A radio producer is accusing the South African broadcaster e.tv of stealing his idea for the TV show Against All Odds which he pitched in December 2011 - e.tv says Msizi Nkosi's idea which he pitched with the same name is "not the same".
Msizi Nkosi, a radio producer at uKhozi FM, pitched a show entitled Against All Odds in December 2011 to e.tv with the name Against All Odds and the premise of profiling people who succeeded against all odds.
Msizi Nkosi says he was shocked to find a show entitled Against All Odds showing on e.tv with presenter Mpho Lakaje. Msizi Nkosi claims the concept is the same as what he proposed to e.tv in December 2011.
"Today there is a TV show exactly like that on e.tv and it's also titled Againt All Odds," wrote Msizi Nkosi.
e.tv says Against All Odds "is not an e.tv commissioned programme" and tells TV with Thinus that "the idea behind the show was conceived by the eNCA reporter, Mpho Lajake for eNCA".
The 24-hour news channel started Against All Odds almost two years ago and episodes are now showing on both the eNCA and on e.tv.
The broadcaster says "e.tv declined Msizi Nkosi's pitch. The channel's local programming division decided not to pursue the show as it did not fit with our content strategy at the time," says e.tv.
e.tv recently made the decision to broadcast Against All Odds as a replacement for 3rd Degree at 21:30 on Tuesdays.
"Msizi Nkosi's idea focused on celebrities. It is for this reason that we believe that the show concepts are not similar. If there is any substantive information that is provided to us, we will look into it," says e.tv.
e.tv describes the Against All Odds which is being broadcast as "a show that strives to celebebrate ordinary South Africans who have achieved extraordinary things despite tough circumstances."
