Call it a daytime double.
Steve Harvey, who has become an almost ubiquitous presence on TV through his host duties of both a daytime talk show as well as the long-running game show “Family Feud,” is teaming up with Dr. Phil.
Harvey will provide production, talent development and other services for Phil McGraw’s new TV venture, Merit Street Media, which expects to broadcast a full programming schedule via a partnership with religious media company Trinity Broadcasting. Harvey will become an equity partner in Merit Street under terms of the new deal.
“Steve and I have been personal friends for over a decade, and it’s always the best experience when we work together,” said McGraw, in a statement. “It’s easy to say that he’s the funniest human I’ve ever met,” he added. “But his kindness and his passion to help others are really unmatched.”
Harvey will co-executive produce a special that looks at a mentoring program he runs in Georgia for young men. The program will feature both Harvey and McGraw and will focus on inspiring young viewers. Merit Street has also acquired more than 300 episodes of Harvey’s syndicated daytime talker, “Steve,” which ran from 2017 to 2019.
“Partnering with my good friend on such an innovative network allows me to continue my mission of empowering and inspiring individuals through entertainment,” said Harvey, in a statement. “The docu-style special highlighting the impactful work of the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation is particularly close to my heart. I believe in the power of mentorship to transform lives and look forward to sharing this journey with viewers. The positive impact we can create together will be unlike anything seen before.”
Merit Street Media expects to distribute its new lineup of programming via cable, satellite and broadcast stations, and has secured “commitments already exceeding 65 million television homes,” the company said in an earlier statement. Trinity’s programming is available on satellite distributors such as DirecTV and Dish and cable systems owned by Charter and Altice, among others. In February, Merit Street unveiled a deal with Nancy Grace, who will examine true-crime stories in a new show set to debut on the outlet.
