GOP Donor’s Channel Picks Up Donald Trump’s Miss USA Pageant

After a rough week, Donald Trump can breathe a sigh of relief.

On Thursday, the relatively obscure independent cable channel Reelz stepped in to pick up the presidential candidate’s Miss USA pageant, filling the void after NBC and Univision dropped it.

“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,” said Stan Hubbard, CEO of Reelz, in a statement emailed to TPM.

“For us, this decision is about the dreams of the contestants who come from all walks of life across the United States, the city of Baton Rouge that has proudly come together to host this pageant and the viewers who will be watching and celebrating its 54th year on television.”

Hubbard called the Republican candidate’s event a “perfect fit” for Reelz — which some history may explain further.

The channel’s parent company, Hubbard Broadcasting, also once donated $100,000 to Karl Rove’s super PAC American Crossoads in 2012, according to the Center For Public Integrity.

Reelz made headlines in 2011 for picking up the miniseries “The Kennedys” after it was dropped by A&E in the U.S.

Critics called the Kennedy series “vindictive” and defamatory to the Democratic dynasty, according the Hollywood Reporter. Hubbard reportedly paid $7 million for the series.

NBC Universal and Spanish-language broadcaster Univsion have pulled out from broadcasting Trump’s pageant, which he co-owns, after furor over his remarks calling Mexican immigrants “rapists” and killers.

On Tuesday, the Mexican media company in charge of sending contestants to the Miss Universe pageant, which Trump also runs, dropped out of that event in protest.