The Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations has denied television viewers in Ghana their favourite entertainment programmes.

A good number of showbiz-related shows on TV have been taken off air to make way for live soccer commentary. Most TV stations in the capital are trying hard to gain grounds with the ongoing tournament, considering the fact that Ghanaians are generally football-loving people.

According to showghana.com, Metro TV’s popular entertainment magazine programme Morning Ride has been taken off air to make way for soccer. Anita Owusu returned with a big bang to the admiration of her fans but it looks like those who love watching Morning Ride would have to wait till after the tournament. Saturday mornings on Metro TV have been given a different look, but is it the sort of look that showbiz lovers love?

Another showbiz programme that’s been taken off for the time being is Jon Germain’s Allo Tigo. Metro TV may be right on this one since most of the matches are played in the evening, clashing with Allo Tigo’s airtime. The Jon Germain fans out there would have to wait till after the tournament to enjoy their favourite programme.

TV Africa is also taking the Ghana 2008 tournament seriously and any programme that stands in the way of their coverage has been bulldozed. The Rundown hosted by Yaw Sakyi is off air to make way for the tournament. Maybe it’s an opportunity for the show to return with a new lease of life.

TV3 has changed airtime for the popular morning programme, Start. It now airs at 6am from Monday to Saturday. The popular Music Music has been taken off as well. Hitz Video has also been placed on the snooze.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the changes is the fact that there is no promo running to make viewers aware of the changes.

Announcements being run once in a while are not enough to keep people in the know. As a matter of fact, TV Africa is still running promo for The Rundown as though there hadn’t been any change.

In any case, who says soccer has nothing to do with showbiz? The TV stations should rather find innovative ways of fusing the showbiz programmes into the football frenzy in the country.