The Miss America Pageant has found a new home for itself for the next three years: cable channel TLC.

The Miss America Pageant, on television now for some 86 years, will air its next show, live, on January 28, 2008, from Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, via TLC. The cable network has acquired the rights to the pageant for the following three years.

The company has set about to promote its newest acquisition by creating a reality series connected with the Miss America Pageant. All viewers curious enough will be able to watch the 52 competing beauties as they prepare for the grand event.

TLC, best known for the series “Trading Spaces” and “While You Were Out,” has proven a lifesaver for the Miss America Pageant, after CMT dropped the pageant earlier this year. CMT had been home to the pageant since 2004, after ABC dropped it on account of extremely low ratings.

TLC is looking forward to better results though. “We're thrilled to partner with the Miss America Organization and to broadcast the next generation of the Miss America Pageant,” company president Angela Shapiro-Mathes said in a statement Monday.

Shapiro-Mathes also showed confidence in the appeal a reality series starring the 52 contestants would have to the public. “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.”

In 2006, when CMT broadcasted the competition for the first time, some 3 million viewers tuned in to see the young women compete for the crown and title of “Miss America.”

A year later, a modest 2.4 million chose to watch the pageant on television. CMT dropped the project, even though it held broadcasting rights until 2011.

The Miss America Organization has also expressed confidence in the new partnership with TLC, chairman Sam Haskell III stating that the event will receive “the proper promotion and attention it deserves.”

“After thorough discussions and negotiations, we are confident that Miss America has found the perfect partner to host our pageant,” Haskell said. “Miss America's move to TLC will give it the proper promotion and attention it deserves.”