The Hubbard Media-owned Reelz cable channel has picked up the 2015 Miss USA pageant following the decisions by NBC and Univision to cut business ties with pageant co-owner Donald Trump, leaving the telecast in limbo.
Company CEO Stanley Hubbard (right) called the pageant a “special event’ and “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.”
Hubbard also owns broadcasting businesses including ABC affiliate KSTP in Minneapolis, NBC affiliate KOB in Albuquerque, more than 10 other TV stations, and dozens of radio stations nationwide.
In 2011, Reelz picked up another controversial project, The Kennedys. The History channel pulled the miniseries reportedly after getting pressure from the Kennedy family.