Heated Rivalry Becomes Crave's Top Show Amid Production Hurdles

The television series "Heated Rivalry," adapted from Rachel Reid's popular romance novels featuring interconnected male hockey players, achieved rapid success following its debut in November 2025. The show quickly became the highest-performing original program for Canadian streamer Crave, owned by Bell Media, driving more new subscriptions in 2025 than any other series. Internationally, "Heated Rivalry" also found a significant audience, notably on HBO Max in the U.S., where episodes garnered over 10 million views each by February 2026. Despite its eventual blockbuster status, the path from concept to screen was fraught with challenges for executive producers Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady, who spearheaded the project through their production company, Accent Aigu Entertainment. The initial green light from Crave included some funding, but the producers were tasked with securing additional investment for a project that centered on explicitly sexual gay romance, a theme that presented perceived risks to potential partners. Brendan Brady, an executive producer, detailed the intense 18-month process from pitch to global release. As Accent Aigu pitched the series to various potential partners, a common reaction was positive reception to the pitch itself, but hesitation regarding its marketability and sales potential in the U.S. at the desired valuation. Bell Media ultimately increased its investment in the show through Sphere Abacus, a distribution company in which Bell Media acquired a majority stake in March 2025. To further solidify the project, Brady and Tierney also reinvested their producer fees back into the production. Brady recalled receiving the official green light in early July 2025, marking the commencement of production. He noted that while many found the pitch compelling, the recurring concern from potential collaborators was the perceived difficulty in selling the show in the U.S. market for the anticipated revenue. Justin Stockman, VP of global content at Bell Media, confirmed that international partners who reviewed the treatments and scripts found the material exceptionally exciting but expressed reservations about distribution. The production timeline was compressed, with the entire process from initial pitch to the show's premiere and subsequent international success occurring within an 18-month period, highlighting the accelerated development and marketing efforts required to bring the series to a global audience.