Studios USA issued a brief statement confirming the meeting and its pledge to eliminate "all physical violence from the series."

"It wasn't paying off," a spokesman for Studios USA said sadly.

"Studios USA is not."

"The company won't let me take them off," she said yesterday, apparently referring to Studios USA, which produces and distributes her show.

Initially, Springer was distributed by Multimedia Entertainment, later going to the former Universal and then to Studios USA.

Mr. Eick has signed a development deal with Studios USA.

The show was then revamped in the 1998-1999 season, when Studios USA (now NBCUniversal) took over production.

But Studios USA, the show's owner, was getting political heat again about the daily format of sexual confrontations leading to fights.

So executives at Studios USA got righteous - again.

"Stations pay a higher licensing fee but give up less barter, because barter is not that valuable to Studios USA."