Miss USA has been saved by the Reelz cable network.
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Reelz CEO Stan E. Hubbard released a statement Thursday saying the cable and satellite channel has acquired the rights to air Miss USA, which is being hosted this year in Louisiana's capital.
The women who compete in the pageant, which has aired for more than 60 years, "are an integral part of American tradition," Hubbard said, declining to mention the Trump controversy.
"As one of only a few independent networks, we decided to exercise our own voice and committed ourselves to bringing this pageant to American viewers everywhere."
Reelz reportedly reaches 70 million homes. Trump has yet to comment on the acquisition.
The Miss USA pageant will now air July 12 on Reelz but is likely still in need of performers, hosts and judges. Many individuals -- including performers Flo Rida and The Voice's Craig Wayne Boyd as well as co-hosts Cheryl Burke and Thomas Roberts --- quit due to the offensive remarks Trump had made two weeks ago while kicking off his 2016 presidential campaign.
As of Wednesday, Miss USA's website listed Style Network's Jeannie Mai as a host and country singer Jessie James Decker as a judge. Last month, Decker was designated to judge the competition alongside HGTV star Jonathan Scott, E! News anchor Terrence Jenkins, former Miss Universe winner Zuleyka Rivera, and Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith.
Spanish-language TV station Univision had also dumped the Miss USA pageant from its airing schedule. The network made the move before NBC, and now Trump is suing Univision for a whopping $500 million.
Reelz was faced with a similar situation in 2011 when it decided to air The Kennedys, which the History channel had pulled the plug on because the series wasn't cohesive with its brand. Reelz ended up racking in huge ratings for The Kennedys.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
