Miss America show seeks home

Sam Haskell, chairman of the Miss America Organization board, says he’s using his connections as the former head of television for the William Morris talent agency to find a new TV home for the pageant.

The 86-year-old Miss America competition was dropped Thursday by Country Music Television after two years of low ratings. The January crowning of Miss Oklahoma Lauren Nelson as Miss America drew only 2.4 million viewers, continuing a steady decline that had seen ABC give up the show in 2004.

Haskell said he received early interest from cable and network channels, but he would not provide details.

Rival pageant Miss USA isn’t having the same trouble. Just this week, NBC, a part owner of Miss USA, announced that it had renewed its contract with pageant co-owner Donald Trump and the Miss Universe Organization to broadcast the Miss Universe and Miss USA competitions until 2011.

About 7.4 million viewers tuned in for the crowning of Miss USA 2007 last week.