Dr. Phil’s anti-woke TV network goes broke
After his popular daytime talk show ended in 2023, Dr. Phil McGraw launched a right-wing media network and a new report from Slate documents a network in chaos, with suspended programming and bankruptcy filings.
In the November 2023 press release In announcing the launch of Merit Street Media, McGraw proclaimed that “American families and our core values are under attack.” This post also echoes many other complaints from current President Donald Trump and other conservatives, such as that the United States has “out of control immigration.”
Since the networks’ launch, Merit has failed to attract viewers, on average only 24,000 viewers during prime time in 2024. In August of the same year, the network dozens of people were fired staff. And in October, McGraw spoke at Trump’s house. racist rally at Madison Square Garden, promote the network during his speech – to no avail.
The Professional Bull Riders league, which had an agreement to provide content to Merit, leave the network last November. And in July, the company filed for bankruptcy (chapter 11).
Merit is also embroiled in lawsuits with the right-wing religious channel Trinity Broadcasting Network, with both sides accusing the other of deceptive business practices.
McGraw and Merit attempted to translate a pro-MAGA message into financial success. Most notably, McGraw conducted a flattering interview with Trump in August 2024, in the middle of that year’s presidential campaign. The interview gave Trump the opportunity to reiterate numerous conspiracies, including the false claim that he “won the election against [Joe] Biden.
Earlier this year, McGraw I rode along with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during raids and recorded content for the network.
But none of that kept his business afloat. Once again, despite conservative statements that people want products that go against “woke” ideas of equality and fairness, such things often fail.
For example, Target abandoned its diversity efforts after Trump returned to the White House, and in response, the company lost millions of sales and required a management shake-up. And Elon Musk’s Tesla saw truck sales fall after the electric vehicle company’s executive sided with the Trump administration.
In contrast, companies seen as promoting “woke” values have often been successful.
Conservatives complained that This year’s “Superman” movie has been described by director James Gunn as being pro-immigrant, but the film is the third most profitable theatrical release of the year.
After megastar Taylor Swift endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris last year, Trump said he hated her and that the “Woke singer” was “NOT HOTTER”. However, Swift’s latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” broke records.
She’s clearly not Dr. Phil.
