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2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee seen by 9.2 million viewers, up 22% vs. 2022
Finals on June 1 reach largest audience in more than a decade CINCINNATI, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Scripps National Spelling Bee's semifinals and
About this update from E.w. Scripps Company (the)
[{"type":"text","content":"Finals on June 1 reach largest audience in more than a decade\nCINCINNATI, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Scripps National Spelling Bee's semifinals and finals drew 9.2 million viewers this year, an increase of 22% over 2022 when it debuted on ION. The finals (live and immediate encore) on June 1 reached its largest audience since 2012 – 6.1 million viewers, an increase of 30% over 2022.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \nLast year, The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) moved the Bee to its own networks – available free over-the-air as well as on cable, satellite and streaming platforms – to make the competition more accessible to viewers. This year, Scripps aired the semifinals and finals on all six of its entertainment networks: ION, Bounce, Defy TV, Grit, Laff and ION Mystery. Among the viewership highlights:\nViewing of the finals was 60% higher than in 2022. The semifinals on May 31 reached 4.9 million viewers – an increase of 58% over 2022 and the highest audience ever for the semifinals for the second year in a row. Streaming added significantly to the overall audience. Bee programming was watched for nearly 5.6 million hours, up double digits from last year.Last year's Spelling Bee programming, including a one-hour original special, \"Road to the Bee,\" aired on ION, Bounce, Laff and TrueReal and was seen by 7.5 million viewers.\n\"This year's fantastic growth further proves the power of over-the-air television, the promise of the Scripps Networks to connect with its diverse audiences and the special place this nearly 100-year-old competition holds in the hearts of Americans,\" Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson said.\nDev Shah, a 14-year-old speller from Largo, Florida, won the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee in the 15th round of onstage competition. The 95th competition was held May 31-June 1 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.\nThe Bee is the nation's longest-running educational program, having launched in 1925. The E.W. Scripps Company is the longtime steward of the Bee and owns Scripps Networks.\nSource: Nielsen. Live+SD. 9.2 M reach reflects a one-minute qualifier. Comparison to prior years reflects the reach for the Finals plus all encores that aired the same day. Persons 2+.\nMedia contact: Becca McCarter, 513-410-2425, [email protected]\nAbout the Scripps ...