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Dr. Phil, a figure known for his remarkable ability to re-emerge in the media landscape, is once again making headlines with a new streaming endeavor. This move comes just weeks after his previous venture, Merit Street Media, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the renowned talk show host is launching Envoy Media Co., marking his second attempt at a digital comeback.
Much like its predecessor, Envoy Media is set to feature original programming, with Dr. Phil himself and fellow media personality Steve Harvey anchoring the content. Viewers can also anticipate a comprehensive library of existing shows, potentially including Harvey’s talk show and Nancy Grace’s “Crime Stories,” which were part of Merit Street’s catalogue. A dedicated Envoy television channel is reportedly slated to debut later this month, as reported by Bloomberg.
The “Citizen Journalist” Hook: A Risky Bet?
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Envoy Media is its proposed feature allowing “citizen journalists” to upload their own content. The company states this will enable individuals to “share news and stories from their communities while seamlessly integrating curated user-generated content on a national scale.” While the specifics of this functionality remain sparse, the concept itself raises questions given the history of similar initiatives.
The “citizen journalist” model has seen numerous attempts in the digital age, often resulting in platforms that struggle to gain traction or maintain quality. Efforts to build sustainable media ventures around user-generated content have frequently ended in failure. While platforms like Substack and Medium have found some success, they tend to be dominated by independent professional journalists rather than everyday contributors. Large social media platforms such as YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) have proven more effective at disseminating local stories nationally, leaving many skeptical about Envoy’s ability to crack the code on curating citizen reporting, especially considering Dr. Phil’s past association with contentious claims.
Merit Street’s Troubled Legacy: A Precedent for Envoy?
The path forward for Envoy Media appears challenging, especially when examining the performance of Dr. Phil’s last venture. Merit Street Media, which launched in 2024 with a linear cable app and streaming options, struggled to attract a significant audience. During its first year, the channel averaged a mere 27,000 viewers, a figure that plummeted to 17,000 in early 2025.
Even Merit Street’s YouTube presence, despite Dr. Phil’s established following, languished. The channel barely surpassed 90,000 subscribers, with most recent videos failing to break the 1,000-view mark. Such numbers hardly suggest the robust audience needed to sustain a standalone streaming service, casting a long shadow over the prospects of Envoy Media Co.