UniqCast 10th Anniversary Chronicle: A Decade of Innovation in Video Streaming

This chronicle celebrates the 10th anniversary of UniqCast, highlighting the most important events in the company’s history.

Founding and Early Years

UniqCast was founded in 2014 by two industry veterans: Darko Robič (CEO) and Denis Lacković (CTO). The idea for the company emerged from the founders' recognition of a significant opportunity in emerging markets. Telecom operators in these markets were investing heavily in network infrastructure and were actively seeking ways to monetize these investments. Video streaming presented a promising avenue for revenue generation, but operators were lacking knowledge and experience in deploying end-to-end iptv/ott services. The founders saw a chance to provide a comprehensive solution to meet this growing demand. In fact, UniqCast was one of the first iptv/ott platform vendors to start offering and promoting end-to-end concept.

The Board

All three board members brought extensive experience in the IPTV industry to the venture. Darko Robič, the CEO, had over 13 years of experience understanding customer needs and finding optimal solutions for them. Denis Lacković, the CTO, had spent over 10 years setting up and leading IPTV and OTT services for major providers in Croatia, giving him a unique perspective on the industry from both the vendor's and operator's side. Marko Hiti, the CMO, had 12 years of experience in executive roles for technology companies, making him adept at identifying market needs and creating user-centric products.

The Team

The company began with a small team of 7 individuals. Marko Prelčec, the primary senior engineer, laid the groundwork for the company's initial projects, while Dario Habulin joined soon after to assist with project delivery and client support. Marko’s and Dario's dedication is highlighted by their one-year on-site commitment for the company's inaugural project in Seychelles. Dario’s later efforts in establishing a support department and becoming its head further illustrate his contributions to the company.

The Mission

The company's goal was to deliver turnkey IPTV/OTT/DVB solutions that were optimized for return on investment and provided a unique viewing experience. From the outset, UniqCast offered a holistic set of services to go with our Platform product, including consulting on network preparation, team organization, and content packaging, recognizing that our clients were often new to the complexities of video streaming services. We positioned ourselves as a partner that could guide operators through every step of launching and managing a successful video streaming service.

This combined expertise and customer-centric approach enabled UniqCast to differentiate itself in a rapidly evolving IPTV/OTT market.

Overcoming Early Challenges

In its early years, UniqCast faced numerous obstacles inherent in establishing a new business within a rapidly evolving and highly competitive technology market. The lack of standardization and compatibility within the video streaming ecosystem presented a significant hurdle, requiring the company to develop a robust and adaptable platform capable of integrating with various components and vendors. Simultaneously, UniqCast had to build recognition and trust as a new player amongst both potential clients and industry partners. This challenge was amplified by the need to attract and retain top engineering and development talent - a difficult task given the competitive nature of the industry. 

Addressing the Client’s Issues

UniqCast addressed these challenges through a multifaceted approach. We prioritized the development of a comprehensive, end-to-end solution, simplifying the process for our clients and solidifying our image as a one-stop shop for video streaming services. From the very beginning the team decided to include streaming as an integral part of the platform, decreasing the cost of the overall solution and reducing the requirements for integrations. UniqCast's team worked closely with clients to ensure smooth service launches and to render ongoing assistance, prioritizing customer success and providing personalized support. The company also focused on building a strong company culture that encouraged informal communication, encouraged the open exchange of ideas, and empowered individual team members. By promoting a collaborative and innovative environment, UniqCast not only navigated the early hurdles but laid a solid foundation for future success.

Agile Development

To navigate the lack of standardization in the video streaming ecosystem and the pressure to build a product quickly, UniqCast adopted an agile/scrum development process from the outset. This approach, which prioritized flexibility and iterative development, allowed the company to adapt to changing requirements and technological advancements, while also maintaining a strong focus on user experience. The decision to prioritize UX on the client side and develop a powerful backend on the server side proved crucial, as it allowed UniqCast to create a platform that was both user-friendly and technically robust. This agile development process not only enabled UniqCast to overcome initial challenges but also laid the groundwork for the company’s scalable and adaptable platform that is still in use today.

Launching the UniqCast Platform

The initial release of the UniqCast Platform in September 2015 marks a significant milestone in the company's development. The Platform was first showcased at AfricaCom in November 2015, where it garnered positive feedback for its user experience, integrated streaming capabilities, and comprehensive services for designing, deploying, and maintaining IPTV/OTT services. This successful launch demonstrated the effectiveness of UniqCast's agile development process and its focus on delivering a user-friendly and operator-grade platform. 

Early Projects and Partnerships

UniqCast's early success was also fueled by strategic partnerships and key projects that helped establish the company in the market. The first two projects were with CWS Seychelles and Beotel Serbia, followed by collaborations with Dhiraagu Maldives and TV Anywhere Africa, partnerships that continue to this day. These early projects provided valuable experience, helping the company to refine its platform and build a reputation for reliability and customer focus. Additionally, partnerships with technology providers like SDMC and Verimatrix were instrumental in enabling UniqCast to integrate its platform with a wide range of devices and systems. Close collaboration with partners helped UniqCast overcome the challenges of a fragmented market and solidify its position as a provider of end-to-end video streaming solutions.

Important Milestones in a Nutshell

UniqCast, quickly after its establishment, found success in the emerging market for streaming services. The company differentiated itself by offering an all-in-one solution to telecom operators who wanted to offer video streaming services but often lacked the in-house expertise to do so. UniqCast found early success in the African and Asian markets while also expanding into Europe. Through the first decade, the company secured important customers and partnerships, developed its own iptv/ott platform, launched a cloud based service and began helping telecom providers upgrade their legacy technology. Today the company boasts over 50 employees and serves over 40 customers across 5 continents with millions of viewers enjoying the UniqCast premium UX platform. 

Key Decisions and Strategies For Success

UniqCast's success can be attributed to a series of strategic decisions and a commitment to core values that allowed the company to navigate a rapidly evolving market and establish itself as a reliable provider of video streaming solutions. 

Own Platform for Flexibility and Independence

A pivotal decision was the development of our own streaming platform, a move that granted us flexibility, control over our technology, and independence from reliance on third-party platforms. This strategic choice proved particularly valuable as the industry landscape shifted and new challenges emerged. 

Premium User Experience

Another crucial element of our strategy was an unwavering focus on delivering a premium user experience. From the outset, UniqCast prioritized developing client applications that were intuitive and user-friendly, understanding that this was key to client satisfaction and differentiation in a competitive marketplace. This commitment extended beyond the technology itself to a company culture that emphasized collaboration, problem-solving, and customer-centricity. By creating an environment where employees were encouraged to take ownership and strive for excellence, UniqCast built a team capable of responding to client needs effectively, even developing solutions under tight deadlines. 

Going Worldwide

Finally, UniqCast embraced a global approach, expanding beyond initial focus on emerging markets to offer its services worldwide. This expansion, coupled with our ability to provide flexible business models tailored to the specific needs of our clients, enabled UniqCast to secure projects across various regions and solidify its position as a leading provider in the industry.

Market Evolution and UniqCast's Adaptation

The video streaming industry has undergone significant transformations in the decade since UniqCast's founding. The market has expanded globally, and client demands have become more sophisticated. UniqCast has demonstrated adaptability in response to these shifts, continuously evolving its offerings to remain competitive and meet customer needs. 

Legacy Platform Replacements

As the video streaming industry continues to mature, UniqCast has identified a significant opportunity in platform replacement projects for operators. Recognizing the challenges operators face with outdated and inflexible legacy systems, UniqCast leveraged its experience and expertise to offer a smooth transition to its modern platform. Throughout the years the company has helped numerous operators introduce modern OTT services and prevent churn.

Cloud

One of the most prominent changes has been the transition from on-premise deployments to cloud-based solutions. Recognizing this trend, UniqCast has incorporated cloud deployment options, providing clients with greater flexibility and scalability. 

Monetization

The company has also consistently innovated in the area of monetization options, introducing new features to help clients maximize their average revenue per user (ARPU). This commitment to providing clients with tools to adapt to changing market dynamics has been crucial to UniqCast's continued success. 

Artificial Intelligence

In addition, UniqCast has recognized the growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the video streaming industry and has invested heavily in developing AI-based functionalities for its platform. These AI-powered features are designed to enhance the user experience, offer operators deeper insights into their operational data, and even enable predictive analytics to better understand and anticipate customer behavior. 

Secrets to Success

UniqCast attributes its success to a combination of factors that have allowed the company to thrive in a dynamic and competitive industry. 

Problem-Solving Approach

One of the key elements is its problem-solving approach, exemplified by a willingness to take on challenges and develop innovative solutions, even under tight deadlines. This commitment to meeting customer needs, even when it requires developing new functionalities in a short timeframe, has earned the company a reputation for reliability and responsiveness. 

Productive and Innovative Culture

Another crucial ingredient is UniqCast's unique company culture, which emphasizes trust, open communication, and a willingness to embrace change. This supportive environment creates a sense of ownership and encourages employees to push boundaries, ultimately leading to a more innovative and productive workforce. 

Customer Satisfaction

The company's commitment to a premium user experience, both in terms of technology and customer support, has also been instrumental in its success. By prioritizing customer satisfaction and building strong relationships with clients, UniqCast has solidified its position as a trusted partner in the video streaming industry.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter

Looking ahead, UniqCast plans to prioritize several key areas for investment and focus on product development and market expansion. 

Content Aggregation

One crucial area is helping operators aggregate content from various streaming apps into a central location. This focus on aggregation directly addresses the fragmentation in the streaming landscape, offering a more seamless and unified viewing experience for consumers and simplifying content management for operators.

Premium User Experience through AI

UniqCast also sees significant potential in leveraging AI for platform optimization and user engagement. This includes utilizing AI to optimize operations, enhance content discovery, and simplify the onboarding and purchasing processes. By incorporating AI-driven features, UniqCast aims to improve operational efficiency for operators and offer a more personalized and intuitive experience for viewers.

AI-driven advertising

Another area of investment are AI-driven advertising solutions. UniqCast plans to offer targeted ads based on the content being watched, allowing for more relevant and potentially engaging advertising experiences. Additionally, this technology could be used to simplify the ordering process for advertised items, further enhancing user engagement and creating new revenue opportunities for operators.

Even Faster and Easier Platform Replacements 

Finally, UniqCast recognizes the ongoing need to make platform replacements easier and faster for operators. This focus builds upon our existing expertise in this area, as discussed earlier in this blog post. By continuing to refine our processes and develop solutions specifically tailored for legacy system transitions, UniqCast aims to further solidify its position as a leader in this market segment.

As UniqCast enters its second decade, the company remains committed to innovation, customer success, and shaping the future of the video streaming industry.