Idols - Bookies Nightmare

Apparently sms votes were held up on cellphone networks and there is to be a recount of votes which could make Jason the winner and make bookies tear their hear out from the roots.

Interesting times.

The story can be found at buzz.ecr.co.za/2009/05/07/idols-hit-by-controversy/

Idols hit by controversy
Submitted by Buzz Reporter on May 7, 2009 – 11:41 amOne Comment.

The popular show Idols has been hit by controversy with a question mark hanging over the final results. Cape Town teenager, Sasha Lee Davids, was named Idols winner on Sunday night. However, it could now be that KZN’s Jason Hartman will be declared the winner.


MNET has released an online statement saying it’s investigating the final counting process. The statement admits there were some technical glitches with the counting process on Sunday night. M-NET’s Theo Erasmus explains…

Erasmus says when they made inquiries with their service providers and network operators, it was discovered there was a problem with their systems which MAY have delayed the delivery of the SMSs. This means text messages sent before the cut-off time, MAY have registered much later…

MNET has notified both Sasha Lee and Jason of the problem. Stay tuned to Newswatch for the latest

Reporting buzz.ecr.co.za/2009/05/07/idols-hit-by-controversy/

Would all the punters with winning please take back to your bookies!!!

What a shambles.

Never bet on anything where animals are not involved, humans are unpredictable.

Lol! So then if they reverse results bookies have to pay out?

I will be laughing, had few doubles and trebles running onto Jason...

Lol! Will be interesting to see what happens...

suppose the bookmakers paid out on the oficial result? dont think anyone can expect them to pay again?
unfair on the punters that backed jason yes,but no fault of the bookmakers!

Lol! I'm not expecting to get paid but wont the "official" result change if they find that the systems were at fault?

Bookies shouldn't have to lose, nor should punters, neither party should have to take the loss...

On a technical or machine error, should it not be similar to a casino, where void nullifies all pay out, but the punter still retains his initial bet?

Understanding that the bookies already paid out losing bets, does that not then form part of their risk?

I just think it will be very interesting to see what the outcome is. I suspect the punters will be the losers at the end of the day...

I reckon bookies should pay out and sue for Mnet for damages (if thts possible in law)

Now they announce that both Sasha and Jason are winners, Jason wins by over 200000 votes but they gonna share the title and both be awarded the prizes, thats all fine and dandy, but what about the punters?

Its a disgrace...

I see MNET have declared a tie and that both are winners. Jason received more votes than Sasha Lee but MNET felt they should give it to both of them. What an absolute disgrace by MNET and all involved. I hope MNET will refund everybody who voted as their votes no longer counts.

I supposed it is like a horse being disqualified at a later stage for doping as the payouts have already been made the result stands. If I had backed Jason I would be fuming right now.

This could only happen in Africa? lol

or the USA during an election

I was one of the ppl who had a bet on Jason, but I never had a direct bet, I had doubles and trebles running from Super 14 games, looking for a bit of value, but instead I got taught manners...

I dont really compare this to doping, its more like losing to a photo finish, only to find out later that the camera was set up 5m before the finish line...

Its a total disgrace...

What amazes me is Jason won by 200,000 votes. How many late votes came through? and could all the late votes be for the same person? There is definately something fishy here as the end result is not even close.

Normally in a competition such as this the % of votes remains fairly consistent throughout the entire voting process. The final % is 54 to 46. There is no way "late votes" could have altered the picture this dramatically. I feel sorry for both Jason and Sasha Lee as neither one asked for the mix up. I believe that MNET and Alexander Forbes have a serious amount of explaining to do.