The BBC will be cutting the amount of money it spends on American programmes, as well as two radio stations and half its website, which according to the Times will be announced next month, and could put shows such as Family Guy and Heroes at risk.

The company’s £100 million budget for foreign acquisitions will be cut by 25%, with the £25 million saved going to channel BBC Two. It is unknown what shows, such as Mad Men, Heroes, Family Guy and American Dad!, will lose its funding. A source within the BBC Trust – the BBC’s governing body – says they may push the director-general to change the cut to 33%, meaning more shows may get the cut when the new seasons come around.

Director-General Mark Thompson said that the company, which gets £3.6 billion annual from TV licenses, “has become too large and must shrink to give its commercial rivals room to operate.”

Both 6 Music and the Asian Network will be cut, the amount spent on sports will be capped at around £300 million and BBC Switch and Blast! will close, as well as half its web pages and a 25% cut in the website’s funding and staff and the BBC Magazines part of BBC Worldwide.