Scripted

Bell Media’s new hockey romance series "Heated Rivalry" is building significant international sales momentum, with Sphere Abacus securing deals across multiple territories ahead of its premiere on Crave on Friday, Nov. 28.

HBO Max has acquired the six-part, Crave Original series for the United States and Australia, where it’s also set to debut on Nov. 28, while Sky has secured rights in New Zealand where it premieres on Nov. 30. Movistar Plus+ has obtained rights for Spain, with a debut date to be announced in the coming days.

“Heated Rivalry is premium, high-caliber content that resonates with global audiences,” said Justin Stockman, Vice President, Content Development and Programming, Bell Media. “These international sales are a testament to Accent Aigu Entertainment’s vision for Rachel Reid’s story and underscore the strength of our partnership with Sphere Abacus, and our shared commitment to bringing compelling, buzzworthy content to viewers worldwide.”

The international sales of the buzzy series follow Bell Media’s acquisition of a majority stake in Sphere Abacus earlier this year, positioning Sphere Abacus as the primary international distributor of Bell Media’s owned distribution rights.

“With strong performances from its lead actors, Heated Rivalry delivers a powerful and unique narrative which our clients in all parts of the world are keen to share with their viewers,” said Jonathan Ford, Managing Director, Sphere Abacus. “We’re very excited about additional international sales prospects for this engaging series in the weeks to come.”

Created by award-winning Canadian writer-director-producer Jacob Tierney and based on the best-selling book series Game Changers by Rachel Reid, the six-episode, one-hour romantic drama tells the story of rival hockey players Shane and Ilya. What begins as a secret fling ignites into an all-consuming blaze and culminates in a powerful love story.