By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Merit Street Media, the anti-woke television network and streaming service founded by Dr. Phil McGraw, has filed for bankruptcy just over a year after its launch. The network, which aimed to combat the perceived “cultural ‘woke’ assault,” filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Texas after experiencing significant financial struggles. The company, which partnered with Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), is also suing TBN for failing to meet its distribution commitments. Despite the bankruptcy filing, Merit TV continues to operate as of Thursday morning.
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Dr. Phil’s Anti-Woke TV Network Files for Bankruptcy a Year After Launch, and where do we even start? The news is out, and the reactions are… well, let’s just say they’re not exactly filled with tears of sadness. The general vibe seems to be a mix of “Who knew?” and “Good riddance!” It appears that this venture, built on the foundation of “anti-woke” principles, didn’t exactly resonate with the viewing public, or, at least, enough of the viewing public to stay afloat.
Now, I’m not a financial analyst, but it’s hard to ignore the irony here. The whole “go woke, go broke” mantra seems to have backfired spectacularly. You’ve got to wonder if the audience for “I’m going to tell you how to live your life, even if it’s not what you want” television is really that large, especially when it comes with a side of “owning the libs.” Maybe the entertainment world isn’t quite ready for a daily dose of that particular flavor.
And let’s be honest, a lot of folks didn’t even know this network existed, which is a pretty big problem when you’re trying to, you know, build an audience. It makes you wonder what the programming was even like. Were they just constantly dunking on anything remotely progressive? Did they have actual content, or was it all just a thinly veiled attempt to capitalize on the culture wars? These are questions we might never have answers to, as most people probably never tuned in.
The situation has a certain… deliciousness to it, doesn’t it? The internet is practically buzzing with glee. It’s the classic case of schadenfreude, that warm feeling of satisfaction you get when someone else’s grand plans fall apart. It’s the kind of feeling that fuels Reddit threads and Twitter storms. And honestly, it’s hard to blame them.
Reading through the linked news reports, like the ones from CBS News, CNN, the Dallas Morning News, and CP24, they all essentially tell the same story: launch, financial woes, and bankruptcy. It seems that Dr. Phil is accusing his broadcast partner of not holding up its end of the bargain, which, if true, adds another layer of complexity to the situation. Either way, a year is not a very long time to be on the air.
Then there’s the whole connection to Trump. It’s a common thread. Seems that associating with a certain segment of the political landscape can be a risky proposition. It’s a reminder that even celebrities can fall victim to the unpredictable whims of public opinion, as can their businesses.
This is also interesting because it makes you wonder about the real motivation behind this network. Was it a genuine attempt to create a new media platform? Or was it just another grift, a way to line pockets while pretending to fight the good fight? The latter seems to be the popular consensus.
And who can forget the “cash me ousside” girl? She’s living in a $6 million home, which only goes to show that some of these people can be incredibly successful while using him as their vehicle. Life is funny that way. Some benefit, some don’t.
It is certainly a story that has all the elements of a good drama: celebrity, controversy, financial ruin, and a healthy dose of internet snark. It is a tale that will undoubtedly keep us entertained for a while to come. Maybe the “anti-woke” market just isn’t as big as some people think it is. Maybe the world has moved on. Or, perhaps, the world just isn’t interested in being told what to think.