Dr. Phil’s McGraw’s Merit Street Media has filed for bankruptcy after less than two years of operation in Fort Worth.

What happened?

In a court document filed July 2 in Dallas County, the Fort Worth-based company filed for bankruptcy and is suing Trinity Broadcast Network, alleging a breach of contract. The partnership allowed Merit Street Media to broadcast original and acquired programming for its viewers, according to a previous report.

Shows featured in its initial lineup include:
  • "Morning on Merit Street"
  • "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace"
  • "The News on Merit Street"
  • "Dr. Phil Primetime"
  • "Centuries Collide"
  • "The Scott Rasmussen Show"
“These failures by TBN were neither unintended nor inadvertent. 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,” the lawsuit states.

According to the lawsuit, Trinity “improperly and unilaterally burdened Merit Street with unsustainable debt” of more than $100 million. Peteski Productions, Inc., a company majority owned by McGraw, provided programming but was not compensated for it, according to documentation. Under the agreement, McGraw would produce 160 new 90-minute episodes of Dr. Phil, which previously ran on CBS.


During the 2024 PBR World Finals in Arlington, Dr. Phil and PBR announced a contract that Merit Street Media would be the official home of bull riding. A Nov. 12, 2024, post on PBR’s Facebook page stated the company and Merit Street Media parted ways due to a breach of contract for Merit Street Media failing to pay right fees owed.



According to previous reporting, Merit Street Media launched April 2, 2024, with a national reach of more than 80 million homes. As of July 8, Merit Street Media’s webpage is still operational.

Trinity Broadcasting Network is a Fort Worth-based company that started in Los Angeles in 1973, according to its website.