Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has revealed the long-awaited launch date for Max in a number of markets across Asia. The media company announced on Tuesday that the streaming service will go live in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong on November 19th. Warner Bros. Discovery said the platform will be offered in a range of plans. These include a lower-cost mobile-only tier targeted at Southeast Asia. Pricing details will vary by country and operator. WBD has long operated a standalone HBO Go streaming service in parts of East Asia, but the Max offering will replace that platform with both superior technology and a larger content library.

JB Perrett, CEO and president of global streaming & games at WBD, confirmed the high quality of the content available on the Max platform from iconic brands such as HBO, Discovery, DC Universe, Harry Potter, AFN and Cartoon Network, as well as Hollywood movie studios.

Following earlier launches in North America, Latin America and Europe, the Southeast Asian launch brings Max's reach to 72 markets. Asia Pacific is the last major region where the service is not yet fully available. That's why WBD has big plans for the Asian market in 2025.

James Gibbons, WBD's president for APAC, teased WBD's streaming ambitions for the region while attending the APOS media conference in Bali, Indonesia in September. Delivering a keynote speech at the event, Gibbons previewed the upcoming Southeast Asia rollout, while also noting that Australian consumers should expect Max to launch down under in the first half of 2025.

The Asia Pacific video streaming market size was valued at USD 27.31 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 113.05 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 22.5% during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific video streaming market is growing at a faster rate due to factors such as increasing internet connectivity, mobile phones, and the need for video content.

The market is highly concentrated, with major players such as Tencent Holdings Limited, Google LLC and Netflix Inc. accounting for a significant market share. Innovations in video streaming technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), are driving market growth. Regulations aimed at protecting consumer rights and privacy may affect market dynamics, while the threat of product substitution and the level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) remain key factors shaping the competitive landscape.

Driving forces for the Asia Pacific video streaming market include growing internet penetration and smartphone adoption, increasing demand for high-quality video content, growing popularity of OTT platforms, and government initiatives to promote digital infrastructure. However, there are also challenges and restraints such as piracy and copyright infringement, high bandwidth and data consumption requirements, competition from traditional media channels, and regulatory uncertainties and privacy concerns.

The trends emerging in the region are promising. The development of 5G networks and edge computing technologies, the rise of immersive experiences (VR/AR), data-driven content personalization, integration with social media and e-commerce platforms all bode well for the growth of the Asian streaming market.

WBD is taking a big step that could bring them a lot of new viewers and subscribers. To compete with players like Netflix or Apple TV, they need to be proactive and forward-thinking. The Asian market is huge and can be very profitable, so there is no time to waste if they want to win this game.

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