Heated Rivalry success down to risk appetite

Bell Media’s smash hit Heated Rivalry has become a global success because execs were prepared to take a risk on the show and not water down the storyline.

That’s according to vice president of content and programming Justin Stockman, who told execs at NATPE that embracing the key themes and feel of the novel from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series had paid off.

Stockman said there was no intention to “introduce a lot of straight characters and round it out,” adding that the focus had been on “just letting the show being what it’s going to be.”

He added: “If you let it be the best version of that thing that it is supposed to be, then people will find their entry point because it becomes more relatable and it feels more real.”

The show, which debuted on Bell’s streamer Crave, has already sold around the world, with HBO Max finding huge success in the US and Sky taking rights from Bell-owned distributor Sphere Abacus in the UK.

A second season is in the works, produced again in partnership with Accent Aigu Entertainment, and Stockman said the focus was on “not watering down the creative” and retaining its “spicy” nature, with a sex scene taking place just seven minutes in helping to engage viewers.

“A lot of shows would not have done that,” Stockman continued, adding that the original Game Changers novels are “really filthy”. And while some had “dismissed the show as smut - people like smut. There’s a way to elevate the story and really make it into a show that will have more appeal,” he added.

The show’s pace was also noted by Suzanna Makkos, head of comedy for ABC Entertainment and Hulu originals, who said that its “very fast” storytelling kept viewers hooked.

HBO Max’s The Pitt used similar tactics and Makkos added that “faster-paced shows” are what the audience wants. ”You don’t need long scenes of everything ramping up.”

Darren Melameth, senior vice president of programming strategy at Hallmark Media, added that romance had been somewhat ignored over recent years but that it was back in demand by mainstream players now, while the success of The Pitt and Heated Rivalry has also underlined the ability of smaller budget shows to cut through.

Robert Schildhouse, president of BritBox, said he saw “almost no correlation between budget and audience consumption and engagement.”

His British-focused streamer is, however, open to bigger budget series, with BritBox paying similar amounts as a UK broadcaster would.