Trial ordered in ‘Springer’ case

A British Court of Appeal judge on Tuesday ordered a trial to settle a dispute between distributors of “The Jerry Springer Show” and a company claiming the program became too strong for local tastes.

Flextech Television, which provides 10 channels of programming for British cable operator NTL Inc., contends it was entitled to cancel its “Springer” deal with Universal Studios International because it became impossible to air some episodes without violating British broadcasting rules.

Flextech entered into a contract in 1998 that committed it to “Springer” as long as the show was running in the United States. By 2001, Flextech contends, the “vast majority” of episodes contained content unsuitable for daytime viewing that did not comply with the Independent Television Commission code.

Universal contends the content changed little over the years.