Former BBC digital chief Ashley Highfield has quit as the CEO of Kangaroo, the new joint TV-on-demand venture from BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4.
As previously reported, the idea behind Kangaroo is to offer an on-demand service akin to the BBC's iPlayer, but including programmes from ITV and Channel 4 too. Kanagaroo would probably get BBC programmes after they had been on the Beeb's own iPlayer for seven days. The project, however, is currently in limbo while the Competition Commission investigate whether the collaboration of the three terrestrial broadcasters is anti-competitive.
It's not clear if frustrations over the Competition Commission delays had a role in Highfield's decision to quit, though in a statement he says he has decided to go because the offer of the job he's going to, as MD of Microsoft UK, was just too good to turn down.
Rod Henwood, the former Channel 4 exec who is acting as Kangaroo's lead regulatory adviser, will take over as CEO on a temporary basis until a permanent replacement can be found.