I follow it live when it happens in July. But the shows are not ruined for me because the show adds much more. Often when you are just following online, there is just a name. The show shows exactly what how things happen.
Since the November nine started I do not follow the fonal table live and wait the 2 days to watch it without knowing who wpn. in 08 ESPN bottom line spoiled it. But last year I watched the episodes without knowing who won and it was pretty cool.
Yeah, besides, chances are when you follow the event in the Summer you don't really know most of the players who get far, so by the time you watch it on ESPN you don't remember who reached the final table. At least for me I only remembered The Grinder (obviously) and Racener, plus Dolan and Cheong ringed a bell. Also, I was pretty sure Candio didn't reach the final table and Affleck finished 10th (that would be even more epically brutal). So, there are still surprises. Plus, it's always cool to actually get to know who those players are instead of them being just random names.
Next year I'll try to go without spoilers, but it'll be pretty difficult to resist as I'll surely participate in the full tilt fantasy game. Ahh, choices...
For those without ESPN, check pokertube, they have all episodes there.