Mina Kimes, known for her work as an ESPN NFL analyst, has been appointed as the new television host for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The announcement, made on Tuesday, marks a significant step in the reimagining of the 101-year-old competition's broadcast. Kimes hopes to leverage her outsider's perspective to capture the excitement of the event.
A Fresh Face for the Bee
Kimes becomes the first celebrity host for the bee since LeVar Burton in 2022, the year Scripps took over production from ESPN and moved the broadcast to its own networks, ION and Bounce. The media company has also brought in a new production team led by Michael Davies, executive producer of "Jeopardy!," to reverse a decline in ratings.
This year's bee, scheduled for May 26-28, will take place at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., a new venue. A total of 247 spellers will compete for the championship trophy and over $50,000 in cash and prizes.
Kimes' Vision for the Broadcast
"My goal in this is to give it the big-game feel," Kimes told the Associated Press. "Any event that requires skill and knowledge and preparation can have that feel if it's presented with enough care and pride on television." Davies echoed her sentiments, aiming to "make it bigger and make it more famous" by focusing on the stakes of the competition and the climactic winning moment.
Kimes, a Yale-educated journalist, is renowned for her meticulous analysis of NFL players and coaches. She draws parallels between her football preparation and her approach to the bee: "It honestly does feel a little bit like watching game tape because I really think these kids are elite competitors... The way they get to the right answer is fascinating to me."
Spelling Background and Broadcast Team
Though she never competed nationally, Kimes has a history in spelling, winning school-level bees in second, third, and fifth grades. Spellers qualify for the National Spelling Bee by winning regional bees and are eligible through eighth grade. Many train year-round with paid coaches, often getting only one or two chances to win before aging out.
Scripps has previously relied on former spellers as hosts and commentators. Longtime analyst Paul Loeffler, a sports broadcaster and former speller, will return in his role.
Ratings and Audience Trends
Since moving to ION, which reaches more households than ESPN, ratings have remained stagnant or dipped. The combined audience for the primetime finals on ION and Bounce was 609,000 in 2022, 641,000 in 2023, 461,000 in 2024, and 488,000 last year. In comparison, the bee drew over 1 million viewers on ESPN in 2012, with pre-pandemic finals ranging from 550,000 to 606,000.
