The ever-controversial Dr. Phil McGraw to debut new TV venture

[Editor’s note: McGraw, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology but is not a licensed therapist, has been surrounded by controversy for decades. Recently, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, McGraw caught flack for questioning the need for social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. And in 2022, BuzzFeed spoke to a dozen current and former Dr. Phil employees who said they’d experienced a miserable work environment where they were encouraged to inflate onscreen racist stereotypes and, in one instance, ensure a guest was not properly medicated before her appearance so she’d look unstable.]

The following excerpt was sent out from The Hollywood Reporter:

Dr. Phil McGraw is launching a new TV venture with an assist from one of the biggest Christian broadcasters in the United States.

McGraw’s Merit Street Media, which he announced in November, is set to launch on Feb. 26, with Dr. Phil Primetime — a nighttime talk show akin to McGraw’s long-running daytime show — as its flagship program. Trinity Broadcasting, which owns more than 30 TV stations and has has carriage on several large cable and satellite providers, will help Merit Street distribute its programming; the company also plans to operate free, ad-supported streaming channels and embark on other digital media ventures.

“We are thrilled to embark on this groundbreaking journey by creating a network that is not only widely accessible but also a hub for diverse, engaging content,” Merit Street Media COO Joel Cheatwood, a former Fox News, CBS and CNN executive, said in a statement. “With our commitment to delivering high-quality programming across multiple platforms, we anticipate Merit Street will be a trailblazer among networks.”