Sean Cohan Discusses Bell Media’s Commitment to Canadian Drama and the Competition in the Industry
EXCLUSIVE: Canadian Ice Hockey Romance ‘Heated Rivalry’ Claims Spotlight
Sean Cohan, President of Bell Media, has touted Heated Rivalry, a Canadian-produced ice hockey romance, as potentially the biggest hit to emerge from the country. “If it’s not the biggest hit out of Canada ever, it’s one of them,” he stated, highlighting the show’s significant impact. The show, created by Jacob Tierney and produced by Brendan Brady under the Accent Aigu banner, has garnered attention on Bell Media’s streaming platform, Crave.
Cohan emphasized Bell Media’s commitment to further developing Canadian content in the wake of Heated Rivalry. “There is absolutely more coming post Heated Rivalry,” he remarked. “We’ve got high hopes for Jacob, Brendan, and the folks at Accent Aigu, and what they’re going to produce in that universe and elsewhere.”
Crave, alongside platforms like Stan in Australia, is gaining a reputation for producing international hits. Among its standout offerings is Empathy, created by Quebec-born talent Florence Longpré, with its second season co-produced with France’s Canal+. Sullivan’s Crossing, another notable series, airs in the U.S. on The CW.
New shows in Crave’s pipeline include Slo Pitch, described by Bell Media as “Beer, Lesbians and Baseball!” This half-hour mockumentary from Shaftesbury, Boss & Co, and Elliot Page’s Pageboy Productions follows an underdog queer softball team, generating buzz at recent screenings.
Another anticipated title is Yaga, a drama featuring Carrie-Ann Moss (The Matrix) and Noah Reid (Schitt’s Creek). The series, written by Kat Sandler, is being produced in collaboration with Blink49 Studios and Front Street Pictures.
In addition, Tom Green’s Funny Farm is set to debut following a development deal with Tom Green Productions. Cohan indicated that news regarding a partnership with Seth Rogen’s Point Grey is forthcoming.
During the crucial holiday viewing period, six of the top ten most-watched shows on Crave were Canadian originals, contributing to a subscriber increase of approximately 1.5 million over the past two years, reaching 4.6 million subscribers in total.
Cohan noted that Heated Rivalry has positively influenced these subscriber numbers. “It’s definitely delivered an uptick,” he said, explaining that many new subscribers are tuning in to the show first after signing up. He also addressed the phenomenon of "re-Heating," a term coined by Canadian media, referencing dedicated viewers. “Roughly a third have watched it more than two times,” he reported, with some viewers even reaching double-digit viewings.
Despite its popularity, Heated Rivalry is not eligible for Emmy Awards, a point Cohan acknowledged. “People say: ‘The Emmys isn’t allowed to give Heated Rivalry an award. Is that a problem?’ Well, the show’s already got a fair bit of recognition, and the fans love it.”
Cohan’s vision extends beyond this series. He expressed a desire to leverage the enthusiasm surrounding Heated Rivalry to elevate a new generation of Canadian productions. “It’s not just the Bell Media story, but we want to be at the center of it,” he stated, suggesting that this show might ignite a significant movement in Canadian drama.
