South Korea's entertainment giant CJ ENM announced Thursday that it has entered into a comprehensive multiyear partnership agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to jointly produce and distribute Korean content to audiences worldwide. The strategic collaboration represents a significant step forward in the global expansion of Korean entertainment and cultural content.
Under the terms of the partnership deal, Korean dramas and original programming from CJ ENM and its popular streaming platform Tving will receive exclusive premieres on Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO Max streaming service across 17 countries throughout the Asia Pacific region. This arrangement will give international viewers unprecedented access to high-quality Korean entertainment content directly through HBO Max's established distribution network.
As a key component of this collaboration, the companies plan to launch a dedicated Tving-branded content hub within the HBO Max platform in early 2026. However, viewers won't have to wait until the official launch to enjoy Korean programming, as several Korean shows and series will become available to international audiences starting this November, providing an early taste of what the partnership will offer.
The agreement extends beyond simple content distribution, as both companies have committed to jointly producing original Korean television series specifically designed for worldwide distribution on HBO Max. This co-production element of the partnership aims to create content that appeals to both Korean and international audiences while maintaining the authentic storytelling elements that have made Korean entertainment so popular globally.
CJ Group's Vice Chairwoman Miky Lee expressed enthusiasm about the partnership's potential impact, stating that the collaboration is expected to elevate CJ ENM's core mission "to connect people through the power of storytelling." Lee emphasized that the partnership would achieve this by combining "Warner Bros. Discovery's storytelling legacy with CJ's unique voice," creating a powerful synergy between the two entertainment powerhouses.
David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, shared similar sentiments about the collaboration's significance. Zaslav described the partnership as "a cornerstone of our commitment to great locally relevant stories in key markets around the world," highlighting WBD's strategic focus on expanding its international content offerings with authentic, culturally significant programming that resonates with diverse global audiences.
