Hodson to replace Ugeux in ITV's Kangaroo role

by Fiona Ramsay, Media Week 28-Aug-08, 17:50

LONDON - Patrick Ugeux, ITV's project director of Kangaroo, the joint venture video-on-demand service planned by ITV, BBC Worldwide and Channel 4, has left ITV to join Chellomedia. Rob Hobson, executive business manager of ITV consumer, has taken on additional responsibilities as ITV's Kangaroo representative.

In 2006, Ugeux was appointed ITV director of marketing strategy, but took on responsibility for developing the planned Kangaroo service late last year.

Ugeux joined ITV from Marakon Associates and previously worked at A&E Networks, operator of the Biography Channel and the History Channel.

It is not known what role Ugeux has taken with Chellomedia, which is one of the largest pay TV channel operators in continental Europe.

ITV board director for the Kangaroo service is chief operating officer at ITV Consumer, Ben McOwen Wilson.

Ashley Highfield, chief executive of Kangaroo, told delegates at last weekend's Edinburgh Television Festival that "in theory", Kangaroo could launch in January if the Competition Commission gave the service the go-ahead.

Highfield said the partners would expect to hear an interim finding before Christmas.

But David Moody, director of strategy for BBC Worldwide, told Media Week that the BBC Trust wants Kangaroo to be "developed to a state where it can be considered properly". A spokesman admitted that there was "no guarantee" that the Trust would support the proposals.