e.tv stole his idea for Against All Odds TV show says producer; e.tv says Msizi Mkosi's pitch with the same name was focused on celebrities.

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.

e.tv says Msizi Nkosi's idea for Against All Odds which started on the eNCA and is now also seen on e.tv "focused on celebrities" and is therefore not the same.

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."

Against All Odds from the eNCA replaces and takes the 3rd Degree slot on e.tv on Tuesdays at 21:30 from this Tuesday.

Against All Odds with Mpho Lakaje is taking the timeslot and replacing the abruptly cancelled 3rd Degree on e.tv on Tuesdays at 21:30 starting from this coming Tuesday, 21 May.

3rd Degree ended this week Tuesday after last week's shock announcement about the end of the current affairs investigative magazine show after 13 years.

Against All Odds, originally an eNCA show and currently still running, is now getting repurposed for free-to-air viewers.

Mpho Lakaje profiles South African people who, despite various setbacks and environmental circumstancess achieve seemingly impossible goals.

Against All Odds on eNCA with Mpho Lekaje wins an international AIB award for its inspirational Lucas Sithole story.

Against All Odds, the weekly inspirational current affairs show on eNCA (DStv 403) presented by Mpho Lakaje (above, accepting the award together with Eurishka Nadesan) has won an international award from The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) in London this week.

Against All Odds won for a profile story in the category for short documentaries for the story of Lucas Sithole from KwaZulu-Natal who's South Africa's number one ranked disabled tennis player and ninth best in the world.

The AIB's, now in its 8th year, celebrates and rewards success in factual programming worldwide and looks for inspirational storytelling.

"This award is important because it recognises the fact that we also tell stories of hope, inspiration and achievement," says Patrick Conroy, the head of eNCA. "The story of this country, and indeed all of Africa, is also a story about overcoming the challenges we face and succeeding in what we do. This has now been acknowledged at an international level. eNCA is very proud of Mpho Lakaje and his team."

Against All Odds is broadcast on Fridays at 20:45 on eNCA.

BREAKING. Against All Odds with presenter Mpho Lakaje starting this Friday at 20:45 on the eNews Channel.

You're reading it here first.

A brand-new local show, Against All Odds, will be starting this Friday 13 April at 20:45 on the eNews Channel (DStv 403).

I can reveal that Against All Odds will start this Friday 13 April and will be presented by Mpho Lakaje. Against All Odds will cut into the end of the usual NewsNight as far as I can figure it out putting different bits together from different sources.

Against All Odds on the eNews Channel will focus on various stories from inspiring South Africans. The show will have several repeats like Saturdays at 10:45, Sundays at 14:45 and Mondays at 13:45 cutting into News Day.

UPDATE - 15:37: A reader that's quick to weight in, tells me SABC2 interestingly had a youth show with the exact same name and premise a couple of years ago. "Quite weird that they would choose that name without doing a simple google!'' says the reader.

UPDATE - 16:15: e.tv has issued a press release. "A new inspirational and inspirational current affairs show premiers on the eNews Channel on the eNews Channel on Friday 13 April. The show profiles ordinary people who rise against devastating odds to achieve extraordinary success. It unearths individuals who challenge conventional thinking to reach what seem like impossible goals. The programme celebrates the South Africa we don't usually hear about."