TLC Inks Miss America Deal
Network Will Present Pageant Through 2010, Succeeding CMT
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 8/13/2007 10:11:00 AM
Here she comes, Miss America … to TLC.
In a surprise deal, Discovery Networks-owned TLC announced Monday that it has reached a multi-year agreement with The Miss America Organization to distribute the beauty pageant through 2010, beginning with the January 26, 2008 event.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but TLC president and general manager Angela Shapiro-Mathes in a statement said the deal also includes a reality series that will chronicle the preparations and journeys of the contestants.
"We're thrilled to partner with the Miss America Organization and to broadcast the next generation of the Miss America Pageant," said Shapiro-Mathes. "In addition, through a new reality series, we'll get to know 52 of the country's smartest and most beautiful women as they prepare for a competition they've dreamed of their entire lives.”
CMT: Country Music Television has aired the pageant the past two years before deciding not to exercise an option for the 2008 event. After setting a CMT ratings record with 3.1 million viewers in 2006, viewership for the 2007 version of the pageant dropped to 2.4 million.
Prior to CMT, the Pageant was aired on broadcast television.
"After thorough discussions and negotiations, we are confident that Miss America has found the perfect partner to host our Pageant," said Sam Haskell, III, chairman of the Board for The Miss America Organization in a statement. "Miss America's move to TLC will give it the proper promotion and attention it deserves. Our brand is rich in both philanthropy and history, and this new multi-million dollar partnership will not only preserve this wonderful institution, but will, in fact, build the Miss America brand.”
-
Wow! I was glued to the Reality Check series, but it didn't seem to make a difference in the long run! I am so dissappointed with the outcome of the pageant. I was so optimistic about the potential of the partnership with TLC, but the pageant was a disappointment to me. Reality check was a breath of fresh air, and really promoted some "modern" ideals, but it did not make a difference in the live event. I thought that the winner (Kirsten Haglund, Miss Michigan) didn't represent anyting new or exciting in any way. Where were the exciting personalities on your judging panel? Jackie Joyner was the only one who seemed to have any type of "street cred." The values and qualities promoted on the Reality Check series were compeltely absent on the Miss America Live event. The host was a joke! Why didn't you have Clinton act as host?! I can't say how diappointed I was. Where was Miss Rhode Island, Miss New Mexico, Miss Ilinois, Miss D.C. and the women who stood out during the series? While the TLC channel tried to revive the pageant with the Reality Check series (which was a step in the right direction) I felt the judges and live telecast really were a let down! Modernity and the "it" girl status were no where near achieved. Apologies to Nicole Rash and Elyse Umemoto! Either one was more deserving of the crown!
Hilary Faircloth - 1/27/2008 12:54:00 AM EST -
Hi I 'm here to vote for miss alaska
lijun chua - 1/26/2008 8:46:00 AM EST
No related content found.
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
