British television producers are carving out a surprising niche in the streaming wars: ice hockey romance. Once a minor subgenre, these shows are now driving global viewership, with UK studios leading the charge. The latest series, ‘Frozen Hearts’, has topped charts in North America and Europe, its fictional British teams and gritty love stories a world away from typical soap operas.
But for workers in Manchester and Leeds, where these productions are often filmed, the boom is a double-edged sword. While local crews are in high demand, wages lag behind those in London and Hollywood. They're raking in streaming billions, but we're still fighting for overtime and decent catering,"
said one grip on a recent set. The government’s tax relief schemes have fuelled the growth, yet union leaders argue that the benefits aren't trickling down to the studio floor. As the genre expands, the question remains: will the icy romance on screen warm the hearts of the working-class talent behind the cameras?
