HBO Max's 'Heated Rivalry' is a hit, but why isn't it showing up in Nielsen's streaming charts? Despite averaging 9 million viewers per episode in the US, the series hasn't cracked the top 10 in any of the five weeks it's been on air. Here's the breakdown: Heated Rivalry, commissioned by Canadian outlet Crave, is considered an acquired series by Nielsen, which means it faces a higher bar to reach the top 10. The streaming charts are ranked by total viewing time, and Heated Rivalry's weekly release and small episode count put it at a disadvantage compared to shows with huge libraries and more episodes. While it's not unheard of for an HBO show to make the acquired series rankings, it usually takes a massive production and marketing budget, as well as a well-known IP. Heated Rivalry's organic growth and late acquisition of US rights by HBO Max might be the reason it's not yet cracking the top 10. Despite this, the show's 9 million viewers are still impressive, and HBO Max and Crave have quickly ordered a second season.
