Phil McGraw renews talk show pact with CBS through 2020

"Dr. Phil" will keep on talking through 2020. Host Phil McGraw has extended his deal with CBS Television Distribution for three more years.

The syndicated strip is in its 14th season and ranks as daytime TV's most-watched talk show with an average of 4.4 million viewers so far this season. "Dr. Phil" and Ellen DeGeneres' "Ellen" typically vie for No. 1 bragging rights in the women 25-54 and women adults 18-49 demos.

McGraw's previous pact with CBS was set to expire in 2017.

"Dr. Phil is the leading voice in daytime television and he's made his show an important platform to discuss issues our viewers are struggling with every day. He truly is one of a kind," said Armando Nunez, president-CEO of CBS Global Distribution Group.

McGraw emphasized that the show's production team, lead by exec producer Carla Pennington, has remained largely constant during his run to date. The show has been the subject of some behind-the-scenes drama of late with staffers complaining of steep cuts for some in the company's health benefit plan.

"Extending this dynamic partnership with CBS affords us a chance to continue our important work with individuals and families across America and around the world. Personally, I am so proud to continue with the best team in television," McGraw said. "Most of my television family, from Carla Pennington the executive producer to the same seven cameramen I had when we started over 13 years ago, are still here making a difference everyday."

McGraw is an exec producer of "Dr. Phil" and of another CBS-distributed syndicated series, "The Doctors." McGraw and his son, producer Jay McGraw, also recently partnered with the U.K.'s Daily Mail to develop a newsmagazine-style TV series.

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