Warner Bros. Discovery sees Winter Olympics streaming surge as Heated Rivalry captivates viewers

Heated Rivalry ranks among top shows as Warner Bros. Discovery reports record streaming growth during Winter Olympics

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has reported record-breaking streaming performance during the opening days of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. 

The HBO Max series Heated Rivalry emerged as one of the most-watched entertainment titles among viewers tuning in for the Games.

According to Variety, WBD’s streaming platforms — HBO Max and Discovery+ — delivered their strongest Winter Olympics results to date, surpassing benchmarks set during the Beijing 2022 and PyeongChang 2018 events. Total hours viewed across streaming services increased by 102% compared to Beijing, while subscriber engagement exceeded the entire Beijing audience within just three days of competition.

The surge was particularly notable across major European markets, including France, Germany, Italy and the U.K., all of which recorded triple-digit growth. Overall consumption across WBD platforms rose 39% versus the comparable stage of the 2022 Games, highlighting the growing dominance of streaming in live sports coverage.

Entertainment programming also benefited from the Olympic momentum. Heated Rivalry, a Crave Original series centered on two rival hockey players navigating both professional competition and personal relationships, ranked among the most-viewed titles for Olympics audiences alongside The Pitt Season 2. Since its U.S. premiere in November, the series has gained significant cultural traction and helped elevate its lead stars, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, to global recognition.

The show’s visibility increased further when both actors were selected as official torchbearers during the Olympic Torch Relay, which concluded in Milan ahead of the opening ceremony. The series has already secured a renewal for a second season.

Meanwhile, WBD’s linear networks — Eurosport and TNT Sports — also delivered strong results, posting a 33% rise in hours viewed compared to Beijing 2022. Coverage of the Winter Olympics continues across WBD platforms through Feb. 22.