Warner Bros. Discovery and CJ ENM have unveiled a comprehensive multi-year partnership that will bring a pipeline of Korean drama and entertainment to HBO Max subscribers in Asia Pacific. This marks one of the most important collaborations between a Hollywood studio and a South Korean content powerhouse.
Under the agreement, HBO Max will become the streaming home for Tving, a Korean streaming platform affiliated with CJ ENM, in 17 markets in Asia Pacific, including Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The partnership includes the launch of a dedicated Tving-branded hub on HBO Max in early 2026, featuring exclusive premieres of new and original K-dramas, along with hundreds of hours of scripted and unscripted content from CJ ENM and TVING’s libraries.
Prior to the hub’s official launch, HBO Max will begin rolling out K-content titles starting in November, including the premiere of the highly anticipated drama “Dear X” on November 6th.
The companies also plan to co-invest in and co-produce original Korean dramas for worldwide distribution on HBO Max, building a development pipeline designed to meet the growing international demand for Korean storytelling.
“We are honored to partner with CJ ENM, a true leader in creating universally popular stories that resonate around the world,” said David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. “This collaboration underpins our commitment to delivering great locally relevant stories in key markets around the world.”
“K Content captivates audiences everywhere with its creativity and originality,” said Mikie Lee, Vice Chairman of CJ Group. At ENM, our mission has always been to bring people together through the power of storytelling. This partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery takes that mission to a new level, combining Warner Bros. Discovery’s storytelling heritage with CJ’s unique voice. Together, we will bring authentic stories that transcend borders.” Fans can discover new favorites, revisit timeless classics, and experience the best of global content. ”
The deal represents a strategic bet on Korean content for Warner Bros. Discovery, which has been working to strengthen HBO Max’s position in the competitive Asian market. For CJ ENM, it provides a powerful distribution channel to expand the reach of its content library and TVING platform beyond Korea.
“HBO Max is a streaming destination for unique, premium storytelling, so this partnership with CJ ENM, a leader in the hugely popular K-content genre, is perfectly aligned with our strategy and brand,” said JB Perrette, CEO and President, Global Streaming and Gaming, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Founded in 2020, Tving has quickly emerged as a leader in South Korea’s streaming industry and is currently working on a merger with Wavve, another leading streaming service in South Korea. As of August, Tving reported 7.56 million monthly active users, an increase of 4.7% from May. Tving and Wavve have a combined user base approaching 10 million.
The platform has built a reputation for original series that have received positive reviews around the world. Tving’s “Death Game” ranked as one of the best K-dramas of 2024, and “Pyramid Game” was the only Korean content invited to Europe’s largest TV series event, Series Mania 2024. “Bargain” won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2023 Cannes International Series Festival, becoming the first Korean streaming original series to win at the contest.
“For the past 30 years, CJ ENM has led the industrialization and global expansion of K-content, establishing itself as a global IP powerhouse,” said Pious Jung, CEO of CJ America and president of CJ ENM’s Content Global Business. “Through our extensive partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, we are committed to the sustainable growth of K-culture, which is now a lifestyle for many people around the world.”
Further details on the Tving branded hub and content lineup will be revealed in the coming months.
