Dr. Phil’s Media Company Fired Most Employees, Quit Production

Merit Street Media, the television startup founded by celebrity psychologist Phil McGraw, laid off all but six of its employees the day it filed bankruptcy, saying it can’t make any new content after being forced out of business by its broadcasting partner.

A dispute with religious broadcaster Trinity Broadcasting Network has blocked the company from accessing much of its core audience, which watches using various streaming services, on cable television and through traditional broadcast stations, Merit Street said in a court filing.

The disruption has led Merit Street to lay off workers in the last several weeks. The latest ...