ABC Managing Director Mark Scott has issued a formal apology to News Corp Australia commentator Chris Kenny over a Chaser sketch depicting him having sex with a dog.

Despite receiving almost 200 complaints about the sketch, the ABC's complaints department found last October that it did not breach the broadcaster's editorial policies. Mr Kenny has since begun proceedings to sue the ABC for defamation.

On Monday, Mr Scott said in a statement: "I have come to the view with the director of television that the ABC should not have put the skit to air.

"Having reviewed the issue, in my opinion it falls short of the quality demanded by our audience and normally delivered by our programming."

Chaser team member Julian Morrow responded to the apology by tweeting a photo of Mr Scott having sex with a hamster.

Mr Scott said: "While Mr Kenny is a strong and persistent critic of the ABC, and can expect to be a subject of satire, the depiction of him was very strong in the context of the satirical point attempted.

"As a consequence, I would like to apologise to Mr Kenny for the ABC having put the skit to air, his depiction in the skit and because it was triggered by his criticism of the ABC.

"I am sorry for the distress this incident has caused him and his family. I have also called Mr Kenny today to convey this apology and put it in writing to him."

The segment featured on an episode of The Hamster Decides last September.

Mr Scott says in the statement that the apology is separate to the defamation case. The Australian Communications and Media Authority is also investigating a complaint about the skit.

Mr Scott said that he regretted waiting so long to make the apology.