BBC, ITV and C4 collaborate on IPTV

The BBC, ITV and Channel 5 are forming a joint venture, called Project Kangaroo, to provide an on-demand TV service.

The service will initially be launched online, with a view to rolling in out to other platforms later, including Freeview.

The companies have joined forces in an effort to capitalise in the growing market for on-demand television and to compete against both online aggregators such as Joost, and other rivals including Sky.

Project Kangaroo, which will be rebranded when it is launched in 2008, will provide over 10,000 hours of content from all three companies.

Viewers will be able to catch up on shows that have already been broadcast. This ‘catch-up’ content will be free to consumers and supported by advertising.

Material will also be available to download, to either keep or on a rental basis. There is expected to be a fee for this service.

ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC will each take a one-third stake in the venture.

The BBC will still operate its iPlayer service, which will feature BBC programmes released in the previous seven days.

There will be links to iPlayer from the Kangaroo site.