Mina Kimes, the new Scripps National Spelling Bee host, has worked at ESPN since 2014, serving as a lead analyst on NFL Live|Erik Drost|CC BY 2.0
In an effort to spruce up dwindling interest in the competition, NFL analyst Mina Kimes is hosting the 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee at Constitution Hall in downtown Washington.
Kimes has an English degree and has worked at ESPN since 2014, serving as a lead analyst on NFL Live and hosting The Mina Kimes Show.
She is known for her knowledge in analyzing players and is bringing exactly that to the stage. She views the elite spelling bee contestants like high-performing athletes.
The spellers are competing for a trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. The finals will be broadcast live on ION beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
A much-needed revamp
Television viewership of the contest has been lower since before the pandemic. It peaked in 2012, surpassing 1 million viewers, but interest dipped to 559,000 in 2019.
After moving the broadcast to its own networks, Ion and Bounce, in 2022, the finals last year attracted just 488,000 viewers.