Steve Harvey is joining Dr. Phil McGraw’s Merit Street Media, the partners said Thursday, with Harvey taking an equity stake in the new network.

As part of the deal, Merit Street acquired 300-plus episodes of Harvey’s NBC-produced daytime talker, Steve, which originally aired on TV stations from 2017-19. Harvey also hosts syndicated game show Family Feud as well as a celebrity version on ABC primetime. He’s also hosted his nationally syndicated morning radio show, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, since 2000. 

Harvey’s first project for the network will see him co-executive producing a documentary special about his Steve Harvey Mentoring Program for the network, which will feature both Harvey and McGraw. The mentorship program is about giving young men the tools they need to grow into leaders. The special is slated to air this fall. 

“Partnering with my good friend on such an innovative network allows me to continue my mission of empowering and inspiring individuals through entertainment,“ Harvey said in a statement. “The docustyle 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," said Harvey in a statement.”

“Steve and I have been personal friends for over a decade, and it’s always the best experience when we work together,” said McGraw, also in a statement. “It’s easy to say that he's the funniest human I’ve ever met,” he continued. “But his kindness and his passion to help others are really unmatched.”

Besides Harvey, Merit Street also has signed such talent as Chris Harrison, former host of ABC’s The Bachelor, and Nancy Grace, former host of an eponymous show on HLN. Grace is anchoring a true-crime show that airs weekday afternoons on Merit Street. 

Merit Street also will run morning and evening news blocks. The morning block, titled “Morning on Merit Street,” will be co-hosted by Dominique Sachse and Fanchon Stinger, while evening’s "The News on Merit Street" will feature senior anchor Kris Gutierrez and co-hosts Lyndsay Keith and Loni Coombs. 

McGraw, who starred in and executive produced daytime talker Dr. Phil for 21 years, will debut his new series, Dr. Phil Primetime, on Merit Street April 2, when Merit Street Media will launch across the Trinity Broadcast Network. 

Family Feud has been renewed for three more seasons, taking the syndicated game show through the 2025-26 TV season, on such station groups as Fox Television Stations, CBS Stations, Nexstar Media Group, E.W. Scripps and Tegna. The renewal will take the Steve Harvey-led game show into its 50th year on television.

“Demand for a proven demo and household ratings winner like Family Feud has been intense,“ Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein said in a statement. “We are extremely pleased to be able to continue our long-term relationships with our incredible broadcast partners, while providing our dedicated viewers of all ages with much-needed laughter and enjoyment throughout the coming years.”

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In the week ended January 22, Family Feud was the third-highest-rated show in syndication at a season-high 5.1 live-plus-same-day national household rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. That made it one of only three shows in syndication — along with CBS Media Ventures’s Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune ± to surpass a 5.0 household rating. Family Feud also led all of syndication in the key women 25-54 demographic at a 1.6.

“We are thrilled to have the confidence and commitment from our station partners toward Family Feud,” Fremantle senior VP, current programming Kim Kleid said, also in a statement. “Feud is a timeless format, not only in the U.S. but globally, and with the unmatched talent of Steve Harvey it is easy to see why the audience tunes in and enjoys it on a daily basis.”     

Family Feud joins the raft of other renewals that have happened recently, including a five-year renewal for Wheel and Jeopardy! on the ABC Owned Stations, a two-year renewal for Debmar-Mercury’s Sherri, a one-year renewal for Warner Bros.’s Jennifer Hudson and Tuesday’s pickup of five Fox First Run shows for another season. ■

Family Feud tied Jeopardy! for the top spot among the games and all of syndication in the session ending July 17.

Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud, hosted by Steve Harvey, spiked 6% to a five-week high 5.1 live plus same day national household rating, according to Nielsen, while CBS Media Ventures’ Jeopardy!, which had led in four of the past five weeks, answered with a 4% gain to its own five-week high. Family Feud also led, per usual, among syndication’s key demographic of women 25-54 at a 1.7, an increase of 13% compared to the prior week.

CBS’ Wheel of Fortune recovered 7% from a season low to a 4.5.

Fox’s You Bet Your Life with host Jay Leno lost 13% to a 0.7, tying Fox’s 25 Words or Less, starring and executive produced by Meredith Vieira, which stayed put for a third straight week. Entertainment Studios’ Funny You Should Ask answered with a flat 0.4.

Disney’s internet video show RightThisMinute mustered a 0.5 for the seventh week in a row.

All of the magazines remained in place with CBS’ Inside Edition and Entertainment Tonight, NBCUniversal’s Access Hollywood, Fox’s TMZ, Warner Bros.’ Extra, CBS’ canceled DailyMailTV and Fox’s Dish Nation all steady at a 2.0, 1.8, 0.7, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5 and 0.2, respectively.

Compared to last year at this time, all of the magazines were down except for TMZ and Extra, both of which were even with last year. 

In daytime, most shows on network affiliates were stymied by preemptions on July 12 for coverage of Congressional hearings on the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. As a result, only one of the 15 talk shows gained ground from the prior week: CBS’ Dr. Phil, which improved 8% to a 1.4, despite being in repeats. Phil returned to a tie for first place in talk with Disney’s Live with Kelly and Ryan, which relinquished 7%. Among daytime’s key demographic of women 25-54, Live led at a 0.5.

NBCU’s Kelly Clarkson, CBS’ Rachael Ray, NBCU’s out-of-production Maury, Disney’s Tamron Hall, NBCU’s Steve Wilkos and Warner Bros.’ Ellen DeGeneres and Debmar-Mercury’s Wendy Williams, both of which have ended their original runs, were all steady at a 0.7, 0.7, 0.7, 0.6, 0.6, 0.6 and 0.5, respectively.

CBS’ Drew Barrymore gave back 20% to a 0.4. Already cooked portions of Sony’s The Good Dish, repeats of NBCU’s Jerry Springer, and Fox’s canceled Nick Cannon all continued to serve up a 0.3. Completing the category, reruns of Warner Bros.’ The Real and CBS’ The Doctors, neither of which will be returning, registered a 0.2. That marked the sixth consecutive week at that level for The Real and a 71st straight week for The Doctors.

Repeats of CBS’ Judge Judy led the courts and ranked fourth on the overall syndication chart at a steady 4.3. 

CBS’ Hot Bench backtracked 8% to a second-place 1.2. Warner Bros.’ People’s Court and Judge Mathis both remained at a 0.7 and a 0.5, respectively. Fox’s Divorce Court crumbled 20% to a 0.4, tying NBCU’s canceled Judge Jerry, which stayed put for the 23rd consecutive week. Wrigley Media’s rookie Relative Justice tailed off 25% to a 0.3.  

Warner Bros.’ The Big Bang Theory shot up 6% to a 1.9. Disney’s Last Man Standing slumped 9% to a 1.0, matching its series low. Warner Bros.’ rookie Young Sheldon, Disney’s Modern Family, Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men, Sony’s The Goldbergs, Disney’s Family Guy, Sony’s Seinfeld and Disney’s Black-ish all broke even at a 0.8, 0.7, 0.7, 0.7, 0.6, 0.6 and 0.5, respectively. Finally, Warner Bros.’ Mom added 25% to tie Disney’s Black-ish at a 0.5. ■

ABC said it has put its new series Judge Steve Harvey on the docket to premiere on Jan. 4 at 8 p.m.

The show features Harvey as judge, jury and star of the one-hour unscripted courtroom comedy series.

“Steve Harvey is completely in his element in this show, and that’s why we love working with him, and fans love watching him,” said Rob Mills, executive VP, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment, Walt Disney Television. “His wit and charm lend itself perfectly for this hilarious courtroom series that features some of the most outrageous cases ever seen on television.” ■

Episodes will be available on demand and on Hulu the day after they debut on ABC.

“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to continue my fruitful partnership with ABC and collaborate with them on my next venture,” said Harvey. “Viewers tuning into ‘Judge Steve Harvey’ will watch as I tackle tough and, at times, entertaining issues while also providing much-needed advice and good old-fashioned common sense to the litigants in my court.”

Judge Steve Harvey is produced by Den of Thieves in association with Walt Disney Television’s newly formed alternative unit. Steve Harvey, Brandon Williams, and Den of Thieves’ Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Jared Morell serve as executive producers, with Myeshia Mizuno as showrunner and executive producer.■

ABC has ordered 10 episodes of courtroom comedy Judge Steve Harvey (working title), the network shared during its Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour session. With Harvey as the star, the one-hour unscripted comedy will premiere in 2022. Harvey “will welcome a variety of conflicts and characters to his courtroom–from small claims to big disputes and everything in between. Steve plays by his own rules, basing his courtroom on his own life experiences and some good old common sense,” said ABC. 

Harvey hosts Family Feud. 

Judge Steve Harvey is produced by Den of Thieves in association with Walt Disney Television’s alternative unit. Steve Harvey, Brandon Williams and Den of Thieves’ Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager, Jared Morrell and Barb Bialkowski are executive producers, with Myeshia Mizuno the showrunner. 

ABC also announced it will air The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World Friday, Oct. 1. Whoopi Goldberg will host the two-hour special. Christina Aguilera and Halle Bailey will perform in front of Cinderella Castle at Disney World, accompanied by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Anthony Anderson, Tom Brady, Candace Cameron Bure and John Stamos are among the stars scheduled to turn up.  

Goldberg is moderator on The View. 

The special “will take viewers through Walt Disney World’s humble beginnings in the swamplands of Florida and its evolution into a cultural phenomenon,” said ABC. “Through an expansive look into the past, present and future of the vacation destination, fans will get a never-before-seen-on-TV glimpse into the journey to bring Walt’s vision to life and a look at grand plans for the future.”

Disney executives past and present, including Bob Chapek, Bob Iger and Michael Eisner, will share their favorite memories of Walt Disney World. 

The special is produced by ABC News in association with ABC Entertainment and Disney Parks Global Content. David Sloan and Sally Conner are senior executive producers and Matt Lombardi is executive producer.

ABC also announced that season 13 of Shark Tank, which starts Oct. 8, welcomes four guest Sharks to the set. Emma Grede, CEO and co-founder of Good American and founding partner of SKIMS; actor Kevin Hart; Peter Jones from the BBC’s Dragons’ Den; and Nirav Tolia, co-founder of Nextdoor, will appear. The regular Sharks are Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary. Daniel Lubetzky, founder and executive chairman of KIND, also returns this season. 

Shark Tank is produced by MGM Television and Sony Pictures Television. Mark Burnett, Clay Newbill, Yun Lingner, Max Swedlow and Phil Gurin, Brandon Wallace, Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary are the executive producers. The series is produced by MGM Television in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Finally, ABC shared that Anthony Anderson, Tituss Burgess, Laverne Cox, Marcia Cross, Anthony Michael Hall, Melissa Joan Hart, Vanilla Ice, Tara Lipinski, Haley Joel Osment, Donny Osmond, Andy Richter, Tori Spelling, Raven-Symoné, Nia Vardalos and Johnny Weir are among the stars showing up on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune this season. The season begins Sunday, Sept. 26. 

Pat Sajak and Vanna White host. 

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune is produced by Sony Pictures Television.

The ranks of syndicated game shows remains relatively thin, with only five on the docket in the 2017-18 TV season. But the success of Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud — revitalized since comedian Steve Harvey joined as host in 2010 — has encouraged producers to search for the next big comedic game hit. So far, that task has proved difficult.

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Disney-ABC tried to push Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, now in its 16th season in syndication, toward comedy after longtime host Meredith Vieira left to host her own NBCUniversal-produced talk show in 2013. The studio tried out hosts such as Cedric the Entertainer and Terry Crews, but those changes didn’t affect ratings.

Disney-ABC finally returned the show to its more straightforward roots, hiring The Bachelor’s Chris Harrison as host in 2015 and moving the show to Las Vegas from New York City at the start of last season. Those moves have given the show a lift, with Millionaire’s ratings up 10% in viewers, 6% in households and 4% among daytime’s key demographic of women 25-54 this year season-to-date through Oct. 29, according to Nielsen.

To capitalize on the success of Feud, Debmar-Mercury and production partner FremantleMedia North America tried out Celebrity Name Game, hosted by Craig Ferguson, former host of CBS’s The Late Late Show. It was initially intended to be paired with Feud on TV stations, but Tribune, which does not air Feud in many markets, ended up acquiring it. In the end, Celebrity Name Game sputtered and ended its run after last season.

This year, Entertainment Studios rolled out its own comic-driven game show with Funny You Should Ask, hosted by Jon Kelley. In the program, comedians such as Gabriel Iglesias, Sherri Shepherd and Louie Anderson improvise answers to questions while contestants have to guess whether they’re right or wrong. So far, it is averaging a 0.5 in households, season-to-date, and a 0.2 among women 25-54.

Looking ahead, Warner Bros. is shopping a show to be hosted by Jane Lynch that studio sources describe as a comedy, but neither a talk nor game show. It’s being targeted for early-fringe and access time slots, so it could run in competition or be coupled with games and sitcoms in those time periods.

In general, new offerings in access are few. But with a lack of new sitcoms on the docket, studios are looking for non-sitcom ways to help stations freshen up access.

Meanwhile, over a year ago, Family Feud surpassed CBS Television Stations’ longtime leaders Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! to become syndication’s top-rated game. For years, it’s also been the top-rated first-run program among women 25-54. But Feud’s numbers are helped by multiple runs on both stations and on cable, while Wheel still relies on single runs. Jeopardy! has double-runs in some markets, but not nearly as many as Feud.

That said, Wheel and Jeopardy!, both produced by Sony Pictures Television, remain potent offerings in syndication after 35 and 34 seasons, respectively. Wheel, syndication’s fourth highest-rated show, averages a 5.8 in households season-to-date, down 3% compared to last year. Jeopardy! is currently the second highest-rated game in syndication and third highest-rated show overall, averaging a 5.9 in households season-to-date, up 4% from last year at this time.