Reelz Draws Nearly 1 Million Viewers With '2015 Miss USA Pageant'

Reelz channel’s coverage of the 2015Miss USA Pageant drew 925,000 viewers, according to Nielsen.

The Donald Trump-owned pageant, which Reelz picked up two weeks ago after NBC and Univision dropped the TV rights over remarks presidential candidate Trump made disparaging Mexicans, also drew 296,000 adults 18-49 and 296,000 adults 25-54, according to Nielsen.

The event also drew a unique audience of 2.4 million Twitter users, topping all TV shows for the evening, according to Nielsen 

Reelz reported that the Miss USA Pageant, which was won by Miss Oklahoma Olivia Jordan, drew 2.5 million viewers including the live telecast and an encore presentation. The network also said the event was the most watched telecast ever on Reelz for women 18-34 and ranks as the highest premiere night in network history behind the Kennedys miniseries.

“The last two weeks have been a whirlwind for Reelz and we are proud to have had the opportunity to partner with the incredibly capable Miss Universe/Miss USA organization,” said Stan E. Hubbard CEO of Reelz. “Their capability and the value we bring as an independent network produced an extraordinary night of television that America tuned in to watch.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.