South Korea's CJ ENM and Warner Bros. Discovery ink K-content partnership

by · UPI

SEOUL, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM and Warner Bros. Discovery said Thursday that they signed a multi-year partnership to co-produce and distribute Korean programming, expanding the global reach of K-content as streaming competition intensifies.

Under the deal, CJ's streaming platform TVING will be integrated into HBO Max across 17 Asia-Pacific markets, including Hong Kong, Taiwan and several Southeast Asian countries.

Starting in early 2026, the branded TVING hub will premiere new original K-drama titles and feature scripted and unscripted content from CJ ENM's library. Ahead of the launch, several K-content titles will be available on the hub in November, including the premiere of the buzzy psychological thriller Dear X.

The two companies will also co-produce new Korean series for worldwide distribution on HBO Max.

For CJ ENM, the studio behind Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning Parasite and hit shows like Netflix's Crash Landing on You, the deal marks a major push to extend its streaming brand beyond Korea. For Warner Bros. Discovery, it offers a foothold in Asia's fastest-growing streaming markets and access to one of the world's most dynamic entertainment pipelines.

"K-content captivates audiences everywhere with its creativity and originality," CJ Group Vice Chairwoman Miky Lee said in a statement. "At CJ ENM, our mission has always been to connect people through the power of storytelling. This partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery takes that mission to a new level."

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav called the collaboration "a cornerstone of our commitment to great locally relevant stories in key markets around the world."

The partnership comes as streaming competition in Asia heats up, with TVING and local rival Coupang Play locked in a battle for local dominance. Korean dramas, meanwhile, have become a prized asset among global streaming platforms, led by Netflix's success with series such as Squid Game.

Further details, including specific projects and launch timelines, will be announced in the coming months, the companies said.

Read More