Reelz Channel picks up Miss USA Pageant; Latino advocacy groups blast decision

In this case, it appears that Donald Trump was right about the Miss USA Pageant not having to go for very long at all without a home. Today, it was confirmed that Reelz Channel, a network that many cable providers carry but few tend to regularly remember, has officially decided to pick up the event on July 12. This means that fans of the pageant and the contestants’ friends and family will be able to watch live. In a statement, the network’s CEO Stan E. Hubbard had the following to say about making this particular decision:

“The decision on the part of Reelz to acquire the rights to the Miss USA pageant was based on our belief that this special event, and the women who compete in it, are an integral part of American tradition … 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.” 

It is not too shocking a move that Reelz would be the network to ultimately decide to pick the pageant up, given that they have a documented history at this point of acquiring controversial programming. They were the network years ago that decided to air “The Kennedys,” a one-time History miniseries that was scrapped there over concerns of accuracy.

Many Latino activist groups are already decrying the channel’s decision, claiming that it is “opportunistic” and not taking a stand against some of Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants. This was the reason that NBC dropped the pageant and terminated a working relationship with him in the first place.

The reality here is that while this may be great news for the contestants who have worked really hard and don’t deserve to be connected to controversy in the way that they are, it is a move made by Reelz with money mostly in mind. This will become one of their most-watched broadcasts ever, and will earn them favor among Trump supporters even if they are blasted elsewhere.

What do you think about the move? Share now in the comments, and head over here to get some other TV news on all we cover, courtesy of our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: Miss USA.)