Get ready for a showdown of letters and nerves as tonight’s 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee finals air live on ION. After two days of fierce competition, only nine gifted young spellers remain to battle it out on the national stage. Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland will host the finals as the Bee celebrates a century since the inaugural 1925 competition.
What started with 243 spellers from all 50 states has narrowed down to the final nine after last night’s semifinals. Tonight’s spellers range from ages 11 to 14 and are competing for the coveted trophy, $52,500 top cash prize, and guaranteed awards. Viewers can watch the suspense as one flawless pronunciation could make spelling history tonight.
So sharpen your pencils and settle in! Whether you’re rooting from your living room or catching every tense moment on your phone, here’s how to tune in to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
When to Watch the 2025 Spelling Bee
- Date: Thursday, May 29
- Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM ET
- Where to Watch: ION
- Where to Stream: DIRECTV, Fubo, Frndly TV, YouTube TV
How to Watch the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2025 Without Cable
No need for bulky equipment or long-term contract, with Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, or any other compatible device you can watch live TV with a streaming service like DIRECTV, Fubo, Sling TV, Frndly TV, and YouTube TV. You can also stream the contest on the spelling bee’s website.
Also, you can watch ION for free with an antenna, you can find out which ION affiliates are near you by using a tool like AntennaWeb. Or stream free and record with your antenna by using Tablo TV
You can find out more about each streaming platform, below.
How to Watch the Spelling Bee Live on DIRECTV
This year’s Spelling Bee on ION is available to stream on DIRECTV. With a lineup of over 90 channels, including ION, the Entertainment plan gives you access to the Bee and many popular entertainment, news, sports, and lifestyle networks for $84.99 per month.
For a limited time, you can upgrade to the Choice plan and get ION and over 125 channels for only $59.99 per month for the first month and save $20 over the second and third month.
With DIRECTV, you can record your favorite movies, shows, and more with unlimited DVR. Everyone can watch simultaneously with unlimited devices on their home network and up to 3 devices on the go with every plan.
New subscribers can take advantage of a 5-day free trial before subscribing.
How to Watch the Spelling Bee Live on Fubo
Fubo offers ION in its channel lineup of 195 channels and over 100s of live sporting events in the Pro plan for only $84.99 per month. Each Fubo plan includes on-demand shows and movies, the ability to record unlimited hours with cloud DVR, and you can stream on 10 screens simultaneously.
New subscribers can try Fubo for free and save $20 on the first month.
How to Watch the Spelling Bee Live on Frndly TV
Yes, the 2025 Spelling Bee is available on ION with Frndly TV. Sporting a lineup of over 50 channels, Frndly TV offers Ion and its sister channels Ion Mystery, Ion Plus (Ion+), Bounce TV, Court TV, Laff, and Grit for as low as $6.99 per month. The budget-friendly platform offers unlimited DVR recording, live and on-demand programming, 72 Hour Lookback, and the ability to stream on up to four screens simultaneously.
New subscribers can try Frndly TV for free for seven days.
How to Watch the Spelling Bee On YouTube TV
YouTube is one of the best overall streaming services due to its lineup of over 100 live channels, including popular news, sports, lifestyle and entertainment networks. For $82.99 per month, YouTube TV has you covered for the Spelling Bee on ION and you can record with unlimited DVR and save your content for up to 9 months.
After your free trial, you can save $46 over two months when you sign up by July 31.