Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO Max is partnering with Asian streaming giant Viu on a new bundled subscription set to launch in Q4 2025. The deal combines premium Hollywood content with popular Asian programming to drive growth in a key battleground market.
- A regional first: The offering will be available in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The partnership breaks new ground for streaming deals in the region by merging HBO's Hollywood hits with Viu's vast library of Asian shows.
- From dragons to dramas: For a single price, subscribers get access to WBD’s heavy hitters like The Last of Us and the DC Universe alongside Viu’s powerhouse Asian titles, including the popular Korean reality show Running Man and upcoming drama Taxi Driver 3.
- An old playbook: The move follows a familiar strategy for WBD, which is increasingly collaborating with competitors rather than just fighting them. The company already packages HBO Max with Disney+ and Hulu in the U.S.
The alliance is a major test of the "best of both worlds" strategy, betting that a combination of global star power and regional flavor is the key to winning over Southeast Asia's diverse audience.
- Also on our radar: The deal comes as Viu continues to cement its international presence, having also secured a strategic investment from French media company Canal+ last year. Meanwhile, the value of the Asian content at the heart of the deal is on the rise, with Viu's upcoming drama My Youth also being licensed to stream in the West. The partnership also solidifies the HBO Max brand in Asia, which had a brief stint as just "Max" before a recent name change over the summer.
