Fox closes Roku purchase months ahead of schedule after antitrust review

Fox has finished acquiring Roku in a deal valued at $22 billion, according to TechCrunch. The transaction places the streaming company, founded in 2002, fully under Fox ownership and ranks among the largest media deals of recent years.

A larger television business

Fox says the merged company is now the third-largest television business in the United States when measured by viewership. The main prize for the broadcaster is Roku's audience, which reaches more than 100 million households.

Fox expects that audience to support three goals: more precise advertising targeting, a stronger position in the expanding connected TV market, and less dependence on traditional television distribution.

Roku founder Anthony Wood said the company's mission of improving how people watch TV stays the same, adding: "What does change is our reach and resources." He said Roku's teams would continue developing products with Fox's backing.

Regulatory scrutiny and an early close

The completion follows a period of review by the U.S. Justice Department. About two months before the announcement, antitrust investigators issued a second request for information, asking both companies for further data and documents. Reports earlier this month indicated the deal was close to receiving regulatory clearance.

The closing came well ahead of the original timeline. When the companies first announced the agreement in June, they said they expected to complete it in the first half of 2027.

What it means for streaming and connected TV

For people following the computers and internet space, the deal shows how internet-delivered television is becoming central to traditional broadcasters. Connected TV platforms combine streaming software, hardware and advertising data, and ownership of such platforms is increasingly concentrated among large media groups. Viewers, app developers and advertisers who rely on streaming platforms may want to watch for changes in how content, ads and data are handled as the combined company integrates its operations.