MISS USA® 2003 TO BE BROADCAST, FOR THE FIRST-TIME-EVER, LIVE ON NBC FROM SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS New Production Changes to Redefine Miss USA® 2003
New York, January, 2003 - Paula M.
Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization announced today
that San Antonio, Texas, the top leisure visitor destination in the
state , will host the 2003 Miss USA® telecast live on March
24th on its new network NBC. On September 3, 2002, NBC entered into
an exclusive agreement with Donald J. Trump to become equal partners
in the Miss Universe franchise. In addition, this year's telecast will
introduce production changes that will redefine the competition for
21st century women.
The City of San Antonio and the Miss Universe Organization came to a
hosting agreement today, which stated that the 2003 Miss USA Competition
would be held in San Antonio. San Antonio has retained its sense of
history and tradition, while carefully blending in cosmopolitan progress.
More than eight million visitors per year delight in the discovery of
San Antonio's charms. During the three-week pageant period, thousands
of people and media from around the country will visit San Antonio,
and millions of viewers will tune-in to watch the telecast, providing
a substantial exposure opportunity for the city.
"We are very excited to announce that San Antonio will be the first
host city to experience the innovative and highly-anticipated changes
to the format of the Miss USA telecast," said Shugart. "With our new
partner NBC, we have appointed a new production team that will bring
a fresh perspective and reinvent the live show."
The Gurin Company has been selected to produce Miss USA 2003 with veteran
television Writer and Executive Producer Phil Gurin at the helm. The
Gurin Company, established in 1997, has become one of television's preeminent,
full-service production companies with more than a dozen projects in
development for network, cable and syndication in the areas of reality
shows, game shows, variety shows, holiday specials, magazine and documentary
programming and live entertainment. Gurin is best known as Executive
Producer of the NBC primetime game show, Weakest Link, as well as the
syndicated daytime version of the series, cleared on top stations around
the country through fall 2003.
"We're very excited about working with the Miss Universe team. The pageants
are a great tradition that brings together all the best of great television
- characters, competition, a great story. I'm thrilled to be taking
our company into yet another exciting direction with Miss USA and Miss
Universe. Besides, what red blooded American male wouldn't love the
chance to produce a show with some of the most beautiful women on earth!"
said Gurin.
Additionally, the GuyRex Organization, longtime pageant producers, best
known for directing five consecutive Texas winners to the title of Miss
USA, joined the staff of Miss USA this year. GuyRex will work with the
Gurin Company in bringing the production innovative techniques in television
with the proven qualities of pageantry in a beauty competition.
The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSE*, MISS
USA* and MISS TEEN USA* Pageants, is a Donald J. Trump and National
Broadcasting Company, Inc. (NBC) partnership. Utilizing its nationwide
grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization is committed
to increasing awareness of breast and ovarian cancers. By forging relationships
with organizations committed to research and education, such as the
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Gilda's Club and the National Alliance
of Breast Cancer Organizations, Miss USA is armed to impact women today.
For more information about San Antonio, contact 800-447-3372 or log
on to www.SanAntonioVisit.com
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PRESS CONTACTS:
Esther Swan/Erin Cooney
The Miss Universe Organization
(212) 373-4870, (212) 373-4868
eswan@missuniverse.com
ecooney@missuniverse.com
Dara Busch/Jill Dortheimer
Rubenstein Public Relations
(212)843-8079, (212)843-9201
dbusch@rubensteinpr.com
jdortheimer@rubensteinpr.com