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Connecticut incentives may lure Jerry Springer from Chicago: Steve Wilkos, Maury Povich may also relocate this summer
(Chicago Tribune Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 28--Normally, it's the fights on "The Jerry Springer Show" that get the attention. Now attention is focused on the fight for "The Jerry Springer Show," as the nationally syndicated television show looks to be headed out of Chicago and to Stamford, Conn.
Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell on Friday said the state and NBC Universal are working on a deal to establish a television production studio in Stamford, about 30 miles from New York City.
Sources close to the negotiations said NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution, the company's syndicated television arm, plans to relocate "The Jerry Springer Show" and "The Steve Wilkos Show" from Chicago to the new facility this summer in time for the start of the 2009 television season. Maury Povich's syndicated NBC Universal program "Maury" also would move there from New York.
Springer's show has originated from NBC Universal's NBC Tower in Chicago since 1992, after making its debut a year earlier in Cincinnati.
Stamford is home to the corporate offices of World Wrestling Entertainment, but WWE would not be involved with the new facility, which Rell said would bring between 150 and 200 jobs to the state and an initial infrastructure investment of more than $3 million.
Connecticut is offering a 30 percent production tax credit, as well as a 20 percent tax credit on infrastructure costs after the first $1 million spent. Sources said NBC Universal's attempts to negotiate more favorable incentives from Illinois were unsuccessful.
A spokeswoman for the Illinois Film Office said the tax credit for production of movies and some television in the state was increased this year from 20 percent to 30 percent, but that talk shows are not eligible.
"Springer," "Maury" and "Wilkos" all have been renewed for next season, which will be the 19th for Springer, 12th for Povich and third for Wilkos, a former Chicago police officer who gained fame as a bouncer on Springer's show.
Telepictures' Chicago-based "Judge Mathis" with Greg Mathis and "Judge Jeanine Pirro" will continue to be produced at NBC Tower, home to NBC-owned WMAQ-Ch. 5. The company will look for tenants to replace "Springer" and "Wilkos," which employ around 100 people.
NBC Universal is a unit of General Electric Co., which is based in Fairfield, Conn.
Tribune reporter Eric Benderoff contributed to this report.
pdrosenthal@tribune.com
To see more of the Chicago Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.chicagotribune.com.
Copyright (c) 2009, Chicago Tribune
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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