Australian Broadcasting Corporation managing director Mark Scott has called for genre restrictions imposed on ABC2 to be lifted.

Scott issued the request while testifying before a Senate panel scrutinising plans by the Australian government to change the country's media laws.

"We do identify opportunities for the ABC to leverage off its history and heritage to provide more services, particularly in the area of children's television."

Currently, the ABC and other national broadcasters are limited in what it can put on digital TV by federal regulations that, in the words of the Australian Communications and Media Authority, are "designed to encourage them to provide a range of services that are different from traditional broadcasting services."