As “Heated Rivalry” continues to… heat up and become a massive hit for HBO Max, conversations have begun regarding the upcoming Emmy season. While romance series have broken through at the award show recently — see “Nobody Wants This,” which broke through with three nods for its first season — this adaptation will not get the same treatement.
“Heated Rivalry” is fully funded by Canadian company Bell Media, Crave’s parent company. The 2024-25 Emmy rules state that a “foreign television production is ineligible unless it is the result of a co-production (both financially and creatively) betwen U.S. and foreign partners, which precedes the start of production, and with a purpose to be shown on U.S. television.” While the Television Academy hasn’t yet released the 2025-26 rulebook, it’s unlikely any changes to this rule will be made.
“Heated Rivalry” was originally set for 2026, but was then moved up by Crave with a hope to get more viewers over the holidays. It worked. But HBO Max didn’t come on until after Season 1 was finished, far too late to become a co-financier or producer — which meant they had no creative say. Instead, they serve solely as the U.S. distributor.
And that will remain for Season 2, according to HBO content chairman and CEO Casey Bloys.
“We’re not going to be involved,” Bloys recently told Variety. “I think the last thing the show needs is people meddling in what works. So, I don’t feel any need to weigh in. Clearly, they’ve got a good sense of the show and what works. I will be excited to receive my episodes, and highlight them on HBO Max.”
Bloys was introduced to the show by Jason Butler, an HBO exec who acquired the show for HBO Max in Australia. Butler called Bloys in early November, and asked if he’d want it for U.S. He sent over the episodes and three days later, they began negotiating.
“It was an easy and very quick ‘yes.’ Obviously, I’m a gay man, so I had a sense that it might make some waves,” he said. “I thought it was very well done. To tell you the truth, I was surprised that it was even available, because this was about three weeks before it aired.”
Bloys added that he was “very impressed” by the afforadability of the acquisition. “I don’t know their budgets, but I’m very impressed with what they did based on the acquisition cost. This isn’t a huge tentpole budget that we’re looking at.”
Tierney added that he was thrilled HBO became the U.S. streaming home since HBO content is is licensed to Crave in Canada.
“We were always like, ‘We’re trying to make premium smut here,’ and so we’re now premium smut on HBO!” said Tierney. “That would be the dream. But we’ve been doing this long enough to know that nothing guarantees you an audience anymore. There’s so much good TV out there, that to break through the noise feels like such a gift.”
The series, which tells the love story between two NHL star players — who are also enemies on the ice — became a massive hit for Crave and HBO Max following its November debut. It is now the top-rated non-animated acquired series on HBO Max since its 2020 launch. It is in the top five among all scripted debuts on HBO Max this year. In Canada, it’s Crave’s most watched original.