PCCW's Viu and iQiyi International are joining forces to offer Southeast Asian audiences a combined streaming subscription bundle launching in the second half of 2026. The partnership covers Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Malaysia, consolidating access to both platforms under one login and billing structure.
This bundle represents a strategic consolidation in a fragmented Southeast Asian streaming market where consumers juggle multiple subscriptions. Viu brings its strength in local Asian content, Korean dramas, and Bollywood productions, while iQiyi International supplies Chinese series, films, and anime. The pairing allows both platforms to compete more aggressively against Netflix, which dominates the region's premium streaming landscape.
The timing reflects industry trends toward bundle offerings. Disney has bundled Disney Plus with Hulu and ESPN in North America, while international markets have seen similar consolidations. Southeast Asia's streaming adoption remains fragmented across countries, with different platforms holding regional footholds. This bundle strategy aims to reduce churn by offering premium content from two major Asian streamers at what could be a more attractive price point than purchasing subscriptions separately.
iQiyi International has expanded aggressively beyond mainland China, where it faces regulatory constraints. The company sees Southeast Asia as a growth market with rising middle-class audiences hungry for Asian content. Viu, operating under Hong Kong-based PCCW, already established distribution networks in these markets and deep relationships with local content producers.
The bundle launches during a period when streaming services face pressure to demonstrate profitability. Bundling reduces marketing costs, increases household penetration, and improves retention metrics by creating switching costs. Subscribers adopting both services simultaneously face higher friction in leaving either platform.
Content strategies will determine success. iQiyi's Chinese originals and anime catalog appeal to younger demographics, while Viu's Korean and Indian content attracts broader audiences. The bundle