The National Spelling Bee set a viewership record on cable Thursday night. In other news, viewership inched up for the NBA Draft Lottery, and the NBA Playoffs beat the Rangers’ blowout loss to the Mariners in Dallas.
- Spelling Bee Sets Record: Coverage of the 2012 National Spelling Bee Final drew a 0.7 U.S. rating and 1.061 million viewers on ESPN Thursday night, up a tick in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (0.6, 952K), but down 73% and 74%, respectively, from coverage on ABC in 2010 (2.6, 4.0M). The telecast ranks as the most-viewed Spelling Bee Final ever on cable. (ESPN Media Zone)
- Slight Bump For NBA Draft Lottery: The 2012 NBA Draft Lottery drew 2.950 million viewers on ESPN Wednesday night, up 4% from last year (2.843M), but down 5% from 2010 (3.089M). (TV By the Numbers)
- Celtics/Heat Beats Rangers Blowout in Dallas-Ft. Worth: Perhaps more impressive than beating the Stanley Cup Final in New York and Los Angeles is the fact that Wednesday’s Celtics/Heat Game 2 managed to outdraw the Rangers in Dallas-Ft. Worth. Game 2 drew a 4.8 rating on ESPN in Dallas-Ft. Worth, while the Rangers’ 21-8 loss to the Mariners earned a 3.9 on Fox Sports Southwest. Rangers ratings have been red hot for most of the season. (Dallas Morning News)
