Now Reading: GOTV; 7 Little Things You Need to Know
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GOTV; 7 Little Things You Need to Know
Gotv is one of the best alternative to premium TV (Dstv, Zuku) in Kenya. Off course, we have the Startimes but honestly speaking, whether you are a lover of sport or some movies, Gotv beats startimes easily.
I once owned a startimes decoder and I had to replace it with Gotv.
I know you are likely using this decoder, so how is this post going to be of any benefit to you?
I am going to take you through all the little things you need to know about Gotv so that you can make your experience more enjoyable.
Little things you need to know about Gotv
1. Packages
There are SIX packages to choose from. Some of which you pay monthly while others have a yearly payment schedule.
The table below compares all these packages.
| Package | Number of Channels | Payment Frequency | Price in Ksh. |
| Lite (Annual) | 15 | Annually | 1500 |
| Plus | 40 | Monthly | 749 |
| Max | 48 | Monthly | 999 |
| Lite (Quarterly) | 16 | Quarterly | 590 |
| Lite ( Monthly) | 17 | Monthly | 260 |
| Value | 26 | Monthly | 499 |
2. Channels
So what channels are on the packages? You can easily compare them here to make an informed decision.
| Lite( Annual) | Value | Plus | Max |
| – | – | B4U Movies | B4U Movies |
| – | – | – | TVC Entertainment |
| – | – | – | Iroko Plus |
| – | – | Zee World | Zee World |
| – | – | Maisha Magic Bongo | Maisha Magic Bongo |
| – | Maisha Magic East | Maisha Magic East | Maisha Magic East |
| – | African Magic Family | African Magic Family | African Magic Family |
| – | Africa Magic Epic Movies | Africa Magic Epic Movies | Africa Magic Epic Movies |
| – | Eva+ | Eva+ | Eva+ |
| – | – | M-Net Movies Zone | M-Net Movies Zone |
| – | – | – | CBS Reality |
| – | – | – | BET International |
| – | Fox Life | Fox Life | Fox Life |
| – | – | – | Fox |
| – | E! Entertainment TV | E! Entertainment TV | E! Entertainment TV |
| – | – | Telemundo | Telemundo |
| – | – | Iroko Music | Iroko Music |
| – | – | – | Star life |
| – | – | ROK 3 | ROK 3 |
| – | – | – | ROK 2 |
| – | – | Go Channel | Go Channel |
| SuperSport Blitz | SuperSport Blitz | SuperSport Blitz | SuperSport Blitz |
| – | SuperSport Select 1 | SuperSport Select 1 | – |
| – | – | SuperSport Select 2 | SuperSport Select 2 |
| – | – | SuperSport Select 3 | SuperSport Select 3 |
| – | – | – | SuperSport Select 4 |
| – | – | – | SuperSport Select 5 |
| Aljazeera | Aljazeera | Aljazeera | Aljazeera |
| – | BBC International | BBC International | BBC International |
| – | – | CCN | CCN |
| Jimjam | Jimjam | Jimjam | Jimjam |
| – | Disney Junior | Disney Junior | Disney Junior |
| – | Nickelodeon | Nickelodeon | Nickelodeon |
| – | – | Nat Geo Wild | Nat Geo Wild |
| – | – | Discovery Family | Discovery Family |
| Emmanuel TV | Emmanuel TV | Emmanuel TV | Emmanuel TV |
| Islam Channel | Islam Channel | Islam Channel | Islam Channel |
| Faith Broadcast Network | Faith Broadcast Network | Faith Broadcast Network | Faith Broadcast Network |
| Afro Music English | Afro Music English | Afro Music English | Afro Music English |
| – | – | MTV Base | MTV Base |
| K24 | K24 | K24 | K24 |
| KTN NEWS | KTN NEWS | KTN NEWS | KTN NEWS |
| Citizen TV | Citizen TV | Citizen TV | Citizen TV |
| KTN | KTN | KTN | KTN |
| NTV | NTV | NTV | NTV |
| KBC | KBC | KBC | KBC |
| Inooro TV | Inooro TV | Inooro TV | Inooro TV |
| eTV Africa | eTV Africa | eTV Africa | eTV Africa |
| Classic FM | Classic FM | Classic FM | Classic FM |
Please note that the Lite Quarterly has an addition of ONE audio channel (Classic FM). The Lite Monthly has two more channels, Classic FM and Maisha Magic.
It is also important to note that when scanning, the decoder will pick up so many other channels from Startimes, PANG and BAMBA. While in most cases these channels will work (if they are on the FTA platform), Gotv does not take responsibility for such.
In addition, in their T&Cs, the package may change at any time with channels removed or added.
3. Activation
For your Gotv decoder to work, you need to activate it. This is especially true if you have just bought the decoder.
Please follow the following steps.
Go to GOtv website using the following link.
At the website, you will see, ‘Enter your details and activate your subscription.’
You will need to fill the following.
- Your city
- Surname
- IUC Number
- Mobile Telephone
You can easily find the IUC number on the red sticker at the back of your decoder. Once you have activated, you can comfortable enjoy watching your favorite programs.
Sometime you may need to activate your decoder if you have been using Gotv and your subscription expired. In this case, if you make your payment, the decoder will automatically be activated. You however need to remember that your decoder must be on to receive the activation signal.
4. Gotv Contacts
If you are in Kenya, here are the contacts.
| Platform | Contacts |
| Phone Number | 0711 066 000 |
| 020 423 6000 | |
| 0711 066 555 | |
| 020 423 6555 | |
| Website | GOTV Website |
| @GotvKenya | |
| @GOtvKenya | |
| Physical Address |
Multichoice Kenya Ltd. First
Floor, Sarit Centre, Westlands, Nairobi |
5. Gotv Paybill
Here is the paybill numbers for all the countries that have Gotv presence.
| Country | Paybill |
| Ghana | – |
| Kenya | 463655 |
| Malawi | – |
| Mozambique | – |
| Namibia | – |
| Nigeria | – |
| Rwanda | – |
| Uganda | – |
| Zambia | – |
For the Kenya reader, this is how to pay for Gotv via Mpesa
- Go to MPESA menu and choose Pay Bill.
- Enter the GOtv Mpesa business number 423655.
- Enter ICU number (ICU number is found on a red sticker at the bottom of your decoder).
- Enter the amount to pay.
- Key in your MPESA PIN
- Confirm that you have entered the correct details, and then send to complete the transaction.
- Wait for the confirmation SMS
For other countries, the process is the same, only that you have to use your paybill number and the local mobile money transfer network.
One more thing, you can also make online payments on Gotv website.
6. How to change Gotv package
Sometimes it may be necessary to change the package you are on. This is either by downgrading or up grading.
This is how to do it.
Via SMS
This is the simplest and fastest way to do it. All you have to do is send the message ‘UPGRADE (DOWNGRADE) IUC NUMBER’ to 22688.
Call customer Care
You can call the customer care and request for an upgrade or downgrade. Again, this should work fast for you.
In case you missed the Contacts, see them above.
Do it online
This is my favorite method doing this. You can do it at the ‘Easy Self Service.’ All you need to do is login at the Gotv website. Off course, you will need you phone number and IUC number.
Once you logged in, you can easily change your package. However, it is recommended that you let the current package expire before changing to your preferred one.
7. SMS Short Codes
| Country | SMS Short Code |
| Kenya | 6088 |
| Uganda | 6688 |
| Malawi | 4688 |
| Ghana | 4688 |
| Mozambique | 4688 |
| Nigeria | 4688 |
| Tanzania | 16688 |
| Zambia | 4688 |
| Zimbabwe | 6088 |
Conclusion
There are small about GOtv that you need to know, especially if you use their decoder. This will make your life easy and ensure you enjoy your subscription and get the most out of your decoder.
