Orange Project Kangaroo Technology

Project Kangaroo is the title given to a platform pertaining to video on demand that offers content from 4oD of Channel 4, ITV.com and BBC Worldwide, BBC’s commercial arm. This video on demand platform was expected to launch in 2008 initially, although was blocked in 2009 by the Competition Commission. Kangaroo, unlike BBC’s iPlayer would have permitted the customers to buy content from a large back menu. Besides, linking it to BBC’s iPlayer content would have offered the three key broadcasters in the UK, a single broadband VOD service.

 The current hot news is that broadband provider of the UK, Orange UK ISP was considering to acquire the Project Kangaroo technology that would entitle the ISP to offer a blend of video streaming and internet television to the users across Britain. This move from the part of Orange UK is all the more significant in the current circumstance that witnesses a defunct joint venture. Orange has revealed that although the de-facto initial investment in the project was something around GBP20 million, it would be acquiring the technology for a much reduced price.

 Orange, which has its parent company in French based France Telecom, however stated that no big decision has been taken officially at this stage, though the company was closely monitoring the present situation. From its limited comments, one thing that was apparent was its increased enthusiasm in developing TV projects in France with the help of the kangaroo project. Nonetheless, equally significant was their comment stating that they were extra-cautious when speaking about their future plans in the UK.