Hollywood meets Hallyu — Warner Bros. Discovery is officially diving into the K-drama wave with a groundbreaking partnership with Korea’s entertainment giant, CJ ENM.
Will Warner Bros. manage to rival Netflix’s dominance in the K-content scene?
How will this deal reshape Asia’s streaming landscape?
And what does it mean for the future of Korean storytelling loved across the world?
Let’s dive in and explore how this CJ ENM and Warner Bros partnership could redefine global entertainment.
Partnership Announcement — The Big News
On October 16, 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery and CJ ENM formalized their multi-year strategic partnership to co-develop and distribute Korean content internationally.
This collaboration designs a TVING hub within HBO Max, spreading its influence across 17 markets in the Asia-Pacific region, spanning from Southeast Asia to Taiwan and Hong Kong. The phased rollout will begin in November 2025, with a complete launch set for early 2026.
According to a post by FirstSquawk on X (formerly Twitter), Warner Bros. Discovery and CJ ENM have formalized a deal to deliver original K-dramas to HBO Max — the dawn of a new era for global content streaming partnerships.
Why It Matters — The Bigger Picture
This partnership represents a mutually beneficial arrangement for both media giants.
For Warner Bros. Discovery, this is a significant effort to gain ground on Netflix and Disney+, who have long been the top dogs in the Korean content game. The deal will fortify HBO Max’s presence in the Asian market, where K-dramas are still the largest driver of subscriptions.
At the same time, for CJ ENM, the partnership improves the international profile of TVING, generating global visibility for Korean stories. CJ ENM is one of Korea’s most impactful cultural companies and is responsible for international hits such as Parasite, The Glory, and Queen of Tears.
The timing also aligns with TVING’s impending merger with competitor Wavve, which is owned by SK Group. The resulting service will become Korea’s largest OTT service with an expected almost 10 million monthly active users, more leverage for CJ ENM in both domestic and international markets.
Key Statements — What Executives Said
Miky Lee, Vice Chairwoman of CJ Group, shared:
“K-content continues to captivate audiences worldwide with its creativity and authenticity. This collaboration allows us to deliver narratives that transcend borders.”
David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, commented:
“This partnership represents our commitment to telling powerful, local stories that resonate with global audiences.”
JB Perrette, CEO of Global Streaming and Games at WBD, added:
“By partnering with CJ ENM, we’re bringing premium, culturally diverse content to HBO Max — and expanding our presence in one of the fastest-growing entertainment markets in the world.”
Industry Context — The K-Content Boom
The collaboration comes amid a burgeoning time for Korean entertainment.
As reported by the Korean Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), Korea’s entertainment exports reached over $13 billion in 2024, with K-drama driving a large percentage of that growth. Since Squid Games, the global demand for Korean content has increased by more than 40% year on year, prompting streaming services internationally to invest substantially in local content production.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s arrival into the category will intensify even more competitive rivalry in an already contested space, and accelerate the globalization of K-content.
What to Expect Next — Upcoming Releases
The initial project within this partnership, provisionally named “Dear X,” is set to launch on HBO Max on November 6, 2025, and will commence a multi-year collaboration.
Subscribers will see additional original K-dramas, variety shows, and exclusive unveilings in early 2026, all accessible from a special TVING tab on HBO Max. Fans will enjoy both new, as well as beloved Korean hits and classics.
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Conclusion — A New Era for Global K-Drama
As worldwide audiences continue to embrace Korean storytelling, new partnerships such as this one draw us into the next chapter in the international evolution of K-content.
For fans, it ultimately means one thing- more K-dramas, more feelings, and more stories to remember. CJ ENM’s artistic engine and Warner Bros.’ global expertise across two cities – Seoul and Los Angeles – have created an unprecedented impact and potentially an even greater one for Korean entertainment to be a global force.
For the latest updates, follow on twitter kdramaupdates and stay tuned for more news on upcoming K-dramas arriving soon on HBO Max.
