BBC, C4 and ITV's Kangaroo finally finds new home with Arqiva

The on-demand TV platform developed by BBC Worldwide, Channel 4 and ITV - known as Project Kangaroo - has had its new home confirmed.

The technology behind Project Kangaroo was sold to broadcast infrastructure company Arqiva earlier this year. Today, the TV tech firm announced the acquisition has been completed giving it ownership of Kangaroo's hardware, software and intellectual property assets.

Project Kangaroo, a collaboration between BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4, was set up two years ago to develop a shared online on-demand TV service for the three organisations. It was shot down by the Competition Commission in February of this year, after the watchdog deemed it to be too much of a threat to competition by placing too much control of content and distribution in the hands of the broadcasters.

Arqiva reiterated its plans to use Project Kangaroo to open a video on demand service offering both free-to-air and paid options "in the coming months" but would not elaborate further on when the service is expected to go live.

The company has also today appointed a CEO for its newly created video on demand business, which will oversee the launch of the Kangaroo-based service.

The unit will be headed up by Pierre-Jean Sebert, former MD of TV channel Eurosport who previously worked as an advisor to broadcasters including Virgin Media and UKTV.