The BBC could reportedly be preparing to put BBC Four on course for closure as a linear TV channel.

The corporation has been on a cost-cutting drive in recent years in order to reach a savings target of £800m a year by 2021-22, with the effects already being felt across news output, overall workforce numbers and property costs.

BBC Three - a service aimed primarily at the 16-34 demo - was axed as a linear service in 2016 and converted into an online-only proposition, and there are rumours that BBC Four may now follow suit.

"The future of BBC4 is among the existential questions that the next [Director-General] is going to have to grapple with," a source told Broadcast of BBC Four, which has an annual budget of around £40m.

Another added: "Strategically, one has to question the value of keeping both BBC2 and BBC4."

In response, the BBC said that there are no plans to alter the direction of BBC Four, which has an audience share of around 1.2% in the UK.