Staff at the ABC's Canberra headquarters were left angry and concerned on Monday as broad-ranging budget cuts saw ACT director Elizabeth McGrath leaving the national broadcaster along with about 10 per cent of staff nationwide.

Ms McGrath was named one of as many as eight staff expected to leave Northbourne Avenue after the Abbott Government cut $254 million from the organisation's budget.

Canberra 666 ABC radio and operations staff will make up the majority of the redundancies, including one full-time senior producer.

At least one television producer position will go as the Friday edition of 7.30 ACT is replaced with a new national program.

Earlier speculation that Canberra operations would be downgraded proved to be incorrect. 7.30 ACT host Chris Kimball and reporter Adrienne Francis will be given new roles in the Canberra newsroom.

Staff, politicians and union officials will protest the cuts in a rally at Parliament House on Tuesday morning.

ABC managing director Mark Scott has confirmed about 400 ABC staff nationally will lose their jobs, with management positions expected to make up about 10 per cent of the job losses. A reorganisation of some television production, including Lateline, and changes in sport coverage are also planned.

Nowra is among five regional centres set to lose ABC operations and Radio National and Classic FM will see significant changes.

ABC news director Kate Torney confirmed the news division, which includes positions at Parliament House, would see about 100 job losses. A range of overseas news bureaux will also be reorganised.

Most top-of-the-hour news radio bulletins will be shortened from the current 10 minutes to five but bulletins at 7am and 7.45am will remain unchanged. Some special broadcasts will be scaled back.

Mr Scott's statement said the ABC would create Australia's first "mobile-led newsroom in the ACT" but Canberra staff said no information had been made available about the plan.

Mr Kimball thanked viewers of 7.30 ACT after long-running speculation about program's future.

"People here put their heart and soul into it, they are not just going through the motions. For it to be in jeopardy for so long has been difficult, but at least there is now certainty," he said.

"What has been affirming has been the feedback and how much people appreciate local stories. Even today, the amount of messages saying how much they love the show and how much they will miss it is quite affirming," he said.

Veteran television newsreader Virginia Haussegger said staff were angry and especially sad at the departure of Ms McGrath, who first joined the ABC in 1979 and is credited with championing local television news for Canberra.

She is also credited for leadership during coverage of Canberra's 2003 bushfire disaster.

Ms Haussegger said the loss was "gobsmackingly upsetting" for local staff.

"She is the reason we are here. She fought a big fight 15 years ago to get the local TV news here and that's why I am here."

"It is tough. We work in the media and know its changing times and we have to adapt. Many of us aren't afraid of change and in fact embrace change but this is really tough.

"This branch has served the local community superbly," she said.

Ms McGrath referred questions to an ABC spokesman on Monday. She is expected to leave by mid-2015.

ABC sources told The Canberra Times staff remained "angry and fearful" of the further detail to come. One source said some had expected worse cuts to hit Canberra operations.

Australian Opals star Lauren Jackson said plans to axe coverage of the Women's National Basketball League and soccer's W-League came on a "very dark day for women's sport".

Ms Jackson said the move could result in an exodus of players and sponsorship from women's sport.

SBS management said the broadcaster was preparing for $53 million in cuts, but no redundancy program is planned.