade-offs in order to maintain editorial standards and deliver its public service remit within available funding.
The comments are likely to prompt further scrutiny from stakeholders, including audiences and policymakers, on how the broadcaster manages its finances and the future shape of its output. The BBC has previously undertaken restructuring and cost-saving programmes; this latest statement underlines that more significant changes may be under consideration if financial pressures continue.