Merit Street

Merit TV (also branded as Dr. Phil's Merit TV) is an American digital multicast television network and streaming service owned by Merit Street Media, a Fort Worth, Texas-based company founded by Phil McGraw. The channel primarily carries news discussion, talk shows, and true crime programming. As of January 2025 the channel currently available through digital over-the-air television, Samsung TV Plus, and cable and satellite television services.

History

Phil McGraw had previously hosted a syndicated talk show, ''Dr. Phil'', with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions and CBS Media Ventures. In January 2023, CBS Media Ventures announced that the show would end after its 21st season in 2023.

In November 2023, McGraw announced a new Fort Worth, Texas-based production company known as Merit Street Media, and a television venture of the same name that planned to launch in February 2024; its name is derived from the concept of meritocracy. The network was slated to feature a continuation of his talk show known as '' Dr. Phil Primetime''; McGraw explained that "I absolutely love talking to real people about real problems — people who aren't just complaining but are actively looking for real solutions to better their lives", and spoke of "American families and our core values" being "under attack".

McGraw named Joel Cheatwood—an executive known for pioneering a popular and heavily imitated tabloid news format at WSVN, developing Glenn Beck's talk show for Fox News and overseeing Beck's GBTV/TheBlaze at its inception—as Merit's first chief operating officer. A number of staff members from the ''Dr. Phil'' show relocated to Texas to join the new network. The following month, McGraw announced plans for distribution via linear television and streaming platforms, and that he had "commitments already exceeding 65 million television homes"—including an agreement with Christian broadcaster Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). Despite the TBN agreement, McGraw stated that Merit Street's programming would not be faith-based.

In February 2024, Nancy Grace joined the network to host a true crime program. In March 2024, Steve Harvey acquired an equity stake in the network, with plans to develop talent and programming for Merit Street. Chris Harrison also joined the network under an overall deal, with plans to produce a show with his wife Lauren Zima, and create and host a reality dating show.

Merit Street launched on April 2, 2024. In August 2024, Merit Street Media laid off approximately 40 employees, representing 30% of its workforce, as part of "ongoing consolidations of departments and roles". Largely attributed to Texas being a right-to-work state, many of the employees were fired without a reason or severance package. Cheatwood announced the network's producers and support staff would collaborate for future programming moving forward.

Former Tennis Channel CEO Ken Solomon serves on the board of Merit Street Media as an advisor; in September 2024, it was reported that he had been fired from Tennis Channel by its owner Sinclair Broadcast Group, deeming that his involvement in Merit Street had become a "growing distraction". Also in the same month, the network was renamed to Merit TV.

In February 2025 the channel announced a partnership with Miracle Channel owners MCA Media Group to launch a Canadian version of the channel titled Merit TV Canada.

Programming

McGraw stated that Merit Street would focus on news and true crime programming. At launch, the channel's original series included the morning show ''Morning on Merit Street'', ''The News on Merit Street'', ''Crime Stories with Nancy Grace'', and flagship '' Dr. Phil Primetime''—a continuation of McGraw's syndicated talk show. It also carries acquired programming, including repackaged reruns of ''Dr. Phil'' (such as ''Dr. Phil: True Crime'')'','' and reruns of Steve Harvey's previous talk show ''Steve.'' Media outlets suggested that the network's programming would have a larger emphasis on McGraw's conservative views. In August 2024, Merit Street acquired the rights to the ACM Honors, as part of a collaboration with the Academy of Country Music (ACM) on country music-oriented programming.

In May 2024, Merit Street acquired rights to Professional Bull Riders (PBR) events under a four-year agreement beginning in July 2024, including Unleash the Beast Series and PBR Team Series events not televised by CBS Sports (largely replacing the package previously held by CBS Sports Network). The coverage also included a studio show, ''PBR Now''. Merit Street stated that it would carry a total of 300 hours of PBR-related programming per-year. PBR programming accounted for a major share of Merit Street's audience, with the company stating that it has attracted 2.4 million unique viewers to the channel, and 31% of its total viewer base. However on November 14, 2024, PBR announced that it had terminated the contract (moving the coverage to the PBR apps, YouTube channel, and Pluto TV) amid disputes with the network, which had withheld rights fees. Merit Street Media stated that it had "agreed to work out its differences with PBR in a confidential proceeding which is ongoing", and was "astonished" by the decision to pull its programming.

International

In January 2025, MCA Media Group—an affiliate of Canadian religious broadcaster Miracle Channel—announced that it would launch Merit TV Canada as a specialty channel. It is a rebranding of MCA's Corco TV, which debuted in 2021, and offers the former channel's reality programming alongside a variety of shows produced for the U.S. network. Miracle Channel has an affiliation with one of Merit Street's partners, TBN.

See also

* Oprah Winfrey Network

References

External links

*

{{American broadcast television (English)

Television networks in the United States
Television channels and stations established in 2024