Media Quack

When it comes to running media companies, this guy is truly a quack.

Just two weeks after his Merit Street Media venture filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and initiated a lawsuit against its distribution partner, television personality Dr. Phil McGraw has launched a new media company, Envoy Media Co., with a renewed focus on user-generated content and citizen journalism.

The new enterprise, announced will rise from the ashes of Merit Street Media, which has been embroiled in a legal battle with Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). Merit Street's bankruptcy filing on July 2, 2025, listed between $100 million and $500 million in both assets and liabilities. The accompanying lawsuit accuses TBN of breach of contract and deliberate sabotage, alleging that the broadcaster failed to provide the promised national distribution and functional production facilities, ultimately leading to Merit Street's financial ruin.

Envoy Media Co. will operate out of the same 50,000-square-foot studio in the Dallas area that housed its predecessor. The company aims to deliver "live, balanced news, original entertainment programming, and immersive viewer experiences." This includes a library of programming and original shows from both McGraw and his friend and collaborator, comedian and television host Steve Harvey.

A key distinction for Envoy Media will be its integration of a technology platform designed to empower "citizen journalists." The company's app will provide a channel for individuals to share news and stories from their local communities, with the potential for this user-generated content to be curated and featured on a national scale.

"As always, my commitment and that of the Envoy network team is to focus on real people, facing real challenges, seeking real solutions," McGraw stated in the announcement. He emphasized a goal of presenting facts and encouraging critical thinking among viewers.