Heated Rivalry Is Going International—And We’re Screaming Right Along With You
We have some very exciting news to share with you today, courtesy of our friends at Bell Media. And trust us, this is the kind of announcement that makes us want to drop everything and run onto the ice ourselves. The long-awaited hockey romance series Heated Rivalry is officially gearing up for an international release. Yes, you read that right. The internet screamed, and they listened.
The Canadian series, which already had queer audiences buzzing thanks to its beloved source material and unapologetically romantic premise, has scored a wave of global sales ahead of its November 28 premiere on Crave. Sphere Abacus has sold the six-episode Crave Original to HBO Max in the U.S. and Australia, where it will premiere the same day as Canada, as well as to Sky in New Zealand for a November 30 debut and MoviStar Plus+ in Spain, with a release date still to be announced.
Now, we know…the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Spain don’t quite cover the entire map. But we’re choosing to see this as the opening play of what we hope will become a full-on worldwide rollout. With this expanded release already in motion, we’re manifesting even more regions joining in over the coming days. Because if any show deserves as many eyes (and hearts) as possible, it’s this one.
Created by writer-director-producer Jacob Tierney and based on Rachel Reid’s bestselling Game Changers novels, Heated Rivalry follows the slow-burn, high-stakes love story between rival hockey stars Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). According to the official synopsis, Shane and Ilya are “two of the biggest stars in major league hockey, bound by ambition, rivalry, and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands.” What begins as a secret fling between two fresh-faced rookies blossoms into an eight-year journey of love, denial, self-discovery, and the impossible balancing act between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore.
The series also boasts a stellar supporting cast, including François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Sophie Nélisse, and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, all helping bring this queer romance to life with the intensity and heart it deserves.
As Variety reported, these international sales come on the heels of Bell Media acquiring a majority stake in Sphere Abacus earlier this year, positioning the company as the primary international distributor for Bell’s titles. Justin Stockman, Bell Media’s VP of content development and programming, called Heated Rivalry “premium, high-caliber content that resonates with global audiences,” highlighting how these early sales validate Accent Aigu Entertainment’s vision for Rachel Reid’s story.
Jonathan Ford, managing director of Sphere Abacus, echoed that enthusiasm, praising the show’s powerful performances and teasing even more strong international prospects. And Bell Media president Sean Cohan summed it up perfectly: their mission has always been to create content that travels, and Heated Rivalry’s early momentum proves they’re right on track.
We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for even more international dates in the days to come. But for now? U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Spain rejoice, this your official invitation to lace up, tune in, and support LGBTQ+ storytelling on the global stage. This rivalry is heating up, and we’re so ready for the world to feel the burn.
Heated Rivalry will premiere on Crave (Canada), HBO Max (U.S. and Australia), and Sky (New Zealand) on Friday, November 28. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Image Courtesy of Bell Media.
