The Miss Universe organization lost three network TV homes in the last week. Univision cut its business ties with Donald Trump on Thursday, ending its Spanish-language version of the pageant. Then Monday, NBC said it would end its ties with Trump, which would mean ending coverage of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. Following NBC’s decision, Mexican network Televisa also broke off ties with Trump, keeping the Miss Universe pageant off Mexico’s No. 1 broadcaster.
The Miss USA pageant has aired on NBC since 2003 when Trump entered a deal with the network, giving them half-ownership of the pageants. Miss USA had its broadcast home on CBS for nearly 40 years, from 1963 until 2002. As of late Monday, CBS had not been in contact with the organization about carrying this years event, which will be held in Baton Rouge on July 12.
We also checked with HLN, which has broadened its scope recently. HLN also no plans to air Miss USA, we hear. We’ll keep checking to see whether the 63-year old pageant might find a TV home. NBC Newsers have found themselves taking part in Trump’s pageants. NBC’s Natalie Morales hosted the 2010 and 2011 Miss Universe pageants while MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts hosted the 2013 contest.