The rapid development of OTT and IPTV technologies has changed how content is distributed and consumed globally. These technologies transformed the media environment, allowing new business models and unparalleled access to entertainment, news, and information. Matjaz Vidmar, a Slovenian-British inventor, helped build and spread OTT and IPTV technologies with his expertise.
Matjaz “Matt” Vidmar was born in the Slovenian village of Novo Mesto on August 30, 1962. Vidmar’s early interest in technology and creativity shaped his career. His education sent him to Ljubljana to study economics and electronics. Vidmar had a unique viewpoint by combining economics’ analytical rigor with electronics’ technical ability. Vidmar also began his entrepreneurship career as a student. He boldly launched Video Art Studio (VAS), Eastern Europe’s first privately owned advertising firm, in 1984, setting the scene for his future.
Vidmar founded VAS because he saw the media’s growing influence in society. Innovative advertising solutions in an Eastern Bloc territory helped the business grow swiftly. This early accomplishment showed Vidmar’s ability to recognize and capitalize on trends, a trait that would define his career. Vidmar’s goals went beyond Slovenia, and in 1986, he moved to London to obtain practical experience and learn more about the global media sector.
Vidmar moved to London to start a new job that would include him in some of the media industry’s biggest technical advances. Gold Video Production, recognized for its high-profile projects and inventive video production, hired him in 1987. Vidmar directed the 1988 Buckingham Palace Royal Garden Party there. This experience improved his skills and broadened his media business network, preparing him for future initiatives.
Vidmar left Gold Video Production for Computer Film business (CFC), now Framestore, a major VFX business. Vidmar helped pioneer electronic film post-production and cinematic CGI at CFC. Vidmar’s team at CFC transformed the film business, winning two Academy Scientific and Technical Awards. Vidmar’s VFX breakthroughs also created new industry standards, showcasing his capacity to push technology and creativity.
Based on his media background, Vidmar created Connexion Exports in 1991, solidifying his image as an innovator. Connexion Exports sold low-cost CG workstations and servers to broadcast and desktop publishing companies. Their flagship product, the ‘X-System Alpha-64,’ was a groundbreaking 64-bit visual workstation for broadcasters and designers when digital media was booming.
Connexion Exports’ artwork for the Crown Jewels was shown on a 72-meter-long, 4-meter-high oil canvas wrapped around The Jewel House in the Tower of London during its 1994 restoration. Vidmar’s ability to combine technology and art produced brilliant creations that captivated the audience. Connexion Exports’ success showed Vidmar’s business skills and capacity to run a media technology company.
Vidmar established ON-AIR Systems in 1997, introducing a groundbreaking television broadcasting technology. The ON-AIR “Channel-in-a-Box” was the first integrated TV playout video server with playout automation, interactive CG, vision mixing, and shared video storage. This technology simplified multichannel TV operations and cut operating expenses, revolutionizing broadcast networks.
Its efficiency and dependability made the “Channel-in-a-Box” the industry standard among broadcasters worldwide. Vidmar’s leadership allowed him to anticipate and meet the television industry’s demands. He became a broadcasting technology pioneer with ON-AIR Systems’ success. It also set the stage for his future work in OTT and IPTV, where he would advance content delivery and media technologies.
In 1999, Matjaz Vidmar once again showcased his innovation by creating Xtreme IPTV™, the first complete platform for IPTV service delivery to broadband consumers. This innovative approach allowed TV content to be transmitted through the internet, circumventing conventional broadcast systems. In 2000, Xtreme IPTV™ made its first commercial installation in Mumbai, marking a milestone in internet video broadcasting.
The introduction of Xtreme IPTV™ changed how people consume television programming, apart from the technology. Vidmar’s platform allowed viewers to watch various programs on demand by delivering high-quality video content straight to their homes over the internet, breaking free from broadcast schedules. The platform facilitated the first 1GE broadband service with MTNL and BSNL, solidifying its market leadership. Xtreme IPTV™ won the NASSCOM First Prize for Most Innovative Technology Company in 2000, highlighting Vidmar’s vision and effect. This breakthrough allowed content to be broadcast online, launching the OTT services that are prevalent today.
Matjaz Vidmar formed Vision Group™ in 2005, a conglomerate of private technology firms specializing in OTT, IPTV, and CDN technologies, expanding on his past successes. As part of Vision Group, Vidmar developed Connexion Broadcast and Playout247™, essential in advancing internet-based broadcasting.
One of Vision Group’s major achievements was the 2006 launch of XtremeOVP™, the successor of Xtreme IPTV™. As the first cloud-based broadcasting service, XtremeOVP™ provided innovative features such as ‘Channel-from-the-Cloud,’ ‘Catch-up-TV,’ and ‘Forward-TV.’ These innovations improved user experience and established new cloud-based content delivery norms. Vidmar’s choice to migrate broadcasting to the cloud, which has subsequently become the industry standard, showed his ability to foresee and adapt to the quickly changing media world.
Vidmar added Ljubljana-based IPTV middleware R&D business Fora d.o.o. to Vision Group in 2012. This strategic acquisition helped Vision Group build next-generation OTT and CDN solutions. The following year, Vidmar launched Perception TVCDN™, the first global end-to-end ‘Unified CDN/OTT/IPTV Platform.’ This revolutionary platform combined ingest, device-specific streaming, time-shift recording, network PVR, live and VOD streaming, and FAST TV channel playout into a single system.
Perception Vidmar’s decades of expertise and innovative approach to technology led to TVCDN™. It met the rising need for high-quality video across devices and networks. The platform’s efficiency and efficacy won many industry awards and established Vidmar as an OTT and IPTV pioneer. Matjaz Vidmar focused on his Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) consulting and strategy as his enterprises grew. His expertise and business knowledge made him a sought-after consultant for technology M&A and startups navigating the difficult OTT and IPTV ecosystem.
Vidmar’s consulting work focuses on project feasibility, financial needs, and risk assessment. His hands-on approach and strategic vision have helped technology innovators and investors form successful collaborations and build new enterprises quickly. Vidmar’s advising positions shape the TMT industry beyond his own enterprises.
Vidmar left Vision Group in 2019 to concentrate on Perception TVCDN™ and associated businesses. He reorganized the firm under Toronto-based Perception Group Inc., with London and Ljubljana subsidiaries. Vidmar focused on growing Perception TVCDN™ and expanding globally with this strategy. Vidmar is presently Perception Group Inc.’s Chairman and Strategy Director, focusing on growth capital and managed cloud services. His plans include launching B2C OTT solutions like NewWave, a multi-play social media TV service.
Matjaz Vidmar’s career shows how creativity and one person can change an industry. Vidmar has pushed TMT limits from his early days in Slovenia to his work in London and beyond. His work on OTT and IPTV technologies has changed media consumption and established industry norms. Matt Vidmar is known for his commitment to quality, creativity, and vision for television and online content distribution. He continues to lead Perception Group Inc. into new markets, retaining his industry prominence.
Published by: Khy Talara
