Planet Money The Business of Heated Rivalry
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Mar 4, 2026 
Jacob Tierney, director and actor who led the show’s creative vision, and Brendan Brady, TV executive producer focused on financing and IP, break down Heated Rivalry’s creation. They discuss the low-cost Canadian production model, fast humane shooting practices, ownership and merchandising strategies, and streaming’s effects on storytelling. Conversations touch on AI’s role and plans for future projects.
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Low Budget Show Looked Rich
- Heated Rivalry cost about C$3M per episode, roughly C$2.2M US, far below typical US one-hour drama budgets.
- The show used tight directing, longer single-character coverage, and fewer takes to make episodes look expensive on a small budget.
Canadian Funding Lets Producers Own IP
- Canada funds TV with license fees, provincial and federal tax credits, and grants, so producers retain IP rather than broadcasters owning it.
- Crave provided ~20–30% license fee, tax credits covered another ~20–30%, and distribution advances filled the rest.
Shoot The Season Like One Movie
- Shoot an entire season like a single movie: write all episodes before prep and block-shot them to save time and money.
- Heated Rivalry shot six episodes in 36 days with Jacob Tierney directing every episode to compress costs.