Merit Street Media

What Merit Street Media does

Merit Street Media is a private, multi-platform television network founded in 2023 by Dr. Phil McGraw and majority-owned (70%) by Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). The company operates Merit TV, distributing family-friendly entertainment, news, true crime, and sports programming across cable, satellite, over-the-air broadcast, video-on-demand, and live streaming — reaching an estimated 80-90 million U.S. households through its TBN distribution partnership and additional reach via Roku Channel and Prime Video. The content portfolio includes Dr. Phil Primetime, Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Steve Harvey, Mike Rowe: Somebody's Gotta Do It, The Island With Bear Grylls, Cops Reloaded, Jail, and Small Town Big Deal, alongside news programming (The News on Merit Street and Morning on Merit Street). The underlying technology stack is a conventional multi-platform broadcast infrastructure supplemented by a free ad-supported streaming app and SMS/text opt-in features; no proprietary AI, ML, or advanced data systems are disclosed.

The business model is freemium ad-supported broadcasting supplemented by content distribution licensing; viewers access all content at no charge while the company monetizes through traditional television advertising and platform licensing deals. Go-to-market is partnership-driven: TBN serves as the primary distribution channel and majority owner, while a B2B partner portal recruits additional affiliate relationships, and content is also distributed through Merit TV Canada (launched January 2024 with MCA Media Group) and sports partnerships such as the 2024 PBR media rights deal. Customer segments are horizontal across general family audiences, news consumers, true crime enthusiasts, and sports/Western lifestyle fans, with no enterprise B2B revenue concentration at the viewer level. In July 2025, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with assets and liabilities each between $100M and $500M, and subsequently sued TBN for alleged financial mismanagement exceeding $100M. Founder Dr. Phil McGraw launched a successor venture, Envoy Media, approximately two weeks after the bankruptcy filing.

Name

Merit Street Media

Legal name

Merit Street Media, Inc.

Website

https://meritstreetmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Merit Street Media is a private multi-platform television network founded in 2023 by Dr. Phil McGraw, broadcasting family entertainment, news, true crime, and sports to over 80 million U.S. households via its TBN distribution partnership and streaming apps. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Worth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: Traditional television advertising revenue from broadcast across cable, satellite, and streaming platforms
2. Distribution Licensing: Licensing content to distribution partners and platforms for broadcast and streaming rights

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Merit Street Media operates the Merit TV Network, a multi-platform television network that produces and broadcasts family-friendly news, true crime, lifestyle, sports, and entertainment programming. Content is distributed across cable, satellite, free over-the-air broadcast, video-on-demand, and live streaming platforms, reaching over 90 million television homes through its distribution partnership with Trinity Broadcasting Network. The network provides free, ad-supported viewing to consumers via its own Merit TV streaming app and third-party platforms such as Roku Channel and Prime Video.

Product overview

Merit Street Media is a premier multi-platform media company led by Dr. Phil McGraw that operates Merit TV Network as its core product. The network offers essential television programming across cable, satellite, free over-the-air broadcast, video-on-demand, and live streaming app services, reaching over 90 million television homes. The portfolio includes news programming (The News on Merit TV, Morning on Merit Street), true crime shows (Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Phil True Crime), entertainment programs (Steve Harvey, Mike Rowe: Somebody's Gotta Do It, The Island With Bear Grylls), reality content (Cops Reloaded, Jail), and the flagship Dr. Phil Primetime. Content is distributed through streaming platforms including Roku Channel and Prime Video, with international expansion through Merit TV Canada partnership. The network provides free viewing options, live streaming, and on-demand access through MeritTV.com.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Merit TV Network Premier multi-platform television network offering essential programming across cable, satellite, free over-the-air broadcast, VOD, and live streaming services. Reaches over 90 million television homes through distribution partnerships with TBN.
• Merit TV Live Streaming Free live streaming service streaming Merit Street 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across multiple platforms and devices via the Merit TV app and website.
• Merit TV On-Demand Video-on-demand service providing access to the library of Merit TV content at viewers' fingertips via the Merit TV website.
• Dr. Phil Primetime Primetime news and interview program hosted by Dr. Phil McGraw featuring exclusive interviews with political figures (Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, RFK Jr.), celebrities, and newsmakers.
• The News on Merit TV Evening news program that provides context and perspective beyond top headlines, delivering 'the rest of the story' with deeper analysis of facts, figures, and circumstances. Co-hosted weeknights by Kris Gutierrez, Lyndsay Keith, and Loni Coombs.
• Morning on Merit Street Morning news program delivering the latest news from across the US and around the world, with expert analysis on developing stories. Co-hosted by Fanchon Stinger and Joe Gumm.
• Crime Stories with Nancy Grace Daily true crime program hosted by former prosecutor Nancy Grace exploring evidence, learning full stories, and fighting for justice on cold cases and current criminal matters.
• Dr. Phil True Crime True crime analysis program where Dr. Phil examines cases from clinical, forensic, and social psychological standpoints, providing expert insight into the minds of criminals, victims, and societal impact.
• Steve Harvey Daytime talk show with a humorous, common-sense approach to everyday problems, covering relationships, finances, parenting, workplace issues, and friendships.
• Mike Rowe: Somebody's Gotta Do It Weekend program featuring Mike Rowe visiting unique individuals and celebrating innovators, do-gooders, entrepreneurs, and collectors who follow their passions.
• Merit TV Canada Family-friendly television network for Canadian audiences launched through partnership with MCA Media Group, offering drama, comedy, documentaries, reality shows, and current events across cable, satellite, and streaming platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches over 90 million television homes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MCA Media GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 January 2025MCA Media Group partnered with Merit Street Media USA to launch Merit TV Canada, a new family-friendly television network for Canadian audiences. The network offers programming including drama, comedy, documentaries, reality shows, and current events coverage across cable, satellite, and streaming platforms, leveraging combined strengths to provide diverse content reflecting Canadian culture.
• Professional Bull Riders (PBR)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 August 2024Professional Bull Riders secured new media rights deals with CBS Sports and Merit Street Media for expanded broadcast coverage of rodeo events. This partnership is part of PBR's broader push to capitalize on the surging popularity of Western culture driven by shows like Yellowstone and Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album. PBR reported a 23% increase in ticket sales between 2022 and 2023.
• CBS SportsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 August 2024CBS Sports secured media rights deals with Professional Bull Riders for expanded broadcast coverage of rodeo events, in partnership with Merit Street Media's coverage of PBR events.
• Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023TBN holds a 70% stake in Merit Street Media and provides distribution infrastructure. TBN is the world's largest faith-based television network with daily audience reach of 100 million households. The partnership launched Merit Street Media in 2023 and is the subject of ongoing litigation where Merit Street Media alleges TBN saddled McGraw's enterprises with over $100 million in financial obligations while failing to deliver promised production and distribution services.
• RokuminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMerit Street Media content including Dr. Phil Primetime and Crime Stories with Nancy Grace available for streaming on the Roku Channel platform.
• Prime VideominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDr. Phil Primetime available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Daily Wire: Conservative digital-first media company producing news, opinion, and entertainment with growing TV distribution via The Daily Wire+ and partner platforms. Closely comparable content ideology and audience overlap.
• Newsmax: Conservative-leaning multi-platform news and opinion network distributed via cable, satellite, OTA, and streaming. Competes head-to-head for similar audiences seeking alternative political coverage and family-friendly general programming.
• INSP: Cable- and streaming-distributed network focused on family-friendly, faith-aligned and Western entertainment programming. Highly comparable in target audience, programming philosophy, and distribution model.
• NewsNation: National cable/streaming news network investing heavily in straight-news positioning and primetime content, distributed via cable and FAST streaming. Comparable general news + family entertainment programming mix.
• Great American Media: Cable and streaming network featuring family-friendly originals, holiday programming, and faith-adjacent content. Direct peer in family-friendly entertainment vertical with similar distribution channels.
• One America News (OAN): Cable- and OTT-distributed news network targeting politically conservative viewers with general-interest and news programming. Directly comparable audience positioning and multi-platform distribution model.
• CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network): Faith-based television network with national cable/satellite distribution, news, and family programming. Closest pure-play comparable to Merit Street given the TBN-faith-distribution nexus and general-family programming mix.
• The Hallmark Channel: Family-friendly cable network with broad multi-platform distribution focused on uplifting entertainment. Strongly comparable in core audience demographic and free-to-viewer, ad-supported model.

Broad incumbents

• Tegna / Sinclair Broadcast Group: Large broadcast station group operators producing and syndicating local and national programming across OTA and streaming. Broader incumbent peers providing useful benchmarks for over-the-air broadcast distribution economics.

Others

• Bally Sports (Bally Sports+ / FanDuel Sports Network): Regional sports network operator now distributed via streaming after cable distribution collapse. Comparable as a recent study in distressed cable-syndication sports media — relevant to understanding Merit Street's PBR/boxing sports rights strategy and cord-cutting exposure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/meritstreet
• Facebookfacebook.com/meritstreetmedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/merit-street-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Merit Street Media