Press release from Miss America and Dick Clark Productions:

SANTA MONICA, CA (September 8, 2014) – dick clark productions and the Miss America Organization announced today that they are partnering to capitalize on the potential of the legendary Miss America Competition. Miss America empowers women to achieve their personal and professional goals by awarding scholarships for college and graduate school while instilling a spirit of community service through its national network of state and local competitions. Last year, the Miss America Organization made $45 million available for scholarship assistance. The 2015 Miss America Competition will be broadcast live from Atlantic City, NJ on Sunday, September 14th on ABC from 8:00-11:00 PM ET.

dick clark productions and the Miss America Organization will collaborate on all creative, marketing, sponsorship, licensing, ticketing and distribution elements of the show, beginning with next year’s program. The companies will also work together to develop and leverage the historic brand in new business ventures and programming. Tony Eaton and Tall Pony Productions will continue to produce the Miss America Competition.

“dick clark productions is the leader in live event television and we look forward to growing the show’s legacy and elevating the Miss America Competition for current and new generations of television viewers,” said Sam Haskell, Chairman and CEO, Miss America Organization. “We will continue to build on our commitment to connect and empower women through innovative television opportunities developed through our new partnership with dcp.”

Sharon Pearce, President, Miss America Organization, stated, “dcp’s expertise in live television is an excellent complement to our quality programming and proven history of empowering young women. This partnership will ensure the future of the Miss America Organization for generations to come.”

“Since its first television broadcast in 1954, the Miss America competition has continually captivated the country as a true television event for 60 years,” said Mike Mahan, President, dick clark productions. “We plan to help build on the tremendous show legacy by marrying our live event expertise with Miss America’s mission brand goals and competition creative, while leveraging new promotional, sponsorship and distribution opportunities to take the show to even greater heights.”

“I’ve worked with Sam and the Miss America Organization for the past 4 years during my tenure at ABC and it is an honor to work with them again in my new role at DCP where we can build on one of the most successful live television events of all-time,” said Mark Bracco, EVP, Programming and Development, dick clark productions.

The reigning Miss America, Nina Davuluri of Syracuse, New York, is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has traveled nearly 200,000 miles this past year promoting Miss America’s National Community Service Partner, Children’s Miracle Network, as well as her personal community service platform promoting Diversity and Cultural Competency.

The Miss America Organization is the leading provider of college scholarships for women in America. For 94 years, the Miss America program has maintained a tradition of empowering women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing scholarship assistance and forums for them to express their intelligence, talents, and charitable platforms.

The Miss America Organization has also recently developed a relationship with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and the U.S. Department of Education in the support of STEM Education among U.S. women. USA Today ranked Miss America as one of the best examples of true Americana existing in our country today. The 2015 Miss America Competition will celebrate its 60th Anniversary on live television on September 14th, making it one of the longest running live event specials in network television history. Last September, ABC’s broadcast of the Miss America Competition finished #9 for the week in all of television against NFL’s opening weekend. The telecast drew almost 9 million viewers and a 2.0 in the key adult 18-49 demographic.

Famous Miss Americas include: Bess Myerson, Lee Merriwether, Mary Ann Mobley, Phyllis George, Vanessa Williams, and Gretchen Carlson. The 53 contestants competing for the title of Miss America 2015 represent all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.