FORT WORTH, Texas — Professional Bull Riders (PBR) has parted ways with Merit Street Media after the Fort Worth-based media company failed to pay rights fees, according to a statement from PBR.
PBR, which is also based in Fort Worth, announced its partnership with Phil McGraw's media company in May. The agreement started in July. Now, just four months later, PBR is taking the reigns on its broadcast.
In that statement posted to social media, PBR said Merit Street Media, which carried select PBR broadcasts on its Merit+ app, breached its contract "by failing to pay rights fees owed..."
Merit Street Media sent WFAA the following statement:
"Merit Street agreed to work out its differences with PBR in a confidential proceeding which is ongoing. We were therefore surprised that PBR would publicly accuse us of violating our agreement when the facts are in dispute. And we are astonished that PBR has demanded that its programming be immediately removed from our network while discussions are ongoing. Merit Street will vigorously defend itself in the proceedings.”
According to PBR, all events scheduled to air on Merit Street's platform will now be available live and free on RidePass on Pluto TV, PBR's YouTube channel, PBR's mobile app and PBR's smart TV app.
The company said it will share more information about additional viewing options when they become available.
McGraw, who left daytime television in May 2023, started Merit Street earlier this year. Since launching, the company laid off several workers.
