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{{short description|Cancelled video on demand platform}} |
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{{Merge|SeeSaw|date=June 2010}} |
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{{UBE|date=February 2018}} |
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| ⚫ | '''Kangaroo''' was the working title for a proposed [[video on demand]] platform offering content from [[BBC Worldwide]] (the commercial arm of the [[BBC]]), [[ |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} |
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Broadcasters to launch joint VoD service| publisher=[[The Guardian]] | accessdate=2008-01-13 | location=London | first=Mark | last=Sweney}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news | date=2008-05-13 | url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/MediaPmBulletin/News/808546/SeeSaw-selected-name-video-on-demand-service/?DCMP=EMC-Media%20PM%20Bulletin | title= SeeSaw selected as name of video-on-demand service | publisher=[[Media Week]] accessdate=2008-05-13}}</ref> Following the Commission's rejection of the bid, the technology platform was put up for sale. The bidders included Orange (who pulled out)<ref>{{cite news | date=2009-05-19 | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/may/19/project-kangaroo-orange | title=Orange pulls out of talks to buy Project Kangaroo technology | publisher=[[The Guardian]] | accessdate=2009-07-19 | location=London | first=Mark | last=Sweney}}</ref> and [[Arqiva]] <ref>{{cite news | date=2009-05-28 | url=http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-report-tv-tech-firm-arqiva-in-kangaroo-remains-bid/ | title=TV Tech Firm Arqiva Interested In Kangaroo’s Technology | accessdate=2009-07-19}}</ref>. The project was bought by Arqiva for about 8 million pounds <ref>{{cite publishers=[[The Guardian]] | accessdate=2009-07-24 | date=2009-07-24 | title=Arqiva understood to have paid about £8m for Project Kangaroo assets | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/24/arqiva-project-kangaroo | location=London | first=Mark | last=Sweney}}</ref> on the 23 July 2009 and promising to launch in the 'coming months'<ref>{{cite news | date=2009-07-23 | title=Arqiva Press Release | accessdate = 2009-07-23 | url=http://www.arqiva.com/press-office/press-releases/press-releases-2009/arqiva-to-acquire-project-kangaroo-platform-assets}}</ref>. It was launched as [[SeeSaw (Internet television)|SeeSaw]] in February 2010. |
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| ⚫ | '''Kangaroo''' was the working title for a proposed [[video on demand]] platform offering content from [[BBC Worldwide]] (the commercial arm of the [[BBC]]), [[Itv.com]] and [[Channel 4]]'s [[4oD]] (collectively UK VOD LLP), initially expected to launch in 2008, but blocked by the [[Competition Commission]] (now Competition and Markets Authority) in 2009.<ref>{{cite news | date=27 November 2007 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/nov/27/bbc.itv| title= Broadcasters to launch joint VoD service| work=[[The Guardian]] | accessdate=13 January 2008 | location=London | first=Mark | last=Sweney}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news | date=13 May 2008 | url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/808546/SeeSaw-selected-name-video-on-demand-service/ | title= SeeSaw selected as name of video-on-demand service | work=Media Week | accessdate=13 May 2008}}</ref> |
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Following the commission's rejection of the bid, the technology platform was put up for sale, and the broadcasters then moved on to [[Project Canvas]] and [[YouView]], and later to [[BritBox]]. The project was bought by Arqiva for about £8 million on 23 July 2009,<ref>{{cite news | work=[[The Guardian]] | accessdate=24 July 2009 | date=24 July 2009 | title=Arqiva understood to have paid about £8m for Project Kangaroo assets | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/24/arqiva-project-kangaroo | location=London | first=Mark | last=Sweney}}</ref> promising to launch in the 'coming months'.<ref>{{cite news | date=23 July 2009 | title=Arqiva to acquire Project Kangaroo platform assets | accessdate=23 July 2009 | url=http://www.arqiva.com/corporate/press/archive/2009/2009-07-23%20-%20Arqiva%20acquire%20Project%20Kangaroo%20platform%20assets.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917165157/http://arqiva.com/corporate/press/archive/2009/2009-07-23%20-%20Arqiva%20acquire%20Project%20Kangaroo%20platform%20assets.pdf | archive-date=17 September 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref> It was launched as [[SeeSaw (Internet television)|SeeSaw]] in February 2010 but was shut down in October 2011. |
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Unlike the [[BBC iPlayer]], which is publicly funded and has no plans to carry any paid content, Kangaroo would have allowed users to purchase content from a large back catalogue. As noted below, the plan to link to content on [[BBC iPlayer]] means that it would have provided a single broadband VOD service for the key three broadcasters in the UK. Kangaroo is the project name; the final name and brand of the service was never announced, but it was believed it would have been known as '''SeeSaw'''.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> The evidence it was to be called See Saw includes the DNS record for seesaw.co.uk <ref>{{cite web | url=http://webwhois.nic.uk/cgi-bin/whois.cgi?query=seesaw.co.uk&WHOIS+Submit.x=0&WHOIS+Submit.y=0 | title=DNS record for seesaw.co.uk | accessdate=2009-07-19}}</ref> which shows it is owned by UK VOD LLP, designs on Ostmodern's website show the brand name in the footer <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ostmodern.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Kangaroo_2.png | title=Design mock up | accessdate=2009-07-19}}</ref> and the registered trademark showing the name and the same logo as is on the design mockups <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ipo.gov.uk/domestic?domesticnum=2502476 | title="See Saw trademark on IPO website | accessdate=2009-07-19}}</ref>. As of 1 Oct 2009, the DNS record is attributed to Arqiva and [[SeeSaw (Internet television)|SeeSaw]] was released in February 2010. |
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| ⚫ | The three networks behind the project would continue to offer content independently of the service, with [[ITV]] and Channel 4 planning to offer catch up services through their own websites, and the BBC saying that it will not replace the iPlayer, but content from the iPlayer would be "listed within" the new service.<ref>{{cite news | date=2007 |
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Unlike the [[BBC iPlayer]], which is funded through the [[Television licensing in the United Kingdom|licence fee]] and has no plans to carry any paid content, Kangaroo would have allowed users to purchase content from a large back catalogue. As noted below, the plan to link to content on [[BBC iPlayer]] means that it would have provided a single broadband VOD service for the key three broadcasters in the UK. Kangaroo was the project name; the final name and brand of the service was never announced, but it was believed it would have been known as '''SeeSaw'''.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> |
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Project Kangaroo leaps closer to reality| publisher=[[The Stage]] | accessdate=2009-02-14}}</ref> However, it was expected that 4oD would be subsumed into Kangaroo.<ref>{{cite news | date=2007-12-02 | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a80981/key-4od-exec-to-leave-channel-4.html| title= |
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| ⚫ | The three networks behind the project would continue to offer content independently of the service, with [[ITV plc]] and Channel 4 planning to offer catch up services through their own websites, and the BBC saying that it will not replace the iPlayer, but content from the iPlayer would be "listed within" the new service.<ref>{{cite news | date=27 November 2007 | url=http://blogs.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2007/11/project-kangaroo-leaps-closer-to-reality/ | title=Project Kangaroo leaps closer to reality | work=[[The Stage]] | accessdate=14 February 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125161638/http://blogs.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2007/11/project-kangaroo-leaps-closer-to-reality/ | archive-date=25 November 2009 | url-status=dead }}</ref> However, it was expected that 4oD would be subsumed into Kangaroo.<ref>{{cite news | date=2 December 2007 | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a80981/key-4od-exec-to-leave-channel-4.html| title= |
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Capablue were the lead consultants on the project - responsible for the project management, product development and user experience. The graphic design was by Ostmodern and the systems integration by [[ioko]].<ref>{{cite news | date=2007-11-27 | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/nov/27/bbc.channelfive| title=VoD: Five left on the sidelines| publisher=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | first=Mark | last=Sweney | accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref> |
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It was announced on 14 April 2008 that [[Ashley Highfield]], Director of Future Media and Technology at the BBC, had been appointed the CEO of Kangaroo.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2008/04_april/ashley_highfield_kangaroo.shtml | title=Ashley Highfield appointed as CEO of Kangaroo | publisher=BBC Worldwide Press Releases | date= |
It was announced on 14 April 2008 that [[Ashley Highfield]], Director of Future Media and Technology at the BBC, had been appointed the CEO of Kangaroo.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2008/04_april/ashley_highfield_kangaroo.shtml | title=Ashley Highfield appointed as CEO of Kangaroo | publisher=BBC Worldwide Press Releases | date=14 April 2008 | accessdate=14 April 2008 }}</ref> Highfield left the project in November 2008, to work for Microsoft.<ref>{{ cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/3437854/Microsoft-poaches-Ashley-Highfield-from-BBC-Channel-4-and-ITV-joint-internet-venture.html | title=Microsoft poaches Ashley Highfield from BBC, Channel 4 and ITV joint internet venture | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=25 November 2008 | accessdate=8 January 2009 | location=London | first=Rowena | last=Mason}}</ref> |
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On 30 June 2008, the UK's [[Office of Fair Trading]] referred the proposal to the [[Competition Commission]] with concerns that "there was a danger that the platform could be too powerful".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7481655.stm | |
On 30 June 2008, the UK's [[Office of Fair Trading]] referred the proposal to the [[Competition Commission]] with concerns that "there was a danger that the platform could be too powerful".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7481655.stm |work=BBC News| title=Probe of video-on-demand venture | date=30 June 2008 | accessdate=7 May 2010}}</ref> The Commission published an interim report on 3 December saying that the service could "hurt competition"<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7762241.stm |work=BBC News| title=On-demand video 'not competitive' | date=3 December 2008 | accessdate=7 May 2010}}</ref> and a final report was published on 4 February 2009, formally blocking the project.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/press_rel/2009/feb/pdf/05-09.pdf |title='PROJECT KANGAROO' – FINAL REPORT |access-date=4 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817104859/http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/press_rel/2009/feb/pdf/05-09.pdf |archive-date=17 August 2011 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> |
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==SeeSaw== |
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{{Main|SeeSaw}} |
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Following the commission's rejection of the bid, the technology platform was put up for sale. The bidders included [[Orange (UK)|Orange]] (who pulled out)<ref>{{cite news | date=19 May 2009 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/may/19/project-kangaroo-orange | title=Orange pulls out of talks to buy Project Kangaroo technology | work=[[The Guardian]] | accessdate=19 July 2009 | location=London | first=Mark | last=Sweney}}</ref> and [[Arqiva]].<ref>{{cite news | date=28 May 2009 | url=http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-report-tv-tech-firm-arqiva-in-kangaroo-remains-bid/ | title=TV Tech Firm Arqiva Interested in Kangaroo's Technology | accessdate=19 July 2009}}</ref> Arqiva launched [[SeeSaw]] in February 2010 as a video-on-demand Internet TV service. It sold a majority stake to US investment firm [[Criterion Capital Partners]] in July 2011, but this was insufficient to save the service, which closed from lack of funding and content in October 2011. |
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==Project Canvas== |
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{{Main|YouView}} |
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Shortly after Project Kangaroo was blocked in 2009, ''Project Canvas'' was announced as a partnership between the BBC, BT and ITV plc. It differed from Kangaroo in that it was a proposed TV platform rather than a video-on-demand service. After a lengthy regulatory approval process, it was finally launched in July 2012 as [[YouView]], a hybrid platform using a set-top box combining free-to-air digital terrestrial television channels from [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] using an aerial connection, and TV on demand ("catch-up TV") services using a broadband internet connection. |
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==BritBox== |
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{{Main|BritBox}} |
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In July 2019 the BBC and ITV announced plans for their joint-venture streaming service [[BritBox]] (then only available in the United States and Canada) to be launched in the last quarter of 2019 in the UK. In the wake of the announcement journalists linked the two projects, describing BritBox as Kangaroo's successor 11 years on. The main purpose of BritBox is for the traditional UK broadcasters to take a share of the UK streaming market from American rivals [[Netflix]] and [[Amazon Prime]], some calling the venture "British Netflix".<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49037855 | title=BritBox: ITV and BBC set out plans for new streaming service | publisher=BBC News | date=19 July 2019 }}</ref> BritBox was launched in the UK on 7 November 2019.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-11-07/britbox-streaming-site-explained/ | title=Britbox Streaming Site Explained | publisher=Radio Times | date=7 November 2019 }}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Defunct video on demand services]] |
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Latest revision as of 05:11, 5 November 2024
Kangaroo was the working title for a proposed video on demand platform offering content from BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm of the BBC), Itv.com and Channel 4's 4oD (collectively UK VOD LLP), initially expected to launch in 2008, but blocked by the Competition Commission (now Competition and Markets Authority) in 2009.[1][2]
Following the commission's rejection of the bid, the technology platform was put up for sale, and the broadcasters then moved on to Project Canvas and YouView, and later to BritBox. The project was bought by Arqiva for about £8 million on 23 July 2009,[3] promising to launch in the 'coming months'.[4] It was launched as SeeSaw in February 2010 but was shut down in October 2011.
The original Project Kangaroo
[edit]Unlike the BBC iPlayer, which is funded through the licence fee and has no plans to carry any paid content, Kangaroo would have allowed users to purchase content from a large back catalogue. As noted below, the plan to link to content on BBC iPlayer means that it would have provided a single broadband VOD service for the key three broadcasters in the UK. Kangaroo was the project name; the final name and brand of the service was never announced, but it was believed it would have been known as SeeSaw.[2]
The three networks behind the project would continue to offer content independently of the service, with ITV plc and Channel 4 planning to offer catch up services through their own websites, and the BBC saying that it will not replace the iPlayer, but content from the iPlayer would be "listed within" the new service.[5] However, it was expected that 4oD would be subsumed into Kangaroo.[6]
It was announced on 14 April 2008 that Ashley Highfield, Director of Future Media and Technology at the BBC, had been appointed the CEO of Kangaroo.[7] Highfield left the project in November 2008, to work for Microsoft.[8]
On 30 June 2008, the UK's Office of Fair Trading referred the proposal to the Competition Commission with concerns that "there was a danger that the platform could be too powerful".[9] The Commission published an interim report on 3 December saying that the service could "hurt competition"[10] and a final report was published on 4 February 2009, formally blocking the project.[11]
SeeSaw
[edit]Following the commission's rejection of the bid, the technology platform was put up for sale. The bidders included Orange (who pulled out)[12] and Arqiva.[13] Arqiva launched SeeSaw in February 2010 as a video-on-demand Internet TV service. It sold a majority stake to US investment firm Criterion Capital Partners in July 2011, but this was insufficient to save the service, which closed from lack of funding and content in October 2011.
Project Canvas
[edit]Shortly after Project Kangaroo was blocked in 2009, Project Canvas was announced as a partnership between the BBC, BT and ITV plc. It differed from Kangaroo in that it was a proposed TV platform rather than a video-on-demand service. After a lengthy regulatory approval process, it was finally launched in July 2012 as YouView, a hybrid platform using a set-top box combining free-to-air digital terrestrial television channels from Freeview using an aerial connection, and TV on demand ("catch-up TV") services using a broadband internet connection.
BritBox
[edit]In July 2019 the BBC and ITV announced plans for their joint-venture streaming service BritBox (then only available in the United States and Canada) to be launched in the last quarter of 2019 in the UK. In the wake of the announcement journalists linked the two projects, describing BritBox as Kangaroo's successor 11 years on. The main purpose of BritBox is for the traditional UK broadcasters to take a share of the UK streaming market from American rivals Netflix and Amazon Prime, some calling the venture "British Netflix".[14] BritBox was launched in the UK on 7 November 2019.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ Sweney, Mark (27 November 2007). "Broadcasters to launch joint VoD service". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
- ^ a b "SeeSaw selected as name of video-on-demand service". Media Week. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
- ^ Sweney, Mark (24 July 2009). "Arqiva understood to have paid about £8m for Project Kangaroo assets". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
- ^ "Arqiva to acquire Project Kangaroo platform assets" (PDF). 23 July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
- ^ "Project Kangaroo leaps closer to reality". The Stage. 27 November 2007. Archived from the original on 25 November 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
- ^ "Key 4oD exec to leave Channel 4". Digital Spy. 2 December 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
- ^ "Ashley Highfield appointed as CEO of Kangaroo". BBC Worldwide Press Releases. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
- ^ Mason, Rowena (25 November 2008). "Microsoft poaches Ashley Highfield from BBC, Channel 4 and ITV joint internet venture". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
- ^ "Probe of video-on-demand venture". BBC News. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "On-demand video 'not competitive'". BBC News. 3 December 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "'PROJECT KANGAROO' – FINAL REPORT" (PDF). Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
- ^ Sweney, Mark (19 May 2009). "Orange pulls out of talks to buy Project Kangaroo technology". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
- ^ "TV Tech Firm Arqiva Interested in Kangaroo's Technology". 28 May 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
- ^ "BritBox: ITV and BBC set out plans for new streaming service". BBC News. 19 July 2019.
- ^ "Britbox Streaming Site Explained". Radio Times. 7 November 2019.