So Ashley Highfield is to leave the BBC and cross over the commercial divide to lead 'Project Kangaroo', the iPlayer's commercial counterpart. This is a very interesting development, but one that has raised questions from commentators over Highfield's time at the corporation. Mind you, questions have been asked before.

The Guardian's Bobby Johnson wrote last May about the fraught development of the iPlayer and Highfield's part in it. "While recognised as a good politician and a driving force behind spreading the gospel to some other parts of the BBC, he has been accused of struggling to fulfil the glitzy promises made to the media."

Johnson's reports of an "innovation [being] crippled by a power struggle between different factions" is undoubtedly possible in a BBC-sized organisation, but Highfield must be annoying his doubters. He has not only managed to get iPlayer out the door, but it keeps grabbing attention because of its appearance on the two most high-profile gadgets of the last year - the iPhone and the Wii, and has earned tremendous audience figures.

Okay, so clearly the provision of iPlayer for those platforms is attention-grabbing, but it goes to show that the Beeb is now properly making strides in these spaces and is the envy of many broadcasters for doing so. iPlayer has had 42 million requests to view programmes in the first three months of the year. Some 20 million people a week now visit bbc.co.uk.

The difference for Highfield now is to do the same thing, but with a model that requires profitability and perhaps even greater financial restraint.

What's the cost model?

The BBC is a huge organisation, and its focus on new media since Highfield took charge has resulted in large budgets for development. BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, is involved in the new commercial Kangaroo project, as are ITV and Channel Four. All will require money in return for any investment.

Also, whatever anybody says, there will be competition with the iPlayer site. Kangaroo will apparently link to iPlayer programme content, but it seems slightly disingenuous with the commercial aim of the site.

Mind you, Highfield will have learnt vastly from his iPlayer experience and so is probably the best man for the job. "His knowledge in the digital media field is world class and he'll bring tremendous strategic and operational expertise to successfully take the venture forward," says John Smith, the chief executive of BBC Worldwide.

"I'm looking forward to transforming the way audiences watch television," said Highfield in a statement. Kangaroo is the working title for the project, which will definitely launch this year it seems.

How similar it is in terms of structure will be interesting, as will the cost model – all three companies will seek to charge at least something for their archive programming and possibly even newer premium content too.

And he'll still have to contend with the moaning public. The news that Highfield was leaving was posted on the BBC Internet blog. Despite repeated protestations from the Beeb (especially Highfield himself) that the iPlayer will reach the Mac and Linux platforms this year, one commenter wrote: "Ashley, here's your chance to show your commitment to platform neutrality. Will your leadership of Project Kangaroo result in a VOD service that *all* of us can fully access?" Oh, do be quiet.