BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4 have appointed Ashley Highfield as CEO of Kangaroo, the working title for the new video on-demand service set to launch in the UK in 2008 which will be owned by the three broadcasters.

Highfield's name will be familiar to many as he joins the venture from the BBC where he was the director of future media and technology where he oversaw the the BBC's iPlayer launch.

Ashley Highfield said: "This is a fantastic opportunity. Kangaroo is a historic partnership with a combination of innovative technology and terrific content and I'm looking forward to transforming the way audiences watch television".

The commercial three-way joint venture's launch is subject to approval by the BBC Trust and each broadcaster's board.

>> News - Project Kangaroo confirmed