Photo Gallery: Heated Rivalry at Prime Time media production conference in Ottawa

CITYnews halifax / By The Canadian Press

“Heated Rivalry,” the Canadian TV show about two professional hockey players who fall in love, brought an unusual dose of star power to this week’s Prime Time media production conference in Ottawa, which added a red carpet event to its programming.

On Thursday evening, dozens of people surrounded the red carpet as they waited for producers, actors and government officials to arrive. The crowd cheered as Prime Minister Mark and star Hudson Williams stepped onto the carpet.

Williams looked excited as he stepped over to hug the prime minister. After taking a group photo with another one of the show’s cast members, Sophie Nélisse, as well as creators Brendan Brady and Jacob Tierney, Carney was presented with the white fleece Williams wore in the series.

Earlier in the day, Tierney spoke at the conference and defended the Online Streaming Act, which the U.S. has identified as a trade irritant.

The annual industry conference is taking place as global streamers challenge Canadian content contribution and disclosure rules implemented by the CRTC through the Online Streaming Act.

Here are some scenes from the conference and the red carpet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2026.

The Canadian Press