Kangaroo decision delayed until February

The Competition Commission’s decision on Project Kangaroo, a joint venture between the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 to establish a single platform for on-demand, internet TV, has been put back from 14 December 2008 to 8 February 2009, to give the broadcasters extra time to supply documentation.

This means that the service will not be available until well into next year, as even if the Commission approves the service in February, there will still have to be a consultation period before it can be launched.

Project Kangaroo was referred to the Competition way back in June, by the Office of Fair Trading, due to concern that the joint venture would have too much control over the video on demand market.

This could lead to the joint venture having too much control over advertising rates and prices, harming competition.

It is rumoured that when it is eventually launched, Project Kangaroo will be renamed ‘See-Saw’.