Is it true that debts of the defendants on Judge Judy get their debts paid by the TV station?

I don't know about "ALL," But I did have an old roommate who was on the show (For a dispute over unpaid rent between an ex of his and he) and he told me that he got paid $5,000 for his appearance on the show, and the decision in the case was about 3,500, so in essence, he didn't lose any money due to the judgement.