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.

2. Channels

So what channels are on the packages? You can easily compare them here to make an informed decision.

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.

5. Gotv Paybill

Here is the paybill numbers for all the countries that have Gotv presence.

For the Kenya reader, this is how to pay for Gotv via Mpesa

1. Go to MPESA menu and choose Pay Bill.
2. Enter the GOtv Mpesa business number 423655.
3. Enter ICU number (ICU number is found on a red sticker at the bottom of your decoder).
4. Enter the amount to pay.
5. Key in your MPESA PIN
6. Confirm that you have entered the correct details, and then send to complete the transaction.
7. 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

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.