kangaroo

The Competition Commission--an independent public body which investigates mergers, markets and regulated industries at the UK government's behest, and which in February nixed Project Kangaroo, a joint video-on-demand venture between the BBC's BBC Worldwide arm, ITV and Channel 4, on the grounds that it would result in a "substantial lessening of competition in the supply of UK TV VOD content at the wholesale and retail levels"--published Friday drafts of "undertakings" that each of the Kangaroo partners must commit to in order to ensure that they do not engage (at least anytime soon) in joint activities that could restrict competition in the UK VOD market.

Last week, [itvt] reported on the launch of HD streaming and downloading on the BBC's online catch-up TV service, BBC iPlayer. Here is a round-up of some other recent interactive TV-related stories from the BBC:

--Company is a VOD Joint Venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4

Ashley Highfield has quit his post as the BBC's director of future media and technology to become the CEO of Kangaroo, a VOD service that is a commercial joint venture between the BBC, ITV (i.e. the UK's largest commercial broadcaster, the Independent Television Network) and Channel 4, and that is set to launch later this year (note: the launch of the service--which will initially be available via the Internet--is expected to take place in June). He succeeds Lesley MacKenzie, who
has been leading the venture as interim CEO. His new role will see
Highfield leading negotiations with content owners and potential