Project Kangaroo technology to form new video-on-demand service

Channel 4 was part of Project Kangaroo

The technology assets of the ill-fated BBC-led video-on-demand service Project Kangaroo have been acquired by a company that plans to launch a service similar to that of the failed project in the coming months.

Arqiva, a company providing telecommunications infrastructure and broadcast transmission facilities in the UK, bought the hardware and software as well as the related intellectual property developed for the Project Kangaroo service, which provide the foundation for a one-stop-shop for video content.

The firm will use Kangaroo’s setup to launch its own new video-on-demand service, with content from broadcasters and independent content providers delivered under both free and paid content propositions.

“We believe that online video-on-demand is an exciting and complementary development, and a natural extension to our traditional broadcast business,” said Steve Holebrook, managing director for terrestrial broadcast at Arqiva.

Under Project Kangaroo the platform was close to being ready for market launch before the initiative was prohibited by the Competition Commission.

The on-demand TV joint venture was led by the BBC, ITV and Channel Four, but was blocked by the Competition Commission earlier this year.

After months of squabbling, the Commission concluded that the service could not go ahead as it represented a threat to other companies trying to break into the video-on-demand sector.