Warner Bros. Discovery's Southeast Asia Streaming Bundle Sends Stock Surging 8%

Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) stock surged 8% after announcing a new streaming bundle partner in Southeast Asia, Viu, which will give HBO Max access to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. This move comes after a recent loss of NBA games and a muted upfront report. Analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on WBD stock, with a 12.47% upside potential.

Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) stock surged by 8% on July 2, 2025, following the announcement of a new streaming bundle partnership in Southeast Asia. The company is collaborating with Viu, a major Asian streaming service, to offer a combined subscription across five countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. This strategic move comes after a recent loss of NBA games and a muted upfront report.

The partnership pairs HBO Max's Hollywood catalog with Viu's extensive Asian programming library, providing subscribers access to Warner Bros.' premium franchises such as "A Minecraft Movie," "Sinners," "Friends," and HBO originals like "The Last of Us" and "The White Lotus." Additionally, Viu brings popular shows like "Running Man," "2 Days 1 Night," "The Immortal Ascension," "Love Has Fireworks," "My Youth," and "Taxi Driver 3." This bundled subscription aims to drive subscriber growth and retention in the region.

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.

For Viu, the alliance represents a strategic move to enhance its competitive position against global streaming rivals expanding into Asian markets. CEO Janice Lee 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.

Both companies will offer direct sales of the bundle through their respective websites, with each service's content remaining accessible independently. Additional pricing and launch specifics will be revealed in coming months.

Analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on WBD stock, with a 12.47% upside potential. Despite the recent stock surge, WBD is still trading 11.4% below its 52-week high of $13.70 from July 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of WBD's shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $552.57.

The market's response to the announcement indicates that while the news is considered meaningful, it does not fundamentally change the market's perception of the business. The stock's volatility, with 24 moves greater than 5% over the last year, highlights the company's sensitivity to market conditions.

The partnership with Viu is a significant step for Warner Bros. Discovery in its expansion into the Southeast Asian market. By offering a combined subscription that includes both Hollywood and Asian content, the company aims to capture a larger subscriber base and drive growth in the region.

References:
[1] https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/hbo-max-viu-southeast-asia-bundle-1236487181/
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-warner-bros-discovery-wbd-161609987.html