Foxtel boss Kim Williams has called on the federal government to replace antiquated broadcasting regulation favouring free-to-air networks with rules more in tune with the digital economy.
Mr Williams said there was a "big junkyard of old regulation" to clear away to make way for the emerging digital economy, which has been identified as central to the nation's productivity.
"The core regulations that apply to television broadcasting are protectionist, anti-competitive and anti-consumer," the Foxtel boss said in a speech at the ABN Amro communications conference in Melbourne on Tuesday.
"In a nutshell, they are patched-up, analogue regulations carried over from the time when home entertainment was about sitting in the lounge room watching a handful of free-to-air channels with the news at 6pm, sport on Saturday afternoon and a family movie on Sunday night."
Mr Williams said the previous Liberal federal government had failed to update policy for the reality of the digital economy.
"They patched things up instead and tried to preserve the old industry models," he told the conference.
"I know many in the room will be tired of this story but it is overdue that people start listening. It is fundamental to the future direction of the Australian economy."
Mr Williams said subscription television, such as Foxtel, was helping to drive the digital economy in television while free-to-air networks were lagging.
The previous federal government's media ownership rule changes had not encouraged the major networks investment in digital, he said.
"All that subscription television seeks is that great Australian dream: the level playing field.
"No special favours for them, no special favours for us."
Subscription television providers were particularly concerned about sports anti-siphoning regulation that was originally designed to keep "events of national significance" on free-to-air television, he said.
"It is a classic example of analogue-world regulation that is out of step with the digital economy," he said.
Mr Williams said hundreds of events on the anti-siphoning list had been not been broadcast and he praised Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's decision to review the list.
The Foxtel chief also talked up plans to increase the subscription service's delivery of high definition television.
As well, Mr Williams said Foxtel's push into mobile television, through a partnership with Telstra's Next G phones, was gathering pace.
