FORT WORTH, Texas — Dr. Phil’s North Texas-based TV network Merit Street Media has laid off nearly 40 staff members less than a year after launching, a spokesperson confirmed.
A Merit Street Media spokesperson said 38 staff members were laid off Friday. The Dallas Business Journal (DBJ) reported the company has 100 employees, and the “Morning on Merit Street” and “The News on Merit Street” programs were most impacted by the layoffs.
“Following the brief summer hiatus of ‘Dr. Phil Primetime,’ Merit Street implemented ongoing consolidations of departments and roles in efforts to achieve efficiencies at the highest level, which unfortunately resulted in some layoffs,” a Merit Street spokesperson said in a statement. “We are confidently getting better at what we do. Merit will continue striving to create more synergy between all divisions including staff expanding their roles within our live news, original programming, and sports and music endeavors.”
Sources told WFAA that as recent hires, those laid off weren’t eligible for severance.
Merit Street Media built their studio in the Alliance area in far north Fort Worth late last year. Anchored by McGraw’s show “Dr. Phil Primetime,” the network debuted original shows, including “Morning on Merit Street and “The News on Merit Street” which launched earlier this year, and brought in well-known talent to anchor them.
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” also launched on the network and longtime anchor with KPRC 2 in Houston Dominique Sachse and Fanchon Stinger were brought in to co-host “Morning on Merit Street” and Kris Gutierrez, formerly of NBC DFW, and co-hosts Lyndsay Keith and Loni Coombs brought in to lead “The Newson Merit Street.”
Merit Street officially launched in April, delayed from February, in partnership with Trinity Broadcasting Network. Merit Street Media also announced a deal in May to carry Professional Bull Riding events on the network, including “PBR Unleash the Beast,” the sport’s premier individual competition series.