Fox completes $22 billion acquisition of Roku
The deal gives Fox control of a streaming platform that reaches more than 100 million US households, and Roku's founder says its open approach to content partners will stay.
Fox has completed its $22 billion acquisition of Roku, giving it control of a streaming platform that reaches more than 100 million US households. The deal was first announced in June and is meant to let Fox bring its sports programming, news content and local stations onto the Roku platform. Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch has said he expects viewership in the US to grow from combining Roku's technology and platform with Fox content, including the content on The Roku Channel. Fox already runs its own Fox One streaming service and the free streamer Tubi. Roku's founder, Anthony Wood, says the company's open approach to content partners will remain, and he now sits on Fox's board of directors.
Why it matters
For viewers, the change is that Fox sports, news and local stations can now be carried directly on Roku's platform, which Fox says should lift US viewing. For Roku's other content partners, the founder's commitment to staying open to every partner is the key assurance, and Anthony Wood's seat on Fox's board ties the two companies more closely. The deal brings a large streaming audience under the control of a major broadcaster, so how Roku's open model holds up under Fox ownership is what readers should watch.
Matters or hype?
Does this story matter, or is it hype? Vote before you see what everyone else said.