Fox Corporation has officially completed its $22 billion acquisition of Roku, five months after the deal was announced. The merger, cleared by the Trump Justice Department, gives Fox control over a platform reaching more than 100 million households globally. Roku serves as a gateway to streaming services like Netflix, YouTube TV, and Disney+, while also operating the ad-supported Tubi service — a company Fox previously helped fund by selling its Roku shares in 2020.
The acquisition comes amid shifting viewership trends, with Fox News experiencing a 27% year-over-year drop in October, while CNN and MS NOW saw growth. Despite the decline, Fox News still outperforms both competitors combined. Roku founder Anthony Wood will join Fox’s board and co-lead the newly formed Fox Digital Platforms division, which will oversee Roku, Tubi, Fox One, and other digital brands.
Fox has assured that Roku will remain an open platform for all content partners. However, concerns remain over potential political influence, given Fox’s right-wing orientation and the power of the Roku home screen to promote or demote content. The long-term implications for users and content creators are still unclear.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing