BBC's digital head quits for joint online service

LONDON (Reuters) - Ashley Highfield, the BBC's director of future media and technology, has stepped down to become chief executive of a new video-on-demand service from Britain's three main terrestrial broadcasters.

Highfield is to join Kangaroo -- a joint online video platform from ITV, BBC Worldwide and Channel 4 that is set to launch later this year.

He will be responsible for the roll-out of the service, leading negotiations with third-party content owners and the future distribution of the service on other platforms.

All broadcasters have moved to make their programs available online in recent years, to reach younger people spending more time on the Internet, and the broadcasters hope a combined offering will achieve greater reach with audiences and advertisers.

During his time at the BBC, Highfield oversaw the launch of the BBC's own Internet TV catch-up service, the iPlayer, which has grown strongly since it launched on Christmas Day, with more than 42 million programs being watched or downloaded.

Kangaroo will be Web-based and available for distribution on other platforms, with viewers able to watch programs for free, with advertising or as pay-per-view.

(Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by David Cowell)