Kangaroo (video on demand)

Kangaroo will be a video on demand platform offering content from BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm of the BBC), ITV.com and Channel 4's 4oD, expected to launch in 2008, although this may be delayed until 2009 [cite news | date=2007-11-27 | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/nov/27/bbc.itv| title= Broadcasters to launch joint VoD service| publisher=The Guardian | accessdate=2008-01-13] cite news | date=2008-05-13 | url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/MediaPmBulletin/News/808546/SeeSaw-selected-name-video-on-demand-service/?DCMP=EMC-Media%20PM%20Bulletin | title= SeeSaw selected as name of video-on-demand service | publisher=Media Week accessdate=2008-05-13] . Unlike the BBC iPlayer, which is publicly funded and has no plans to carry any paid content, Kangaroo will allow users to purchase content from a large back catalogue. As noted below, the plan to link to content on BBC iPlayer means that it will provide a single broadband VOD service for the key three broadcasters in the UK. It should be noted that Kangaroo is the project name; the final name and brand of the service have yet to be announced, but it is believed it will be known as SeeSaw.

The three networks behind the project will continue to offer content independently of the service, with ITV and Channel 4 planning to offer catch up services through their own websites, and the BBC saying that it will not replace the iPlayer, but content from the iPlayer will be "listed within" the new service. [cite news | date=2007-11-27 | url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2007/11/project_kangaroo_leaps_closer_to_reality.php| title= Project Kangaroo leaps closer to reality| publisher=The Stage | accessdate=2008-01-13] However, it is expected that 4oD will be subsumed into Kangaroo. [cite news | date=2007-12-02 | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a80981/key-4od-exec-to-leave-channel-4.html| title= Key 4oD exec to leave Channel 4| publisher=Digital Spy | accessdate=2008-01-13] The site is expected to be powered by Kontiki and developed by ioko. [cite news | date=2007-11-27 | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/nov/27/bbc.channelfive| title=VoD: Five left on the sidelines| publisher=The Guardian]

It was announced on 14 April 2008 that Ashley Highfield, Director of Future Media and Technology at the BBC, had been appointed the CEO of Kangaroo. [ cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2008/04_april/ashley_highfield_kangaroo.shtml | title=Ashley Highfield appointed as CEO of Kangaroo | publisher=BBC Worldwide Press Releases | date=2008-04-14 | accessdate=2008-04-14 ]

On 30 June 2008, the UK's Office of Fair Trading referred the proposal to the Competition Commission with concerns that "there was a danger that the platform could be too powerful". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7481655.stm BBC NEWS | Business | Probe of video-on-demand venture ] ] The Commission has until 12 December 2008 to complete its review.

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