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How to Enable and Use GOTV on a Counter-Strike 2 Community Server

A practical CS2 GOTV guide covering tv_enable, the UDP TV port, server.cfg, map changes, viewer connections, demo recording, relays and troubleshooting.

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Enable GOTV (the SourceTV spectator system) by starting your dedicated Counter-Strike 2 server with +tv_enable 1, selecting a UDP TV port (the commonly used default is 27020), and then restarting or changing the map. Put presentation, delay, password and viewer-limit settings in server.cfg. After the next level load, verify the TV instance with status or tv_status, open the selected UDP port in your firewall, and have viewers connect to the server address and TV port.

The names of many GOTV cvars are inherited from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but Valve can change cvars between CS2 builds. Treat optional settings as build-dependent and confirm them with your server’s live cvar list.

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What GOTV does on a CS2 community server

GOTV is a server-side spectator feed. It lets viewers watch a live match without occupying a player slot, subject to the TV client limit and any password you set. The master server creates the feed; a separate relay can later connect to that master and distribute viewers from another machine.

GOTV is not the same as a player joining through the normal game-server port. The game server and the TV feed use separate connections, so a viewer needs the TV port, a route through the firewall and any TV password. A TV delay can also keep the broadcast behind live play, which is important for competitive matches.

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What this setup does not guarantee

  • Community reports indicate that the GOTV bot may not appear until a new map loads after the setting is enabled.
  • The in-game “Watch Game in Progress” menu has no confirmed, general-purpose behavior for custom community servers. Do not rely on that menu; use a direct TV connection instead.
  • Most familiar cvars exist because they originated in SourceTV or CS:GO, but some may be removed, renamed or ignored by a particular CS2 build.

Before changing the server

Access and files

  • Administrative access to the dedicated server, its startup command or hosting panel.
  • Permission to edit the instance’s server.cfg (or the equivalent configuration file loaded by your server).
  • Firewall access for the chosen UDP TV port.
  • A way to restart the instance or issue a map change after editing the configuration.
  • Enough disk space if you plan to record demos, and enough CPU, memory and network capacity for your expected audience.

Choose a TV port

27020 is the commonly reported default UDP GOTV port. Use another unused UDP port if that port is occupied or your host assigns ports differently. Set the port at startup with a +tv_port parameter; this is the safer approach because reports conflict about whether changing tv_port at runtime takes effect reliably.

Write down the complete endpoint as server-address:tv-port. The ordinary gameplay port and the TV port are different, and opening only the gameplay port will not make the feed reachable.

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Enable GOTV step by step

1. Add the activation and port to the startup command

Add these parameters to the command that launches the CS2 dedicated server:

+tv_enable 1 +tv_port 27020

If you use a shell script, container entrypoint or hosting panel, place the parameters in that tool’s additional launch-options field. Keep the port value consistent with the UDP firewall rule and with the address you give viewers.

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Some environments expose an equivalent environment variable or toggle. If a panel provides a TV-enable switch, set it to enabled (the value is commonly represented as 1) and still verify the resulting command line or console output. Do not assume that a panel’s label proves the cvar was applied.

2. Add stable presentation and access settings to server.cfg

Use a configuration block like this as a starting point:

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tv_name "Community Server GOTV"
tv_title "Live community match"
tv_delay 90
tv_password "choose-a-tv-password"
tv_maxclients 20
tv_advertise_watchable 1

Replace the name, title, password and viewer limit with values appropriate for your server. A 90-second delay is common in competitive-style configurations, but it is a policy choice rather than a CS2 requirement. If you do not want a password, remove the tv_password line rather than leaving a predictable sample value in place.

tv_advertise_watchable 1 is intended to advertise the feed to the game’s watch interface. External clients still need a reachable TV port, and the behavior of the in-game interface on custom servers is not consistently confirmed.

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3. Restart or load a new map

Restart the server after changing startup options. If you edited only server.cfg, perform a map change after the configuration has loaded. Community reports say the GOTV bot and feed may not be created until that next level transition.

For a controlled test, change to a known map from the server console using the normal changelevel command. Do this only when interrupting the current match is acceptable.

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Verify that the TV instance exists

Check the server console

  1. Run status in the server console and inspect the listed connections and server information.
  2. Run tv_status if it is available in your build. A working instance should report TV state or viewer information rather than an unknown-command error.
  3. Look for a GOTV spectator entry after the map has loaded. Its exact display text can vary by build.
  4. If neither command recognizes the TV state, inspect the startup log for the effective tv_enable and tv_port values, then check the cvar list for your build.

Test from a separate client

From a client that is not running the match, use the developer console’s normal direct-connect mechanism with the TV endpoint, for example:

connect example-address:27020

Substitute your public server address and selected TV port. If the server is behind a router, forward the TV UDP port to the dedicated-server host. A connection that reaches the gameplay server but not the TV endpoint usually indicates a port, protocol or firewall mismatch rather than a GOTV setting problem.

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GOTV settings you can use after activation

The following cvars are commonly reported for SourceTV-style operation. Availability and behavior should be checked with your CS2 build’s cvar list; optional relay and recording controls have lower confidence than the basic enable and port settings.

Cvar Purpose Practical guidance
tv_name Name shown for the TV feed in server listings or scoreboard-related views. Use a short, recognizable server name.
tv_title Title displayed in the spectator interface. Identify the league, event or community without putting credentials in the title.
tv_delay Broadcast delay in seconds. 90 is often used for competitive-style viewing; choose a different value when your rules require it.
tv_password Password required to view the feed. Use a unique value and distribute it only to intended viewers.
tv_maxclients Maximum number of TV spectators. Raise it only after measuring resource use; more viewers increase server and network load.
tv_advertise_watchable Advertises that the match can be watched through the game UI. Set to 1 when you want advertisement; direct TV connections still require network reachability.
tv_relayvoice Controls whether voice is relayed to viewers. Test on your build before relying on it for event commentary.
tv_relaytextchat Controls relaying text chat. Enable only if your moderation and privacy rules permit it.
tv_snapshotrate TV recording or snapshot tick-rate control. Behavior is build-dependent; change it only while monitoring bandwidth and demo output.

Do not place tv_port in the table as a substitute for the startup option. The safest documented practice for this setup is to choose it when launching the server and leave it unchanged for the running instance.

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Recording a GOTV demo

Manual recording

Once the TV feed is active, start a recording from the server console with a filename:

tv_record match_name

Stop it with:

tv_stoprecord

Use a filename convention that includes the date, map and event, such as 2026-10-14_map_event1. Confirm where your server writes demo files before the first event; the exact directory depends on the server installation and container or host layout.

One community guide reports that a map change may be required once before manual recording works. If tv_record is rejected or creates no file, complete the activation sequence, load a fresh map and try again rather than repeatedly starting recordings during the same level.

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Automatic recording

tv_autorecord 1 is commonly cited for recording every match automatically, but its CS2 behavior is not firmly established across builds. If you enable it, check after one complete match that a usable demo exists, that filenames are unique and that disk usage is bounded. Automatic recording can fill a small volume unexpectedly, especially on a busy server.

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Using relays for larger audiences

A relay is a separate server instance that connects to the master GOTV feed and serves viewers from its own address. Relays can reduce the number of direct viewer connections on the master and place the audience closer to a region or event network.

Basic relay arrangement

  1. Keep GOTV enabled on the master instance and note its reachable TV address and port.
  2. Launch the relay instance with a +tv_relay value pointing to the master’s address and port.
  3. If the master requires one, provide the matching +tv_relaypassword.
  4. Open the relay’s TV port in its firewall and give viewers the relay endpoint instead of the master endpoint.
  5. Check both instances’ status output and test with a client before announcing the relay.

Relay support and parameter syntax can vary between CS2 builds. Do not deploy an undocumented relay-encryption cvar based solely on a third-party guide; verify that feature in the current server’s cvar list or Valve documentation first. A relay also needs its own CPU, memory, bandwidth and monitoring.

Troubleshooting by symptom

No GOTV bot or TV state after enabling it

  • Confirm the effective startup command contains +tv_enable 1, not only a text file that the instance never loads.
  • Confirm the map was restarted or changed after the setting was applied.
  • Run status and tv_status again after the new level finishes loading.
  • Check whether the instance is a relay or a master. The tv_enable setting applies to the master instance; a relay needs its own relay configuration.
  • Use the build’s cvar list to check whether the command is recognized. An unknown command indicates a version or installation issue, not a networking failure.

Viewers time out

  • Verify that the viewer is using the TV port, not the ordinary gameplay port.
  • Confirm the firewall allows UDP on the selected port in both the host firewall and any cloud or router security group.
  • Check that the port is forwarded to the correct private address when the server is behind NAT.
  • Test locally from the same network, then from an external network. A local success followed by an external failure points to routing or firewall policy.
  • Make sure another service is not already bound to the selected port.

The port works only after a restart

Keep tv_port in the startup parameters. Community guidance is inconsistent about live changes, so do not depend on editing the port while the process is running. Restart after changing it and update the firewall and viewer instructions together.

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Viewers connect but see no usable broadcast

  • Wait for the current map to finish loading and confirm a TV spectator appears.
  • Check that the match is not paused at a loading screen or between levels.
  • Lower the viewer count if the server is CPU- or bandwidth-constrained.
  • Check the TV password and remove stale credentials from the client.
  • Inspect tv_delay; a large delay can make a feed appear inactive when it is functioning normally.

Recording commands fail or files are missing

  • Perform the post-activation map change and try tv_record again.
  • Use a simple filename without spaces or path separators.
  • Check write permissions and available disk space for the server process.
  • Verify that automatic recording has not created files in a different directory.
  • Stop a test recording with tv_stoprecord before starting another one with the same name.

Security, privacy and performance checklist

  • Password the feed when necessary: a TV password prevents casual viewers from joining, but it is not a substitute for securing the host or the server’s administrative interfaces.
  • Use a delay for competitive play: spectators who see live positions can provide information to players. Set a delay that matches your event rules.
  • Limit viewers: tv_maxclients should reflect tested CPU, memory and outbound bandwidth, not an arbitrary large number.
  • Protect chat and voice: relayed voice and text can expose player communications or moderation incidents. Enable those features only when the audience and players have been informed.
  • Monitor storage: manual and automatic demos consume disk space over time. Rotate or archive them before the server volume fills.
  • Keep the endpoint private when appropriate: do not publish the TV address or password for a closed practice session.
  • Record the exact build and configuration: when a server update changes cvars, a saved startup line, config file and status output make rollback easier.

CS2-specific limitations to keep in mind

The basic sequence—enable tv_enable, select a startup TV port, reload the map and verify with status commands—is the most consistent community guidance. More specialized controls are less certain because detailed public instructions often describe the older CS:GO implementation. A cvar that appears in a legacy guide may still exist, do nothing or have different behavior in CS2.

Before an important tournament or public broadcast, run a complete rehearsal: start the exact production build, load a fresh map, connect from an external network, test the intended delay, start and stop a demo, and watch CPU, memory, network and disk metrics. If a command is not recognized, remove it from the production configuration rather than allowing an unknown-command warning to be hidden among startup logs.

Quick reference

Task Action
Enable GOTV Add +tv_enable 1 to the server startup options.
Select the TV port Add +tv_port 27020 or another unused UDP port at startup.
Apply the change Restart the server or load a new map.
Verify Run status and, when available, tv_status.
Start a demo Run tv_record filename.
Stop a demo Run tv_stoprecord.
Viewer endpoint Use the public server address followed by the selected TV port.

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