Content & Catalog
What to watch on Arise Play?
Content TypesMovies · Series · Documentaries · Kids · Originals
SubtitlesEnglish
Subscription VODWorks with VPNUpdated June 15, 2026
Reviewed by Vladimir Uhlik · Affiliate DisclosureOur website contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
How to Watch Arise Play from Anywhere: VPN Guide 2026
Arise Play comes from the same Lagos newsroom that runs Arise News and THISDAY, which gives this Nigerian streaming service an editorial edge most rivals lack. It launched worldwide back in 2021 under founder Nduka Obaigbena, and it blends Nollywood drama with Hollywood films, kids programming, and series licensed from BBC Studios, Sony Pictures, and homegrown distributor FilmOne. Trying to stream Arise Play while you travel runs into a geo lock that reads your IP address and shuts the catalog down.
The fix is simple for the diaspora. ExpressVPN moves your device location back to Nigeria, so the app sees a home IP and the full library opens up, originals included. You still pay for this subscription service yourself, and the exact price shows up at signup once the free trial ends. The website and the Android app are both solid, on iPhone you fall back to a browser, and playback reaches up to 1080p.
10
Countries
1080p
Max quality
7 of 7
VPNs work
2-3 min
Ready in
Quick answer
Can I watch Arise Play from anywhere?
Yes, with a Nigerian IP. Install ExpressVPN, connect to a server in Lagos, then open the website or the Android app. The geo filter reads a home address and unlocks the whole catalog, from Nollywood titles to BBC Studios series. You create the account and pay the subscription yourself, and the price appears at signup. The iOS app was pulled, so on an iPhone use a browser instead.
VPN Compatibility
Best VPN for Arise Play
Tested weekly by our team. Green: works, amber: partial, red: blocked.
| VPN Service | Price | Arise Play | Tested | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 ExpressVPNBEST | From $2.79/mo | ✓ Works | July 5 | Try it |
 NordVPN | From $2.99/mo | ✓ Works | July 4 | Open |
 Surfshark | From $1.78/mo | ✓ Works | July 5 | Open |
 CyberGhost | From $1.75/mo | ✓ Works | June 30 | Open |
 IPVanish | From $2.19/mo | ✓ Works | June 30 | Open |
 ProtonVPN | From $3.59/mo | ✓ Works | July 4 | Open |
 Private Internet Access | From $1.79/mo | ✓ Works | July 6 | Open |
✓ WorksTested July 5
✓ WorksTested July 4
✓ WorksTested July 5
✓ WorksTested June 30
✓ WorksTested June 30
✓ WorksTested July 4
✓ WorksTested July 6
Tested on July 6, 2026 · 7 VPNs, 7 working · residential IP from Nigeria · Arise Play updates detection continuously, results may change.
Streaming service blocking your VPN? Just disconnect and hop onto a different server in the same country. Stick to the ones labeled “streaming” or “optimized” because they’re literally built for this.
How-to
How to Unblock Arise Play with a VPN
Takes about 2 minutes. Works on your phone, tablet, TV, PC, or laptop.
- Pick a reliable VPNGo with ExpressVPN, which keeps fast servers inside Nigeria. Annual billing runs From $2.79/mo. Skip free VPNs, they rarely offer a Nigerian location and choke on data caps.A yearly plan beats paying month to month.
- Connect to NigeriaIn the VPN app, choose a Nigerian server, ideally Lagos. That hands you a home IP address the geo filter treats as local and lets the catalog through.
- Open Arise PlayLoad ariseplay.com or the Android app, sign in, and finish signup. The plan and price are shown right there once the trial ends.
- Start streamingPick a film or series and stream at up to 1080p. If the picture stutters, switch to a closer Nigerian node and give the app a moment to reconnect.
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Availability
Which countries is Arise Play available in?
Arise Play works in 10 countries, including in the United States, in the United Kingdom, in Australia, in Canada and in New Zealand. In 184 more it is blocked, and outside available regions you will need a VPN.
Available in 10 countries No VPN needed
Arise Play works without a VPN in the United States, in the United Kingdom, in Australia, in Canada, in New Zealand, in Ireland and in South Africa, plus in 3 more countries.
Blocked in 184 countries VPN required
Show all 172 more countries
ArgentinaArmeniaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana
British Virgin Islands
BruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCongoCongo (DRC)Costa RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFijiFinlandGabonGambiaGeorgiaGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHungaryIcelandIndonesiaIranIraqIsraelItalyJamaicaJordanKazakhstanKiribatiKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNicaraguaNigerNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSão Tomé and PríncipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTuvaluUAEUgandaUkraineUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamYemenZambiaZimbabweArise Play is blocked in Germany, in France, in Japan, in India and in the Netherlands, plus in 179 more countries. To access it, use a premium VPN like ExpressVPN.
Available
Blocked / unavailable
Last tested: June 18, 2026
Steer clear of free VPNs. Most of them actually collect and sell your data, lack proper security audits, and can even expose you to malware. They’re also useless for streaming. Platforms block them instantly, leaving you with more headaches than solutions. Stick to paid VPNs with verified audits, like ExpressVPN, if you want something that actually works.
About the platform
Who’s behind the service?
What is Arise Play
Arise Play is a Nigerian subscription streaming service from Arise Media Group, the company built by Nduka Obaigbena that also owns the THISDAY newspaper and Arise News. It launched worldwide in 2021. The catalogue mixes Hollywood and Nollywood films with documentaries, kids content and its own ArisePlay Originals, alongside licensed titles from partners such as Sony Pictures, FilmOne and BBC Studios, including Luther, Small Axe and Famalam. You watch on the web and on Android. Note that the streaming service is a separate product from the group’s Arise News channel, even though they share a brand and an owner.
Company and history
Major changes
- Arise Media Group launched the streaming service worldwide with a Nollywood and Hollywood lineup, backed by a declared 100 million dollar seed funding round aimed at original productions.
- The platform reported 10,000 subscribers in its first 24 hours and set a target of 100,000 within the first month, one of the sharper launches in African streaming.
- Alongside the BBC, licensing partnerships with Sony Pictures and local distributor FilmOne anchored the catalog from the start, pairing African stories with Hollywood blockbusters.
- BBC Studios signed a major licensing deal with the service, bringing Nigerian viewers shows such as Luther, the Small Axe anthology, and the comedy Famalam.
- The iOS app disappeared from the App Store, pushing iPhone viewing into the browser, while the website and the Android build remained the main routes to the catalog.
- Group founder Nduka Obaigbena announced LekeeLekee, a new African platform and a separate project from the streaming service, framed as a response to global tech dominance.
- LekeeLekee went live across the App Store, Google Play, the web, and as a progressive web app. It is the founder's separate venture, not the Arise Play streaming service itself.
Still can’t open Arise Play where you are?
Connect ExpressVPN, pick a supported country, and you’re streaming Arise Play in minutes, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Devices & Quality
Watch on all your devices
Supported devices
Video quality
1080pHDRDolby VisionDolby Atmos
Insider Tips
Tips & tricks you should know
5 tips from our Arise Play testing team · Updated June 18, 2026
- Start with the 30-day free trial first, since pricing stays hidden behind login and only appears at sign-up once the trial ends.
- Outside Nigeria the catalogue is trimmed by licensing, so connect through ExpressVPN to a Nigerian server to unlock the full Hollywood and Nollywood lineup.
- Dig into the licensed library for BBC Studios titles like Luther and Small Axe, supplied alongside Sony Pictures and FilmOne films.
- Set up a dedicated kids profile to lock viewing to the children's section with shows such as Hey Duggee, keeping the main catalogue out of reach.
- On a capped mobile plan, switch on data-saver mode so Arise Play optimises the stream and burns through far less of your allowance.
Alternatives
Other services you can watch
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before subscribing to Arise Play.
Not really. The Arise Play catalog is tied to a Nigerian IP, so outside the country you see a thin lineup or nothing at all. Connect ExpressVPN to a Nigerian server and the app treats you as a local viewer, opening the full library including BBC Studios series. Diaspora viewers who try Prime Video Naija for African content still need a VPN to reach the original catalog.
It is run by Arise Media Group, based in Lagos, the same outfit behind the Arise News channel and THISDAY newspaper. The founder is Nduka Obaigbena. Do not confuse Arise Play with Arise News or with LekeeLekee, a separate platform the same founder announced later. ExpressVPN helps you reach the group’s on-demand catalog while you travel.
The exact price and plan only appear at signup after the free trial, so check inside the app for current rates. Arise Play is a paid subscription service that you pay for yourself. ExpressVPN does not change the subscription price, it simply moves your location to Nigeria so you can register and see the catalog in full from anywhere.
The website at ariseplay.com and the Android app are the reliable routes. The iOS app was pulled from the App Store, so on an iPhone or iPad use a browser instead. It pays to set up ExpressVPN at the system level or on your router, so a Nigerian IP covers every screen at once, from phone to an Android TV.
The mix runs from Nollywood drama and Hollywood films to kids programming and Arise Play Originals. Licensing from BBC Studios added British series such as Luther, the Small Axe anthology, and the comedy Famalam. Sony Pictures and FilmOne round it out with blockbusters. With ExpressVPN you see this lineup in full no matter where you are traveling.
A reputable VPN encrypts your connection and hides your location, a legal privacy tool. ExpressVPN also keeps fast servers, so picture quality holds up. Avoid free VPNs, they often log data and lack a Nigerian location. Arise Play billing follows the same logic as other diaspora-friendly services like Prime Video Naija, you pay the subscription yourself.
The app reads your IP address, and if it does not match Nigeria the catalog locks. This can happen even with a VPN on when a server leaks DNS or the Nigerian node drops. Switch to another Nigerian endpoint in ExpressVPN, clear your browser cache, and try again. A quick app restart after reconnecting usually clears it.
Over roughly the past twelve months Arise Play has not announced a major in-house release. Founder Nduka Obaigbena instead unveiled LekeeLekee in November 2025, which went live in early 2026, but that is a separate venture. To reach the streaming service’s existing catalog from abroad, connect ExpressVPN to Nigeria.
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