HBO Max Teams With Asian Streamer Viu for Southeast Asia Bundle

HBO Max is partnering with Asian streaming giant Viu to create a unified subscription package that will debut across five Southeast Asian territories before year-end.

The collaboration between Warner Bros. Discovery‘s flagship streamer and PCCW’s regional platform represents an unprecedented cross-platform alliance in the Asia Pacific region. Customers in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand will be able to access both services through a single payment plan starting in Q4.

The deal pairs HBO Max’s Hollywood catalog with Viu’s extensive Asian programming library. Subscribers will have access to Warner’s premium franchises alongside Viu’s Korean drama slate, Chinese series and locally produced content from across Southeast Asia.

Warner’s contribution includes major film releases such as the upcoming “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners,” plus established series like “Friends” and HBO originals “The Last of Us” and “The White Lotus.” Viu brings reality hits including “Running Man” and “2 Days 1 Night,” Chinese titles like “The Immortal Ascension” and “Love Has Fireworks,” plus new Korean originals “My Youth” and “Taxi Driver 3.”

James Gibbons, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Asia Pacific president, cited the success of similar bundling strategies in other regions as motivation for the Southeast Asian expansion.

“Following the proven consumer and business benefits of HBO Max bundles in other parts of the world, this new streaming offering will provide strong entertainment value for consumers across Southeast Asia, and help drive subscriber growth and stronger retention,” Gibbons said. “With access to two complementary and world class collections in a single subscription, local fans can enjoy even more choice – from premium Hollywood movies and series to standout local Asian content.”

For Viu, the alliance represents a strategic move to enhance its competitive position against global streaming rivals expanding into Asian markets. CEO Janice Lee, who also serves as managing director of PCCW Media Group, framed the partnership as part of Viu’s ongoing platform evolution.

“Our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery is an exciting step forward in our promise to continually enhance Viu’s entertainment options and meet our viewers’ evolving tastes,” Lee said. “By combining HBO Max’s Hollywood content with Viu’s Asian favorites in a single bundle subscription, we’re offering more choice in shows, easier access to diverse content and greater value across a wider range of programming.”

Both companies will offer direct sales of the bundle through their respective websites, though each service’s content will remain accessible independently. Platform features and device compatibility will differ between the two services, with additional pricing and launch specifics to be revealed in coming months.

Viu operates a freemium model across Asia, the Middle East and South Africa, combining ad-supported free tiers with premium subscriptions. The platform gained a strategic investment from French media company Canal+ last year as part of an accelerated growth initiative.