
A new cable television network founded by Dr. Phil McGraw will be distributed by Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the companies announced on Wednesday.
Merit Street Media is tentatively scheduled to launch in late February 2024, the company said in a statement, and will be distributed in channel slots currently occupied by TBN on cable and satellite platforms.
Some TBN over-the-air stations may also carry programming from Merit Street Media — TBN owns around 30 licensed stations across the country — and programming from the channel is expected to be distributed on free, ad-supported streaming television platforms at some point next year.
At launch, four hours of original content will be available on TBN, including a reboot of Dr. Phil’s talk show called “Dr. Phil Primetime.” Dr. Phil’s former talk show, which was syndicated by CBS, ended earlier this year after a 21-year run.
“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,” Joel Cheatwood, the chief operating officer of Merit Street Media, said on Wednesday. “With our commitment to delivering high-quality programming across multiple platforms, we anticipate Merit Street will be a trailblazer among networks.”
More shows are expected to be announced in the coming months.