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Crave's Global Hit: Hockey Romance Sparks Streaming Boom
8 Oct
Summary
- Heated Rivalry's global success propels Canadian streamer Crave forward.
- Crave aims for 6 million subscribers by the end of 2028.
- New witchy folklore drama 'Yaga' is set to premiere next.
The remarkable success of 'Heated Rivalry' has significantly boosted Canadian streamer Crave's profile and subscriber base. President Sean Cohan views the ice hockey romance hit as Canada's biggest global success to date, with potential for future seasons. "In success, this show continues," he stated.
Cohan emphasized Crave's strategy of differentiating through Canadian originals, complemented by HBO programming, a deal extended into the 2030s. This approach aims to elevate the Canadian creative brand internationally. Boosted by 'Heated Rivalry,' Crave reached just over 5 million subscribers in the most recent reporting period.
Crave has ambitious growth targets, aiming for 6 million subscribers by the end of 2028 and aspiring to be in half of Canadian TV homes by the close of 2029. Upcoming productions like the witchy folklore drama 'Yaga,' starring Hudson Williams and Carrie-Anne Moss, and the queer softball drama 'Slo Pitch' are slated for international promotion.
Sphere Abacus, a distributor acquired by Bell Media, is handling international sales for these new Crave productions. Jonathan Ford, Sphere Abacus's Managing Director, noted that 'Heated Rivalry' has heightened global interest in Canadian content, with Crave now a focal point for upcoming hits. The distributor has already pre-sold 'Yaga' to AMC in the U.S., Sky in the U.K., and HBO Max in continental Europe.
