Heated Rivalry Becomes Crave's Top-Performing Original Series

Crave's original series "Heated Rivalry," based on Rachel Reid's romance novels about male hockey players, has achieved significant success. Debuting in November 2025, the show has become Crave's most successful original program, driving more new subscriptions in 2025 than any other title.

The series' success was not easily achieved during its production. Executive producers Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady of Accent Aigu Entertainment secured initial funding from Crave but faced challenges in finding additional backing for a show that explicitly depicts gay romance. Many potential partners were hesitant to take on the perceived risk.

Bell Media, Crave's parent company, increased its investment through its distribution arm, Sphere Abacus, which acquired a majority stake in a distribution company. Producers Tierney and Brady also contributed their producer fees to the project. The show was filmed from April to June 2025.

The series' positive international reception, including on HBO Max in the U.S., validated Bell Media's confidence in creative content. In the U.S., each episode surpassed 10 million views by February 2026. "Heated Rivalry" has provided Crave with the homegrown international hit it had sought for years.

Crave has already greenlit a second season, scheduled for release in spring 2027, which will partially adapt the sixth book in Reid's series. HBO Max has described the show as its biggest acquisition since its launch.