Microsoft denies planning to resurrect Kangaroo

Microsoft has denied reports that it plans to resurrect video-on-demand service Project Kangaroo.

Reports in the trade press had suggested that the company was in discussions with Kangaroo shareholders as part of a strategy to boosting the Microsoft’s audio-visual offering.

However, a statement from Ashley Highfield, MD and VP of Microsoft Consumer & Online UK, said: “While Microsoft sees huge potential for online video we have not proposed to resurrect Project Kangaroo.”

He added: “We will, as you’d expect, continue to collaborate with all of our commercial partners, many of which are broadcasters and content owners.”

The Competition Commission blocked the launch of Project Kangaroo, the joint video-on-demand service from BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4, earlier this month, ruling that the venture would be “too much of a threat to competition” (see Competition Commission “stops” Kangaroo).