Among the options being considered is a sharp reduction in the number of in-house productions of hour-long drama "like Torchwood and Doctor Who". Since the entire RTD "Whoniverse" is a BBC production—as opposed to an independent show which the BBC buys as a finished good—all of them are theoretically up for cost/benefit review.

As was reported on Outpost Gallifrey earlier in the week, though, Torchwood and Doctor Who have proven significant revenue generators due to licensing abroad and other ancillariy rights. The extent to which that might be weighed against the programme's budget is unknown, but it will likely not be as straightforward an equation as might be expected in America. With the BBC's mandate being clearly about delivering the best, most varied product for the British rates-payer, the ability of the BBC to make money off a programme isn't the only factor in determining its continuation.