Why ‘Heated Rivalry’ Can’t Compete at the Emmys — and Likely Won’t Be Able to for Season 2, Either

As “Heated Rivalry” continues to gain popularity and become a big success on HBO Max, discussions about the upcoming Emmy season are starting. While romance shows have been getting attention at the awards lately, like “Nobody Wants This,” which won three awards for its first season, this adaptation might not get the same recognition.

“Heated Rivalry” is fully funded by a Canadian company called Bell Media, which is the parent company of Crave.

 The 2024-25 Emmy rules say that a foreign TV show can’t be eligible unless it’s made through a co-production between U.S. and foreign partners before production starts, with the goal of being shown on U.S. TV. The Television Academy hasn’t released the 2025-26 rules yet, and it’s not likely they’ll change this rule.

Originally, “Heated Rivalry” was planned for 2026, but Crave moved it up to get more viewers during the holiday season.

 It worked well. However, HBO Max didn’t join until after the first season was done, which was too late to become a co-financer or producer. That meant HBO Max had no say in the creative part of the show. Instead, they are only the U.S. distributor.

According to HBO content chairman and CEO Casey Bloys, this will remain the case for Season 2 as well.

“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.”

If the show is submitted, it will be eligible at the International Emmys.

Bloys was introduced to the show by Jason Butler, an HBO exec who brought the series to HBO Max in Australia.

 Butler called Bloys in early November and asked if he wanted the show for the U.S. He sent over the episodes and three days later, they began negotiating.

“It was an easy and very quick ‘yes,’” he said.

 “Obviously, I’m a gay man, so I had a sense that it might make some waves. 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 also said he was impressed with how affordable the acquisition was.

 “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 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 follows the love story between two NHL star players who are also rivals on the ice, became a huge hit for Crave and HBO Max after its November debut.

 It is now the top-rated non-animated acquired series on HBO Max since its 2020 launch. It is also in the top five among all scripted debuts on HBO Max this year. In Canada, it’s Crave’s most-watched original show.