(cc) by spaceodissey/flickrThe Past: What was Kangaroo? Project Kangaroo was (a codename for) a proposed service offered by a joint venture company formed by BBC Worldwide (the BBC's commercial arm), ITV and Channel 4, in order to deliver a next-generation online VOD platform. Similar in function to the BBC iPlayer, and likely to rely on the same technology as its foundation, it would have allowed these players, and others that joined up on a more ad hoc basis, to commercialise their catalogue programming. It would be financed by subscription, pay per view, advertising, or a combination of these, direct from the consumer. In the case of the BBC, this would happen only after the end of the seven-day 'catch-up' window during which programmes are free to view on iPlayer. It is thought that Channel 4 had intended to close its own service, 4oD (4 on Demand), though it seems likely that ITV would continue to use ITV.com as a destination site, including its own videos.

(cc) by totalAldo/flickrThe Independent reports that Ashley Highfield has announced his intention to make MSN the 'home of online television'.

Highfield has recently joined Microsoft UK, previously having been head of 'Future Media' at the BBC, and briefly being head of the failed commercial video venture, codenamed Kangaroo, which BBC Worldwide (the BBC's commercial arm), ITV and Channel 4 had intended to launch as a joint-venture to deliver video direct-to-consumer online after their free catch-up windows. He's widely credited with delivering very successful refreshed of the BBC's online properties, not just with the staggeringly successful iPlayer, but also with the refresh of bbc.co.uk with its focus on simplicity and user personalisation.