Latest news with #Dr.PhilPrimetime
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Behind Dr. Phil's Media Flameout
Phil McGraw's Merit Street Media is in bankruptcy court and is simultaneously suing its distribution partner, Trinity Broadcasting, for breach of contract that the company says led to the chapter 11 filing. But signs that the 15-month-old network was struggling were there well before Merit Street began bankruptcy proceedings on July 2. In its lawsuit, Merit Street says Trinity Broadcasting — known for its Christian programming, and with a distribution network that reaches about 65 million homes in the U.S. — forced its network, Merit TV, into expensive third-party distribution deals rather than using Trinity's own network of local stations and provided 'shoddy production services' for Merit TV's programs, among other issues. McGraw's own Peteski Productions gave Merit Street a bridge loan to cover some ongoing operations, but Merit Street's precarious finances made securing outside infusions of capital impossible, leading to the bankruptcy filing. More from The Hollywood Reporter Phil McGraw's Merit Street Media Files for Bankruptcy, Sues Distribution Partner Trinity Broadcasting Dr. Phil Says Donald Trump "Understands Importance of Allies" in Israel Support Hulk Hogan, Dr. Phil, Elon Musk Speak at Donald Trump's Insult-Filled Rally at Madison Square Garden Several attempts to reach Trinity Broadcasting for comment were unsuccessful. Prior to the bankruptcy filing, however, there were a number of indicators that Merit TV was undergoing a rocky start to its life — even putting aside the questionable notion of launching a linear TV venture in a time when streaming is the default option for the largest share of viewers. And even the linear TV part of Merit Street's offering (which also includes a FAST channel and mobile app) wasn't fully locked down: The channel is available over the air (though often on digital subchannels) in most major markets and is available on some — but hardly all — cable and satellite providers. Comcast's Xfinity service, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV don't carry it. On the programming front, McGraw's Dr. Phil Primetime is the flagship show for Merit TV, but it also featured a morning and evening newscast and a handful of original shows, including ones hosted by Nancy Grace and former Bachelor host Chris Harrison. Merit Street also announced a deal with the Professional Bull Riders tour to carry its events, which kicked off in July 2024. By October, however, PBR had pulled its programming from Merit TV, saying the network had yet to pay rights fees. The two sides are in arbitration over the dispute. (PBR moved on to sign a rights deal with Fox Nation, the Fox News streaming platform.) More recently, the evening newscast was scrapped in favor of a morning show and live hourly updates during other parts of the day. Following the bankruptcy filing, all shows — including Dr. Phil Primetime — have stopped production, leaving Merit TV as something of a zombie channel. Reruns of McGraw's various programs and a few infomercials fill the day. The last available morning newscast on the Merit TV app is from July 1. On the digital side, Merit TV's YouTube channel has fewer than 90,000 subscribers, and while a handful of videos there have tallied a million or more views (based on YouTube's 30-second qualifier), the biggest one from the last three months has just 40,000. Merit TV also made headlines — not particularly positive ones — for McGraw's embedding with ICE agents on raids in the early days of Donald Trump's second presidential administration. In the segments aired on Merit TV, 'border czar' Tom Homan states that that the raids showcased problems with so-called sanctuary cities, which McGraw (and Merit's newscasters) seemingly take at face value. McGraw also interviewed Trump several times during the 2024 campaign. Merit TV never reached a wide audience — in primetime, it averaged a paltry 27,000 viewers in 2024, ranking 130th among broadcast and cable outlets. The company touted its January performance (albeit without any detailed numbers), noting that Merit TV moved up to 65th place for the month. That would have meant an average audience in the low six figures, based on 2024 data, and was also the peak for Merit TV: By the second quarter of 2025, its audience dipped to just 17,000 primetime viewers. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Miami Herald
03-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Dr. Phil's Media Company Accuses Christian Network of ‘Sabotage'
Merit Street Media, the media company founded by television personality and psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, has filed for bankruptcy while suing its broadcast partner for allegedly contributing to its situation-accusing it of sabotage. In the suit, filed with the Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Texas, Merit Street Media claimed Christian network Trinity Broadcasting of Texas Inc. (TBN) "reneged on its obligations and abused its position as the controlling shareholder of Merit Street" to burden the company with over $100 million in debt. "These failures by TBN were neither unintended nor inadvertent," the lawsuit read. "They were a conscious, intentional pattern of choices made with full awareness that the consequence of which was to sabotage and seal the fate of a new but already nationally acclaimed network." Newsweek has reached out to TBN and Merit Street Media outside of regular working hours for comment. Merit Street Media's bankruptcy comes just over a year after its launch as a self-avowed anti-woke alternative to mainstream news outlets. Beyond the alleged actions of its distribution partner, its collapse highlights the difficulties of attempting to break into and compete in the cable television market-a sector which continues to be threatened as customers migrating to streaming services and digital news platforms. Upon officially launching Merit Street Media in April 2024, McGraw said the network would represent a "resource of information and strategies to fight for America and its families, which are under a cultural 'woke' assault as never before." "I love this country and I believe family is the backbone of our society. Together we are going to stand strong and fight for the very soul and sanity of America and get things that matter back on track," his statement read. The company aimed to become "one of the most widely distributed startup networks in modern history," driven by flagship show Dr. Phil Primetime and a broad lineup of shows starring other notable figures, including Nancy Grace and Steve Harvey. Its programming has included McGraw accompanying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during raids in Chicago and Los Angeles, and McGraw's 2024 interview with Donald Trump during the presidential campaign. Merit Street Media is suing TBN over alleged breach of contract, claiming that its former distribution partner failed to deliver on key commitments. Examples alleged in the lawsuit include failing to guarantee Merit Street's national distribution and providing "comically dysfunctional" production services, which left the network without viable means of airing its programming, per the suit. More critically, Merit Street Media claimed that TBN used its position as a controlling shareholder to "to advance its own interests and those of its CEO," and unfairly shift liabilities onto the company. The company is also suing TCT Ministries in the suit, in relation to a $25 million loan it says was originally made to Merit Street by a company "closely connected" to TBN and which TCT took over. Newsweek has also reached out to TCT Ministries for comment. In its coinciding bankruptcy filing, the company reported assets and liabilities of between $100 million and $500 million, according to Bloomberg. Merit Street Media, in the lawsuit filed Wednesday, said: "TBN formed Merit Street as a joint venture and contractually committed to provide valuable services to the joint venture. But TBN then reneged on its obligations and abused its position as the controlling shareholder of Merit Street to improperly and unilaterally burden Merit Street with unsustainable debt, doing so either without notice or in direct violation of promises not to do so." According to court filings, Merit Street Media is seeking unspecified damages from TBN, as well as the cost of its legal fees. Related Articles Dr. Phil Joining ICE Raids Ripped by Illinois AGTexas Breakaway Group Warns US Changes or 'Blows Up'Texas Independence Leader Clashes With Dr. Phil: 'Beyond Belief'Jon Stewart Savages 'Dirty' Dr Phil 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Dr. Phil's Media Company Accuses Christian Network of 'Sabotage'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Merit Street Media, the media company founded by television personality and psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, has filed for bankruptcy while suing its broadcast partner for allegedly contributing to its situation—accusing it of sabotage. In the suit, filed with the Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Texas, Merit Street Media claimed Christian network Trinity Broadcasting of Texas Inc. (TBN) "reneged on its obligations and abused its position as the controlling shareholder of Merit Street" to burden the company with over $100 million in debt. "These failures by TBN were neither unintended nor inadvertent," the lawsuit read. "They were a conscious, intentional pattern of choices made with full awareness that the consequence of which was to sabotage and seal the fate of a new but already nationally acclaimed network." Newsweek has reached out to TBN and Merit Street Media outside of regular working hours for comment. Dr. Phil McGraw visits SiriusXM Studios on February 27, 2024, in New York City. Dr. Phil McGraw visits SiriusXM Studios on February 27, 2024, in New York It Matters Merit Street Media's bankruptcy comes just over a year after its launch as a self-avowed anti-woke alternative to mainstream news outlets. Beyond the alleged actions of its distribution partner, its collapse highlights the difficulties of attempting to break into and compete in the cable television market—a sector which continues to be threatened as customers migrating to streaming services and digital news platforms. What To Know Upon officially launching Merit Street Media in April 2024, McGraw said the network would represent a "resource of information and strategies to fight for America and its families, which are under a cultural 'woke' assault as never before." "I love this country and I believe family is the backbone of our society. Together we are going to stand strong and fight for the very soul and sanity of America and get things that matter back on track," his statement read. The company aimed to become "one of the most widely distributed startup networks in modern history," driven by flagship show Dr. Phil Primetime and a broad lineup of shows starring other notable figures, including Nancy Grace and Steve Harvey. Its programming has included McGraw accompanying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during raids in Chicago and Los Angeles, and McGraw's 2024 interview with Donald Trump during the presidential campaign. Merit Street Media is suing TBN over alleged breach of contract, claiming that its former distribution partner failed to deliver on key commitments. Examples alleged in the lawsuit include failing to guarantee Merit Street's national distribution and providing "comically dysfunctional" production services, which left the network without viable means of airing its programming, per the suit. More critically, Merit Street Media claimed that TBN used its position as a controlling shareholder to "to advance its own interests and those of its CEO," and unfairly shift liabilities onto the company. The company is also suing TCT Ministries in the suit, in relation to a $25 million loan it says was originally made to Merit Street by a company "closely connected" to TBN and which TCT took over. Newsweek has also reached out to TCT Ministries for comment. In its coinciding bankruptcy filing, the company reported assets and liabilities of between $100 million and $500 million, according to Bloomberg. What People Are Saying Merit Street Media, in the lawsuit filed Wednesday, said: "TBN formed Merit Street as a joint venture and contractually committed to provide valuable services to the joint venture. But TBN then reneged on its obligations and abused its position as the controlling shareholder of Merit Street to improperly and unilaterally burden Merit Street with unsustainable debt, doing so either without notice or in direct violation of promises not to do so." What Happens Next? According to court filings, Merit Street Media is seeking unspecified damages from TBN, as well as the cost of its legal fees.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Commentary: Why on earth is Dr. Phil involved in immigration raids? Another made-for-TV event from a reality star president
Can someone explain to me what, exactly, Dr. Phil has to do with immigration policy or constitutional law in these United States? Many outrageous and unsettling things happened in Los Angeles over the weekend. On Friday, multiple immigration raids, in downtown's Fashion District and outside a Home Depot in Paramount, sparked a not unusual response that led to police involvement, during which many, including union official David Huerta, were arrested. Ostensibly dissatisfied with the handling of the situation, President Trump, over objections from both L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, made the highly unusual — and potentially illegal — decision to send in the National Guard. Tensions escalated and by Sunday, portions of L.A. freeways were shut down as some protesters and/or outside agitators vandalized downtown stores, defaced buildings, hurled rocks from downtown overpasses onto law enforcement vehicles and set fire to a few Waymo cars. Trump's border advisor, Tom Homan, threatened to arrest Newsom if citizens of this sanctuary state continued to interfere with immigration raids, and Newsom publicly dared him to do it, adding that California would be suing the Trump administration for making the situation worse by sending in the National Guard. On Monday, Homan appeared to backtrack on his threat while Trump said he would support it. It was both a little — no one should have been surprised that ICE raids in L.A. would spark protests and these were, relatively speaking, small and nonviolent — and a lot. Sending in the National Guard was an obvious military flex, designed to to bait Angelenos while perhaps distracting Americans from Trump's far greater troubles. Read more: No, Dr. Phil wasn't present at L.A. ICE raids, but he taped interview with Trump's border advisor But nothing said 'this is a made-for-TV event brought to you by the same reality-star-led administration that proposed making legal immigration into a television competition' as the presence of Phil McGraw. Who, after being embedded with ICE officials during raids in Chicago earlier this year, spent some of this weekend kicking it with Homan in L.A.'s Homeland Security headquarters. As first reported by CNN's Brian Stelter, Dr. Phil was there to get 'a first-hand look' at the targeted operations and an 'exclusive' interview with Homan for 'Dr. Phil Primetime' on MeritTV, part of Merit Street Media, which McGraw owns. Dr. Phil is, for the record, neither a journalist nor an immigration or domestic policy expert. He isn't even a psychologist anymore, having let his license to practice (which he never held in California) lapse years ago. He is instead a television personality and outspoken Trump supporter who was on hand to … I honestly don't know what. Provide psychological support to Homan as he threatened to arrest elected officials for allowing citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech while using local law enforcement to prevent any violence or destruction of property that might occur? Offer Homan another platform on which he could explain why Trump is breaking his own vow to target only those undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crime? Read more: The reality TV roots of the MAGA coalition Or maybe just provide a familiar face to help normalize rounding up people from their workplaces and off the street and sending in the National Guard when this doesn't appear to be happening smoothly enough. There is, of course, the chance that McGraw asked Homan some tough questions. In a clip from the interview posted on X, he appears to begin his interview by asking what exactly happened this "busy" weekend in L.A. Homan replies that multiple law enforcement agencies were 'looking for at-large criminals' and serving search warrants as part of a larger money laundering investigation, including at one company where 'we knew about half of their employees were illegally in the United States' and in 'service of those warrants, we arrested 41 illegal aliens.' Still, after years of claiming to be nonpolitical, McGraw gave the president a full-throated endorsement at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally in 2024 while denouncing diversity initiatives. McGraw said the name of his media company pays homage to Americans who made it 'on hard work … not on equal outcomes or DEI.' McGraw's presence during immigration raids, and his choice as the person who should interview Homan even as things escalated in L.A., would seem downright weird if it weren't so politically perilous. Merit Street Media is one of a growing number of new news outlets claiming to offer 'fresh perspective' on 'American values' while hewing almost exclusively to Trump's MAGA message and offering 'safe spaces' to conservatives. Then-presidential candidate Trump told Dr. Phil in August — in reference to those involved in his felony conviction — 'revenge can be justified' and that he would win California if Jesus were counting the ballots. Read more: Camp Pendleton Marines deployed to L.A.; after ICE protest, union leader faces a federal charge Using McGraw as a platform to explain Trump and Homan's divisive immigration policy and incendiary decision in L.A. most certainly underlines the criticism that these raids, and the fallout they will inevitably cause particularly in sanctuary states and cities, are being conducted with maximum spectacle awareness. If McGraw isn't a direct part of the policy, he appears to be a big part of its publicity. Which is a bit alarming. Over the years, McGraw has been criticized about his treatment of guests (some of whom sued) and staff. In 2020, he issued an apology for comparing the mounting deaths from COVID-19 to the (far smaller) number of deaths due to drowning in swimming pools. After his fellow Oprah alum, Dr. Mehmet Oz, ran for the Senate last year, McGraw shrugged off the notion that he would ever follow suit, saying he 'doesn't know enough about it.' 'When you start talking to me about geopolitics and all the things that go into that — I'm a neophyte, I don't think I would be competent to do that.' Nor is there any indication that he is well-versed in immigration or constitutional law. If Trump and Homan honestly wanted a recognizable TV brand to help walk Americans through the legal complications of what happened in L.A. over the weekend, they should have asked Judge Judy. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Why on earth is Dr. Phil involved in immigration raids? Another made-for-TV event from a reality star president
Can someone explain to me what, exactly, Dr. Phil has to do with immigration policy or constitutional law in these United States? Many outrageous and unsettling things happened in Los Angeles over the weekend. On Friday, multiple immigration raids, in downtown's Fashion District and outside a Home Depot in Paramount, sparked a not unusual response that led to police involvement, during which many, including union official David Huerta, were arrested. Ostensibly dissatisfied with the handling of the situation, President Trump, over objections from both L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, made the highly unusual — and potentially illegal — decision to send in the National Guard. Tensions escalated and by Sunday, portions of L.A. freeways were shut down as some protesters and/or outside agitators vandalized downtown stores, defaced buildings, hurled rocks from downtown overpasses onto law enforcement vehicles and set fire to a few Waymo cars. Trump's border advisor, Tom Homan, threatened to arrest Newsom if citizens of this sanctuary state continued to interfere with immigration raids, and Newsom publicly dared him to do it, adding that California would be suing the Trump administration for making the situation worse by sending in the National Guard. On Monday, Homan appeared to backtrack on his threat while Trump said he would support it. It was both a little — no one should have been surprised that ICE raids in L.A. would spark protests and these were, relatively speaking, small and nonviolent — and a lot. Sending in the National Guard was an obvious military flex, designed to to bait Angelenos while perhaps distracting Americans from Trump's far greater troubles. But nothing said 'this is a made-for-TV event brought to you by the same reality-star-led administration that proposed making legal immigration into a television competition' as the presence of Phil McGraw. Who, after being embedded with ICE officials during raids in Chicago earlier this year, spent some of this weekend kicking it with Homan in L.A.'s Homeland Security headquarters. As first reported by CNN's Brian Stelter, Dr. Phil was there to get 'a first-hand look' at the targeted operations and an 'exclusive' interview with Homan for 'Dr. Phil Primetime' on MeritTV, part of Merit Street Media, which McGraw owns. Dr. Phil is, for the record, neither a journalist nor an immigration or domestic policy expert. He isn't even a psychologist anymore, having let his license to practice (which he never held in California) lapse years ago. He is instead a television personality and outspoken Trump supporter who was on hand to … I honestly don't know what. Provide psychological support to Homan as he threatened to arrest elected officials for allowing citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech while using local law enforcement to prevent any violence or destruction of property that might occur? Offer Homan another platform on which he could explain why Trump is breaking his own vow to target only those undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crime? Or maybe just provide a familiar face to help normalize rounding up people from their workplaces and off the street and sending in the National Guard when this doesn't appear to be happening smoothly enough. There is, of course, the chance that McGraw asked Homan some tough questions. In a clip from the interview posted on X, he appears to begin his interview by asking what exactly happened this 'busy' weekend in L.A. Homan replies that multiple law enforcement agencies were 'looking for at-large criminals' and serving search warrants as part of a larger money laundering investigation, including at one company where 'we knew about half of their employees were illegally in the United States' and in 'service of those warrants, we arrested 41 illegal aliens.' Still, after years of claiming to be nonpolitical, McGraw gave the president a full-throated endorsement at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally in 2024 while denouncing diversity initiatives. McGraw said the name of his media company pays homage to Americans who made it 'on hard work … not on equal outcomes or DEI.' McGraw's presence during immigration raids, and his choice as the person who should interview Homan even as things escalated in L.A., would seem downright weird if it weren't so politically perilous. Merit Street Media is one of a growing number of new news outlets claiming to offer 'fresh perspective' on 'American values' while hewing almost exclusively to Trump's MAGA message and offering 'safe spaces' to conservatives. Then-presidential candidate Trump told Dr. Phil in August — in reference to those involved in his felony conviction — 'revenge can be justified' and that he would win California if Jesus were counting the ballots. Using McGraw as a platform to explain Trump and Homan's divisive immigration policy and incendiary decision in L.A. most certainly underlines the criticism that these raids, and the fallout they will inevitably cause particularly in sanctuary states and cities, are being conducted with maximum spectacle awareness. If McGraw isn't a direct part of the policy, he appears to be a big part of its publicity. Which is a bit alarming. Over the years, McGraw has been criticized about his treatment of guests (some of whom sued) and staff. In 2020, he issued an apology for comparing the mounting deaths from COVID-19 to the (far smaller) number of deaths due to drowning in swimming pools. After his fellow Oprah alum, Dr. Mehmet Oz, ran for the Senate last year, McGraw shrugged off the notion that he would ever follow suit, saying he 'doesn't know enough about it.' 'When you start talking to me about geopolitics and all the things that go into that — I'm a neophyte, I don't think I would be competent to do that.' Nor is there any indication that he is well-versed in immigration or constitutional law. If Trump and Homan honestly wanted a recognizable TV brand to help walk Americans through the legal complications of what happened in L.A. over the weekend, they should have asked Judge Judy.
