''SABC3 had no rights to flight this show,'' says real name holder of South Africa's Top Model Search as sponsors are fleeing.

Like cockroaches they scuttling to get away as far as possible: all of the initially eager sponsors and everyone else involved in the imploding reality show mess South Africa's Top Model Search after SABC3 finally decided to dump the show.

From Cleo magazine to Peugeot South Africa and Veet, are all like rats off of a sinking ship after none of them, nor SABC3 ever bothered to check whether the producers or SABC3 even have and own the naming rights to this advertiser-funded production (AFP). If they did, before I broke the news, they would have discovered that South Africa's Top Model Search really belongs to Bongie Alexandra who registered it and was not affiliated with the production.

''How could a broadcaster this huge get themselves entangled in such a project presented to them and not check standard protocol?'' asks Bongie Alexandra who says she will still attempt to run a competition under this now tainted banner name. ''SABC had decided to pull out of the illegitimate South Africa's Top Model Search within hours of our first discussion due to the fact that they had no rights to go ahead with the programme. SABC3 had no rights to flight the show,'' says Bongie Alexandra. She says they've ''put the brand of South Africa's Top Model Search at risk for the mess they had created by not checking protocol.''

''As the rightful owner of the name South Africa's Top Model Search, it has come to my knowledge that an illegitimate South Africa's Top Model Search has been operating in association with SABC3, Cleo magazine, Peugeot and Veet,'' who Bongie Alexandra now says have all gone silent. ''The sponsors who were involved have since not come back to us on where they stand in this whole debacle.''

Bongie Alexandra also has harsh words for SABC3. ''Since the advertising of this illegitimate South Africa's Top Model Search show by a legitimate channel like SABC3, sponsors and entrants are now scpetical about any modeling competitions within South Africa that will never see the light of day as long as broadcasters make these same errors year in and year out. Not too long ago this same broadcaster was faced with similar challenges with Model Million$.''

ALSO READ: ''South Africa's Top Model Search will no longer be broadcast on SABC3,'' says the channel, apologizing for the reality show mess.
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TOLDJA! ''South Africa's Top Model Search will no longer be broadcast on SABC3'' says channel; apologizes for reality show mess.

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Exactly as I told you earlier today RIGHT HERE would happen and right after I exposed even more shocking news like SABC3 not having the naming rights to the show, comes SABC3's announcement just now that it's dumping the highly controversial advertiser-funded production (AFP) South Africa's Top Model Search that was supposed to be broadcast in February.

Exactly as I've said would happen, SABC3 just announced that ''South Africa's Top Model Search will no longer be broadcast on SABC3''.

''As a television brand that prides itself in entertainment and integrity, the matter of the registration fee for entering this search comprised the channel's belief in free and universal access,'' SABC3 says in a press release, saying that the channel requested that the producers ''forfeit the fee as this is not in line with SABC's policies''. This now confirms exactly the news I broke RIGHT HERE that SABC3 demanded that the show stops asking a registration fee and that SABC3 execs who were not aware of this until I broke the news, were absolutely livid about it all.

''The show which was to be produced by New Vision Pictures, will no longer be aired on SABC3,'' says the channel, saying that New Vision Pictures has undertaken to refund all the entrants who have already paid a ''registration'' fee. ''Anyone who has paid a registration fee can contact Leon Baasden of New Vision Pictures on 079 532 8798, or e-mail him on support@satmsearch.co.za,'' says the channel.

''SABC3 takes responsibility for its programme offering as the show had been scheduled to start broadcast in mid February. The channel would like to thank all those who showed interest in the programme – this includes the media, viewers and entrants. SABC3 will also like to apologise to all our loyal viewers and media specialists.''

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BREAKING. SABC3 getting ready to dump South Africa's Top Model Search and distance itself from the planned model reality show.

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In another utterly embarrassing advertiser-funded production (AFP) implosion for South African television and another model reality show disaster unfolding in real-time, I can now reveal that SABC3 is on the verge of dumping its planned broadcast of South Africa's Top Model Search and distancing itself from the controversial reality show. The advertiser-funded show was set to air from February 2011 on the channel in 13 episodes.

I'm now told by numerous reliable sources both inside and outside SABC3 that the channel is imminently going to distance itself from the planned production that would have started in February as its new attempt at a model search reality show after the spectacular self-destruction of a similar attempt called Model Million$ - also an advertiser-funded show - on the channel two years ago.

SABC3 was plunged into controversy after I broke the news RIGHT HERE that potential contestants are forced to pay to be in the show, something that should never happen and which came as a major shock for SABC3 which was clueless and not aware was even happening. Now it seems that South Africa's Top Model Search on SABC3 is history after channel execs went balistic and started demanding answers. More shockers were waiting.

Moments ago I exclusively broke the news RIGHT HERE that SABC3 doesn't even have the naming rights to the show and will most likely not even be able to get it although it made promos, started advertising for South Africa's Top Model Search, and already have the show on the schedule for 2011 from February. In an embarrassing about-turn, I'm told SABC3 will now be stepping away from the show and announce it possibly as soon as later today.

SHOCKER! SABC3 doesn't actually have the name rights to its growing reality show mess, South Africa's Top Model Search.

You're reading it here first.

I can now exclusively reveal that it appears that SABC3 doesn't even have the rights to the name of South Africa's Top Model Search, the already highly-controversial reality model show the channel is/was planning to broadcast from February.

The advertiser funded production (AFP) that SABC3 allowed on its schedule for 2011 created havoc when it demanded potential contestants PAY to enter - an absolute no no which i exposed RIGHT HERE. As I've written RIGHT HERE days later, it turned out SABC3 wasn't even aware of this.

Now the new and unbelievable shocker about which SABC3 is keeping very quiet: which is that SABC3 didn't even check whether the rights to the name of South Africa's Top Model Search indeed is legitimate. Sources are confidentially telling me that SABC3 - who I keep asking for comment but who are refusing to talk - are sitting with a growing scandal, since the broadcaster doesn't have the rights to the name of the show, and won't be able to get it. ''How can such a huge corporation not check facts about this show?'' a source asks.

SABC3's previous advertiser funded model reality show travesty Model Million$ crashed and burned spectacularly two years ago when the production imploded in a massive way after only two episodes made it to air. Now it seems as if SABC3's new attempt with South Africa's Top Model Search is also hurtling to disaster weeks after SABC3 assured press at the channel's quarterly preview that it will try its utmost to prevent a repeat of the massive Model Million$ mess that severely damaged SABC3's credibility and reputation.

SABC3 isn't responding to media enquiries about what is going on, but I've secretly been told the broadcaster is waiting until the end of the week waiting for proof about the rights to the name of South Africa's Top Model Search - something it should have done before it embarked on this TV venture. My sources say no proof will or can be forthcoming, since the name is reserved with other parties not involved in this growing reality TV rucus.

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BREAKING. SABC3 demands that South Africa's Top Model Search stop asking contestants for money; halt auditions and pay refunds.

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I can exclusively reveal that SABC3 is absolutely livid at South Africa's Top Model Search for asking potential contestants for money without the broadcaster's knowledge - and I can break the news that the production has not only been ordered to stop asking contestants for money immediately, but that SABC3 has demanded all contestants who have already paid be refunded, that this has put a spoke in the nationwide audition process which has been halted, and that a high-level meeting will be taking place today at SABC3 to decide the way forward.

I broke the news RIGHT HERE that SABC3's new reality show South Africa's Top Model Search is demanding R250 per contestant ''to register'', which SABC3 didn't know about and made the channel go balistic. No reality show should ever demand potential contestants to pay to be on TV, and the entire modeling world and industry abides by the golden rule that agents, talent scouts and managers will never ask, solicit or accept any money to see potential models. Yet South Africa's Top Model Search immediately preyed on the poor and uninformed and exploited young hopeful wannabee models' dreams to make it in the modeling world by asking and taking their money to ''register''. This shocking exploitation has now been stopped.

SABC3 has no official response, but insiders I've talked to tells me in no uncertain terms that SABC3 upper management are outraged and adamant to correct this travesty before South Africa's Top Model Search airs even one minute in 2011. The channel is set to have an urgent meeting about the show later today. ''They are not supposed to charge contestants and have been directed to stop with immediate effect,'' says a high ranking SABC3 executive. ''They have to repay those that have been charged and communicate it on their website.''

Another insider with knowledge of the matter confirms to me ''the production company had to drop the fee and get back to them with more details about how people can get their money back before they resume auditions. The production company has also been asked to come up with a quote.''

ALSO READ: SABC3 unaware of the shameful exploitation of South Africa's Top Model Search demanding money from contestants.
ALSO READ: Be a contestant on SABC3's new reality show South Africa's Top Model Search . . . if you pay R250.

BREAKING. SABC3 unaware about the shameful exploitation of South Africa's Top Model Search asking contestants for money.

You're reading it here first.

I can exclusively reveal that SABC3 was/is completely in the dark about the shameful and exploitative reality show that it plans to broadcast from February - South Africa's Top Model Search - that is forcing contestants to pay R250 to ''register'' and for the possible chance to be on the show - news I broke RIGHT HERE. Contestants and potential contestants on a reality show are not, under any circumstances supposed to, or expected to pay money for that ''privilege''.

While SABC3 is completely mum on my official enquiries as to why R250 is demanded from contestants who want to try and be on South Africa's Top Model Search (only R200 if you ''register'' online), I can now reveal that SABC3 has been completely blindsided by this advertiser-funded show's highly inappropriate and unethical behaviour.

The damaging, shameful and exploitative manner in which South Africa's Top Model Search is fleecing normal South Africans who have aspirations of being models and being on TV, once again casts the spotlight on why advertiser-funded productions (AFP's) are a bad idea. It's bad programming for viewers, primarily a money-making vehicle for TV channels and something broadcasters usually end up washing their hands off when things go wrong, and is often productions they have very little control over.

I'm now told that SABC3 had no idea that contestants were forced to pay R250 each to possibly be on South Africa's Top Model Search. ''The channel is actually following up with the production company about the fee,'' a highly placed insider tells me. ''They weren't aware that there was a fee involved,'' a source tells me.

ALSO READ: Be a contestant on SABC3's new reality show South Africa's Top Model Search . . . if you pa R250.

BREAKING. Be a contestant on SABC3's new SA's Top Model Search reality show . . . if you're willing to pay R250.

You're reading it here first.

Contestants on a TV show - irrespective of what it is - should never ever have to pay for that opportunity, but that is exactly what SABC3 and its new advertiser-funded, already-looking-like-a-TV-travesty reality show South Africa's Top Model Search is doing by demanding that contestants first pay R250 ''to register''.

I can tell that South Africa's Top Model Search promising ''an intensive traveling itinerary through South Africa, New York and Milan, Italy'' (where have we've heard that before from a failed SABC3 model search advertiser-funded reality show (cough, cough Model Millions . . .). The show will be on SABC3 for 13 episodes from 19 February at 21:30 and there will be no live finale. The 13 contestants will move into a mansion in Gauteng and one will be eliminated weekly.

I have reliably learnt that Top Billing presenter Jo-Ann Strauss will most likely be the presenter, although Tswelopele Productions who produces Top Billing and Patience Stevens, apparently doesn't know it yet. Christina Storm and David Thlale are, according to my always awesome sources, also involved.

SABC3 can't yet answer questions about South Africa's Top Model Search such as the production company and says ''the format hasn't been decided yet'' as well as that it's not like any of the other crop of model search reality shows that's been on television before. Contestants who register online only pay R200.