A drastic shake-up of the radio station could see the loss of several programmes and many popular presenters.

ABC Classic FM could be facing its most radical restructure ever, according to senior sources within the broadcaster. Under the planned restructuring, which is yet to be made public, the major shakeup of the ABC’s classical music radio station will see a large number of redundancies, primarily of producers and presenters, including some of the broadcaster’s most high-profile figures, as well the loss of the majority of its existing live-to-air presented programming. Limelight understands that all but two existing shows will become largely automated, with only the Breakfast Show and Drive Time programme surviving the cuts, which according to one source are “imminent”. The rest of the broadcaster’s programming will be replaced by the pre-programmed “streamed” broadcasts similar to the type that replaced the overnight programming of Classic FM in November 2014.

Details of the alleged programming cuts have been circulating for months among Classic FM employees, according to sources inside and outside the organisation. However, management are allegedly in “lock down” according to one Classic FM source, and are refusing to offer further information or reassurances to staff. The situation...