Viu and iQiyi International Partner to Launch Southeast Asian Streaming Bundle

Asian streaming heavyweights Viu and iQiyi International have announced a landmark partnership to launch a unified subscription bundle across Southeast Asia in the second half of 2026. The strategic alliance, unveiled on June 17 at the APOS entertainment industry conference in Bali, Indonesia, represents a major consolidation of regional content. By combining their highly complementary libraries into a single package, the two platforms aim to simplify the viewing experience and significantly reduce costs for consumers who are navigating a rapidly crowding digital market.[1][2][3]

The joint subscription will initially roll out to viewers in four key markets: Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. For a single monthly fee, subscribers will gain access to two of the region's most dominant entertainment platforms, bypassing the frustrating need to manage and pay for separate accounts. The collaboration marks iQiyi International's very first cross-regional streaming bundle, signaling a major strategic shift in how major Asian platforms approach audience acquisition and long-term retention in highly competitive territories.[1][6]

The combined catalog promises an unprecedented volume of premium Asian programming. From the Viu side, operated by Hong Kong-based PCCW, subscribers will receive a deep roster of popular Korean dramas, Southeast Asian local productions, and the platform's signature 'Viu Shorts' micro-dramas. Upcoming Viu Originals like the highly anticipated Korean dramas 'Love In Sync' and 'Dream To You,' as well as Chinese series such as 'Zhan Zhao Adventures,' will anchor their side of the expansive new offering, ensuring a steady pipeline of fresh content.[1][3]

Complementing Viu's lineup, iQiyi International will contribute its massive library of premium Chinese dramas, anime, feature films, and variety shows. The global arm of the Chinese streaming giant will also include its own rapidly growing slate of local Southeast Asian originals, such as the Thai drama 'Khemjira,' the Indonesian series 'The Other Sister,' and the Malaysian production 'Griya.' Highly anticipated upcoming iQiyi releases like 'Key To The Phoenix Heart' will also be immediately available to bundle subscribers upon launch.[1][2]

Janice Lee, CEO of Viu and Managing Director of PCCW Media Group, emphasized that the partnership is designed to put the region's storytelling front and center. 'Asian content is at the heart of what our audiences love, and our collaboration with iQiyi International puts that front and center,' Lee said during the APOS session. She noted that bringing the two rich content offerings together reflects a shared belief that great Asian entertainment should be highly accessible and user-friendly for everyone.[2][6]

For iQiyi, the alliance is a strategic maneuver to deepen its footprint outside of China. Yang Xianghua, president of iQiyi, described the upcoming bundle as a 'pivotal milestone' for the company's overseas business operations. 'By combining our highly complementary libraries into a unified subscription, we are offering local audiences broader content choices,' Yang stated, adding that the partnership underscores a deep commitment to creating long-term value for the broader Asian entertainment ecosystem and its diverse user base.[1][2][4]

The Viu and iQiyi partnership arrives at a moment when subscription fatigue is becoming a genuine friction point for global audiences. As the number of standalone streaming services has multiplied, consumers have increasingly balked at the cumulative cost and the hassle of switching between multiple apps to find their favorite shows. Bundling—once the hallmark of traditional cable television—has re-emerged as the streaming industry's primary solution to churn, offering viewers a higher perceived value proposition and a much simpler billing process.[4][5]

This trend is already accelerating across Southeast Asia through third-party aggregators. Earlier in June 2026, Malaysian telecommunications provider CelcomDigi launched its 'StreamMore' packages, which bundled mobile data with access to platforms including Viu, iQiyi, Disney+, and Prime Video. By offering combined subscription savings of up to 64 percent, telco-driven bundles have proven that regional consumers are eager for consolidated entertainment bills. The direct Viu-iQiyi partnership takes this a step further by integrating the platforms at the corporate level, removing the need for a telecom middleman.[5]

Industry analysts view the collaboration as a formidable defense against Western streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, which have been aggressively expanding their own Asian content slates. While global platforms have massive acquisition budgets, Viu and iQiyi possess deep, specialized libraries and hyper-local production networks that resonate strongly with regional tastes. By teaming up, the two Asian platforms can pool their subscriber bases and offer a specialized, culturally relevant alternative to the global generalists dominating the broader market.[3][4]

As the second half of 2026 approaches, the streaming industry will be watching closely to see how the Viu and iQiyi bundle performs in its four launch markets. If successful, the model could pave the way for further cross-platform alliances, potentially reshaping the digital entertainment landscape across the Asia-Pacific region. For fans of Korean, Chinese, and Southeast Asian dramas, the partnership promises a golden era of accessibility, bringing the region's most compelling stories under one digital roof for a single price.[1][2]