Miss USA pageant, dropped by NBC in Donald Trump flap, gets July home on Reelz channel

The Reelz channel is coming to the rescue of Donald Trump's Miss USA pageant.

Reelz said Thursday it will carry the pageant that was dropped by NBC after Trump made critical comments about immigrants from Mexico.

In a statement, Reelz chief executive Stan E. Hubbard said the company believes the Miss USA pageant and its contestants are an "integral" part of American tradition.

Reelz, an independent cable and satellite network, decided to exercise its own voice and bring the pageant to viewers, Hubbard said.

He made no mention of Trump, who has faced criticism and lost business deals since making his comments during his presidential campaign announcement last month.

Reelz said Miss USA will be televised Sunday, July 12, the originally scheduled date.