As “Heat Rivalry” continues to heat up and become a huge hit on HBO Max, conversations have begun about the upcoming Emmy season. Romance series have been breaking out at awards shows lately, but this film adaptation won’t receive the same treatment, as “Nobody Wants This” broke out with three nominations in its first season.
“Heat Rivalry” is fully funded by Crave’s parent company, Canadian company Bell Media. The 2024-25 Emmy Rules state that “foreign television productions are not eligible unless they are the result of co-production (financially and creatively) between the United States and a foreign partner and are intended to be broadcast on U.S. television prior to the start of production.” The Television Academy has yet to release the 2025-26 rulebook, but it is unlikely that any changes will be made to the rules.
“Heat Rivalry” was originally set in 2026, but was brought forward by Crave in hopes of gaining more viewers during the holiday period. It worked. But HBO Max didn’t air it until after Season 1, too late to become a co-financer or producer. In other words, HBO Max had no creative say. Instead, HBO Max will only act as the U.S. distributor.
That will remain in Season 2, according to HBO Content Chairman and CEO Casey Bloys.
“We’re not going to get involved,” Bloys recently told Variety. “I think the last thing the show needs is for people to interfere with what works, so I don’t think I need to have an opinion. Obviously, they have a good understanding of the show and what works. I’m looking forward to receiving the episodes and highlighting them on HBO Max.”
Once submitted, the show will be eligible for the International Emmy Awards.
Bloys was introduced to the show by HBO executive Jason Butler, who acquired the show for Australia’s HBO Max. Mr. Butler called Mr. Bloys in early November and asked if he would like to air it for the U.S., he sent him the episodes, and negotiations began three days later.
“It was an easy and very quick yes. “Of course, I felt this might cause a stir because I’m gay,” he said. “I thought it was very well done. To be honest, I was surprised that it was even released since it was about three weeks before it aired.”
Bloys added that he was “very impressed” with the affordability of the acquisition. “I don’t know their budget, but I’m very impressed with what they’ve done based on acquisition costs. This is not a huge budget that we’re looking at.”
Tierney added that he’s excited to see HBO become the U.S. streaming home, as its content is licensed to Crave in Canada.
“We were always like, ‘Hey, we’re going to do premium smut here,’ so now we’re doing premium smut on HBO!” Tierney said. “That would be the dream. But we’ve been doing this so long that we’ve learned that nothing guarantees an audience anymore. There’s so much good television out there that breaking through the noise feels like such a gift.”
The series, which tells the love story between two NHL stars who are also enemies on the ice, became a huge hit on Crave and HBO Max after its November debut. It has been the highest-rated non-animated series on HBO Max since its inception in 2020. It’s in the top five of all scripted works that debuted on HBO Max this year. In Canada, it is Crave’s most-watched original production.
