Pro bull riding league files objection of Dr. Phil's media bankruptcy saying it is owed $181 million

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Wednesday 23 July 2025 21:41 BST


Professional Bull Riders, the largest bull-riding league in the world, has filed an objection to the bankruptcy proceedings of Dr. Phil McGraw’s media network, claiming it is owed $181 million.

McGraw launched a conservative-leaning cable network in April 2024 called Merit Street Media. Barely a year later the network filed for bankruptcy and filed a lawsuit against its distribution partner Trinity Broadcasting for breach of contract earlier this month.

In its lawsuit, the media network claimed Trinity “reneged on its obligations and abused its position as the controlling shareholder of Merit Street,” leaving it over $100 million in debt.

The Professional Bull Riders, which pulled its programming from Merit Street Media last November, has been trying to hold McGraw personally responsible for the millions it says it’s owed by Merit Street.

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/dr-phil-bankruptcy-bull-riders-b2794801.html

[AZ8theist]

1. Dr Phil is a monumental fraud.

This only confirms that fact.

[Skittles]

2. I have long despised Oprah for inflicting Oz and Phil on us

[BigDemVoter]

10. I was just typing the exact same thing when I saw your post!

[AZ8theist]

15. HA! And I can only type with 2 fingers!!

[oberle]

3. Bull riding

is a cruel and inhumane "sport". I don't feel sorry for them in the slightest.

[Mopar151]

7. Mostly, cruel to cowboys!

Those bulls. are treated like stars, as is most rodeo stock. These are not show horses,or confinement barn hogs.

[ToxMarz]

11. Show horses and confinement hogs

Interesting conflation.

[IbogaProject]

13. Excepting tying a rope around their balls to get them jumping and bucking

I wouldn't classify that as being treated well, even if they get to live awhile while being milked of their seed before they become steaks.

[Mopar151]

14. Its a flanking strap,and doesnt stay on for long

Isn't tightened until the bull is in the chute, and is released by an outrider. as soon as the cowboy gets pitched off! PBR is known for "rank" bulls, they are treated like ballplayers, including career stats!

[Norrrm]

4. That's a lot of bull, for sure.

All the way around.

[viva la]

5. How could they lose $100mil in a year?

Beggars the imagination. And pro bull riding? How did they find each other?

[marble falls]

6. I find it crazy that the Pro Bull Riders had $181 Million to play around with.

[Farmer-Rick]

8. Top Bull Riders earn in the millions

The annual championship gives out over $2 million in awards. There is money in bull riding but not a sport I want to do.

I think bull riding is as abusive as horse racing. It can be done safely and be a fun sport. But people are always trying to cheat the system and that's where the abuse comes in.

Flank straps that are tied around the bulls abdomen are not abusive by themselves. It's where and how tightly they strap them on that can become abusive. Those bulls are carefully raised and trained to buck.The flank strap doesn't need to hurt the animal to get them to buck.

[Aristus]

9. The only people I respect in bull-riding are the rodeo clowns.

Those guys are brave and selfless. I tip my hat to them.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

12. Dr. Phil is a con man