Metropolitan Television (Metro TV) yesterday signed an agreement with MNET to formally launch MNET Open Time, which started screening on Metro TV on 1st June 2002.

The agreement was signed by Mr. Talal Fatal, Chief Executive Officer of Metro TV and Mr. Kobus Bezuindenhout, MNET representative in Ghana with a call on companies to utilise the 90 minutes open time to promote their products.

The programme has also been successfully employed in Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya and Nigeria.

Mr. Fatal said the agreement would go a long way to increase the viewers of the station.

He promised that the entertainment package "would be carried with good quality pictures and sound" to the admiration of viewers as "we have moved on firmer, higher and wider ground in programming content and foot print/broadcast reach." He announced that by the end of next month Metro would extend transmission to Nkawkaw, Sunyani and surrounding communities and the station has designed strategic policy towards expanding transmission to all the capitals towns in the country. To ensure its success, two people have been employed Mr. George Ekow Paintsil as Corporate Affairs Manager and Mr. Emmanuel Dotse, Marketing Manger.

They have also done a survey and found out that most of their viewers prefer local programmes. "We would improve and increase the local programme from 25% to 75%," he said.

Mr. Kobus Bezuindenhout said in addition to the existing programmes, the Open Time block would also showcase two of M-Net s popular shows, Ananda and All My Children.