• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, April 11, 2007

For the second year in a row, ABC will air the finals of the national spelling bee contest live in prime time. Coverage of the teen competition will occur May 31 from 8 p.m.-10 p.m.

Sister network ESPN has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 1994. Then last year, ABC brought it to prime time. ESPN will continue to air coverage again this year, carrying the semi-finals from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., leading up to ABC's broadcast that night. Last year, ABC's broadcast drew 8.5 million viewers and a 5.5 household rating.

The decision to launch prime-time coverage likely has roots in the popular 2002 documentary "Spellbound," which followed several participants as they prepared for the competition, then traveled to Washington to do battle.

The "Spellbound" effect also appears to be at least partly behind GSN decision to make a similar documentary about the first National Vocabulary Championship. The one-hour production airs Sunday at 8 p.m.

The event itself is backed by GSN and took place last month in New York. The network followed some 50 students as they prepared for the competition and a shot at the $40,000 college scholarship that goes to the winner.