The days ofDr. Phil Primetimemay be numbered, as the daytime talk show’s cable TV network, Merit Street Media, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, while also suing its former partner, Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), for breach of contract. Before this show started in April 2024, Dr. Phil McGraw had his daytime talk show,Dr. Phil, for 21 seasons on CBS.
According toVariety,Merit Street Media alleges that TBN is taking advantage of the networkby not providing distribution payments, negatively affecting the wayDr. Phil Primetimeis programmed for national audiences. The TV network also claims that TBN failed to provide professional services for the show, similar to the way CBS airsDr. Phil. Here’s part of Merit Street’s lawsuit below:
The most egregious impact is TBN’s conscious and knowing choice to cause Merit Street to lose its national distribution by withholding distribution payments despite repeatedly acknowledging those distribution payments were 100% TBN’s sole responsibility. Simply put, as a result of TBN’s conduct, Merit Street has nowhere to send its broadcast signal and nowhere to air its programming no matter how great it may be.
TBN’s production services were comically dysfunctional. Although it promised the equivalent of the professional facilities and services that Dr. Phil had long relied on when producing his show in Los Angeles for CBS, the supposed ‘first class’ services TBN promised under the Joint Venture Agreement were nothing of the sort. TBN provided screens and teleprompters that blacked out during live shows, an incomplete control room operating out of a truck, an unusable cell phone app for viewers, and amateur video editing software. Merit Street staff often could not even make phone calls in the studio due to poor cell coverage.
What The Lawsuit From McGraw’s Bankrupt Network Means For His Show
McGraw’s Primetime Show May Be In Jeopardy
Merit Street Media’s lawsuit against TBN raises several questionsregarding whetherDr. Phil Primetimewill be able to continue its run. The TV network is adamant that TBN is set out to tarnish the new and highly acclaimed company in charge of continuing Dr. Phil’s reputation on television. Dr. Phil rose to widespread fame as a guest onThe Oprah Winfrey Show.
Dr. Philthen garnered audiences on CBS by tackling serious concepts, including dysfunctional families, weight loss, and financial burdens. Four months after the end of the CBS daytime show,Dr. Phil Primetimeaired on McGraw’s network, Merit Street. On his new show, Dr. Phil has had one-on-one interviews with current U.S. President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Dr. Phil Primetimehas reached 80 million households, with McGraw expressing more personal views on family and education in this show compared to his previous daytime show.Now that Merit Street and TBN are at odds with each other, Dr. Phil and his staff will have to figure out ways to save his showand his company.
Our Take On The Dilemma Of Phil’s Show And Network
Dr. Phil’s Primetime Show May Be Tough To Salvage
Merit Street Media’s lawsuit over TBN’s lack of care and effort to showcaseDr. Phil Primetimeprofessionallyreveals a serious discrepancy in the flawed partnership between the two companies. And despite Merit Street’s ability to gain viewers for McGraw’s show, a third of its staff were let go last year, making their path to recovery very challenging.
Merit Street surely won’t go down without a fight as the network expects TBN to be held liable for the company’s downfall, owing the network hundreds of millions of dollars. With Merit Street in bankruptcy, McGraw must evaluate his network’s financial burden and manage to keep his show afloat to maintain his conservative audience.
Dr. Phil Primetime
Cast
Dr. Phil Primetime is a feature film exploring Dr. Phil McGraw’s influential role in televised mental health discussions. Released in 2024, the film delves into Dr. Phil’s methods and impact through his primetime show, offering insights into various mental health issues and his approach to addressing them.
