It’d be an understatement to say that the latest HBO show, Heated Rivalry, has caused a stir online.
The show follows Canada’s Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russia’s Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), two hockey players whose relationship sparks fire both on and off the rink. However, the pair face the pressure of being in the limelight, and the repercussions that come with it.
If you’re keen to watch Heated Rivalry in the UK, we have everything you need to know.
Is Heated Rivalry available to stream in the UK?
At the time of writing, no UK streaming service is airing Heated Rivalry in the UK. However, there is now an official release date beyond… well, never.
Sky has confirmed that Heated Rivalry will land on it’s channel and the Now Entertainment Membership on 10 January 2026.
If waiting around until next year to watch Heated Rivalry sounds like a nightmare, don’t worry. There is a way you can watch it in the UK.
HBO / Warner Bros.
How to watch Heated Rivalry on HBO Max in the UK
The first thing you’ll need is a good VPN. We’ve successfully signed up for HBO Max with NordVPN , which has consistently been ranked as our top recommendation thanks to its affordable pricing, wide range of servers and simple-to-use interface.
Get nordvpn for £2.29 per month
Once you’ve signed up for your VPN of choice, you’ll need to connect to an American server (any city, it doesn’t matter which) on your phone and take the following steps:
Find a US server on your VPN on your smartphone
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
There is a range of US servers on NordVPN – some may be more successful than others.
Ensure you are connected to a US server on your smartphone for the entire process.
Create a new Apple ID/Google Play account in your browser that’s tied to the US
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Ensure the country is either set to the United States, or left blank.
Register your new account on your phone
Hannah Cowton/Foundry
Sign in on the App Store/Play Store and register your new US account on your device.
Download and install the HBO Max app
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Verify your purchase if needed.
Tap ‘skip’ if the app store asks you to add payment information to your iOS/Google Play account before you’ve installed HBO Max.
Create a new account in the HBO Max app with your email address and password
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Choose whether you want the ad-supported or ad-free plan and if you want to pay monthly or annually.
Use PayPal as your method of payment (this can be a UK account)
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Verify PayPal with your phone number if you have two-factor authentication set up.
Once your account is verified, you can sign in from any device.
Sometimes, the Google Play Store does not change to the US version, even when creating a new account.
The way to get around this is by connecting to a VPN on a PC, signing into the Google Play Store US website , searching for the app you need, and sending it to your phone (whilst still connected to the VPN). You can see an example using Peacock below:
There have been reports of users not being able to install HBO Max on iOS as the app store forces users to register their payment details and doesn’t accept UK PayPal if you try to register with this account.
To get around this, we recommend purchasing US App Store credit via a digital gift card – which can be added as a US payment option.
You’ll need a website that allows you to pay with UK bank details. The typical minimum amount you can purchase will be $25 – enough to cover one month’s subscription to HBO Max.
When the site asks you to put in the recipient, enter your own email address and the code to redeem the money will be sent to your inbox. Then when you need to add payment information in the app store, select ‘redeem gift card or code’, and you should be able to add the money as credit on your account.
NordVPN
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor’s Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She’s also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she’s written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.
Recent stories by Hannah Cowton-Barnes:
- Harry Potter TV series has finally revealed a release window
- Jessica Jones returns in Daredevil: Born Again season 2 trailer
- The Traitors will return for season 5 with new twists and challenges
