7 mins readGOtv is the go-to television choice for millions of Nigerian households, and for good reason.
It is affordable, does not require a satellite dish, works in most parts of the country, and offers a wide enough range of channels to keep families, football fans, and children entertained.
Compared to DStv, it costs less while still covering news, local content, sports, Nollywood, and popular international channels.
But for all that, GOtv gets right on the entertainment side; paying for it every month remains unnecessarily stressful for many subscribers.
This guide is for every GOtv subscriber in Nigeria who wants to pay quickly, from anywhere, without overthinking it, and set it up so they never have to think about it again.
What Is GOtv?
GOtv is a digital pay-television service owned and operated by MultiChoice, the same parent company behind DStv. It is designed specifically for the African market, offering an affordable cable TV alternative that uses a decoder and a small antenna (rather than a satellite dish) to receive its signal.
It is popular in Nigeria and other African countries because it is cheaper than DStv while still offering a decent range of channels, including news, sports, entertainment, and kids' content.
GOtv Packages and Prices in Nigeria
Below is the current package lineup with monthly prices, channel counts, and what each plan is best suited for:
(a) GOtv Smallie
Price: ₦1,900 monthly
Channels: 35+ channels
Local Channels: 19
Sports Channels: 1
Movie Channels: 0
Other genre Channels: 15
(b) GOtv Jinja
Price: ₦3,900 monthly
Channels: 45+ channels
Local Channels: 20
Sports Channels: 2
Movie Channels: 1
Other genre Channels: 22
(c) GOtv Jolli
Price: ₦5,800 -
Channels: 65+ channels
Local Channels: 21
Sports Channels: 3
Movie Channels: 3
Other genre Channels: 34
(d) GOtv Max
Price: ₦8,500 monthly
Channels: 75+ channels
Local Channels: 21
Sports Channels: 5
Movie Channels: 5
Other genre Channels: 36
(e) GOtv Supa
Price: ₦11,400 monthly
Channels: 80+ channels
Local Channels: 21
Sports Channels: 6
Movie Channels: 7
Other genre Channels: 39
(f) GOtv Supa+
Price: ₦16,800 monthly
Channels: 85+ channels
Local Channels: 21
Sports Channels: 9
Movie Channels: 7
Other genre Channels: 41
Not sure which package you are on?
Check your decoder screen; the active package name is usually displayed when your subscription is active. Alternatively, dial *288# on your mobile phone to see your current subscription status.
How to Pick The Right Package:
If you mainly watch local Nigerian channels, news, and church content, Smallie or Jinja is enough.
If your household watches a mix of African content, international series, and some sports, Jolli or Max is the sweet spot.
If you are a football household, especially EPL, La Liga, or other SuperSport content, Max, Supa, or Supa+ is where you need to be.
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4 Ways to Pay for a GOtv Subscription in Nigeria
(i) The MyGOtv App: GOtv's official app allows payments and account management directly.
(ii) GOtv Authorised Agents: Walking into an accredited GOtv shop or agent is the oldest method and still works perfectly.
(iii) Bank USSD Codes: Most major Nigerian banks allow GOtv payments via USSD. You dial a code, enter your IUC number, select your package, and confirm. It works without the internet.
(iv) Third-Party Payment Apps: This is where modern bill payment platforms like Kwikpik come in, with flexible options available.
How to Pay GOtv Subscription on Kwikpik
1. Download the Kwikpik app from your Play Store or App Store.
2. Create an account.
3. Once done, on the homescreen, click on “Cable TV”.
4. Next, select the “Cable Provider, Smart Card Number / IUC Number, the Package Plan,” and “Phone Number.”
5. After inserting all the details, click on “Continue to Payment.”
6. Confirm the transaction by using your transaction code or biometrics data (fingerprint).
7. You’ll receive your purchased data.
How to Automate Your GOtv Subscription
After following through from steps 1 to 4, do these:
8. Once done, you’ll see an “Automate this bill” toggle; click it on.
9. After toggling it on, you’ll see a drop-down that reads “Trigger type”; click on it.
10. Next, select how you want the automation to run, either “frequency-based” [set up recurring payments (daily, weekly, monthly)] or by custom order, which is to schedule at a specific “date and time”.
(a) For frequency-based, after you’ve selected it, click the “drop-down" and select how you want the frequency. Do the same for the day of the month you want.
(b) For custom order [date and time], select the date and time of your choice.
11. Finally, after selecting any of the automations of your choice, click "Save” to save your automation.
💡 Note: Don’t click on “continue to payment” if you don’t intend to make any purchase.
What to Do If Your GOtv Does Not Activate After Payment
💡 Do not factory/hard reset (via the decoder itself); this will reset the decoder to its default settings, and you will need to rescan your channels after the reset is complete. This type of reset erases all your settings and channels, so you may need to set the decoder up again afterwards.
1. Make Sure Your Decoder Is Switched On
This is the most common reason GOtv does not activate immediately after payment. GOtv activates automatically when the decoder is powered on at the time of payment. If your decoder was off when the payment was processed, activation may not have triggered automatically. Turn the decoder on and wait 10–15 minutes to see if it reconnects on its own.
2. Wait Up to 30 Minutes
If your decoder was already on, give it up to 30 minutes after payment confirmation before taking any further action. Network congestion on GOtv's end, especially around month-end when large numbers of subscribers are renewing, can cause slight delays in activation signals. Most times, it resolves itself.
3. Verify Your IUC Number
Double-check that the payment was made to the correct IUC number. Your IUC is printed on your decoder box (usually a 10-digit number). If you entered the wrong IUC number during payment, the subscription went to a different account. Contact GOtv customer care to resolve a wrong IUC payment.
4. Send a Reset SMS
If the decoder is on but still not activating after 30 minutes, send an SMS with the word Reset followed by a space and your IUC number to 4688 (e.g., "Reset 7012345678"). This triggers a manual reconnection signal from GOtv's end. Your decoder should reconnect within a few minutes of sending this.
5. Reset via USSD
Dial *288# on your mobile phone. This gives you access to GOtv's self-service options, including balance check, transaction history, and decoder reset.
6. Reset Online
Visit the GOtv self-service portal, log in with your IUC number and surname, navigate to "Clear Error Code," select E16 (the most common disconnection error), and click "Reset Device Now" with your decoder switched on. This usually resolves persistent activation issues.
7. Call GOtv Customer Care
If none of the above steps work, call GOtv Nigeria customer care directly on 0803 904 4688. Have your IUC number and proof of payment ready when you call.
Conclusion
GOtv remains one of the most accessible and budget-friendly television options for Nigerian households, offering a range of packages that cater to different viewing needs and budgets. Regardless if you are a casual viewer happy with local content or a dedicated football fan who needs SuperSport access, there is a plan designed for you.
The most common question has always been the payment process, but that is no longer the obstacle it once was.
Between the MyGOtv app, bank USSD codes, authorised agents, and modern platforms like Kwikpik, you have multiple convenient routes to keep your subscription active.
Better still, automation features mean you can set up recurring payments and completely eliminate the monthly stress of remembering to renew.
And if things ever go wrong after a payment, the troubleshooting steps covered here will give you a clear path to getting back on track quickly.
Pay Your GOtv Once or Never Pay Manually Again with Kwikpik
You have two options with Kwikpik, and both are better than the current way most Nigerians are paying.
Option A: Pay once, right now.
Open Kwikpik, select GOtv, enter your IUC number, choose your package, and pay. Done in under two minutes. Your subscription activates, you get a confirmation, and you go back to watching.
Option B: Set it and forget it.
Schedule your GOtv renewal to happen automatically every month. Your wallet gets charged, your subscription renews, you get a notification, and you never have to think about GOtv payment again.
Kwikpik supports GOtv, DStv, electricity, data, airtime, and more, all in one app for every recurring bill.
Download Kwikpik today and pay your GOtv subscription the way it should have always worked… Fast, from your phone, on your schedule.
