Fast Company/2h ago
Heated Rivalry was an overnight hit. Its creators and network worked overtime to make that happen
Heated Rivalry was an overnight hit. Its creators and network worked overtime to make that happen. Once it became an instant hit, Heated Rivalry ’s success may have seemed preordained. Based on a popular series of romance novels by Rachel Reid about romances between interconnected male hockey players, the show debuted in November 2025 and has become Canadian streamer Crave’s best-performing original show, driving more sign-ups than anything else in 2025 to the streamer (owned by Canadian media conglomerate Bell Media). It was also a hit for international partners that include HBO Max in the U.S., where viewers had watched.