Key points about Fox and Roku

Fox acquisition Fox has completed its $22 billion acquisition of Roku, a deal announced in June.
Roku reach Roku serves more than 100 million households worldwide and connects viewers with streaming services and advertising.
Digital leadership Roku founder Anthony Wood will join Fox’s board and co-lead Fox Digital Platforms.
Home screen Fox says Roku will remain an open platform, while questions remain about which content may receive prominence.

Fox’s Roku deal gives the media company ownership of a major streaming platform with more than 100 million households worldwide. This article explains the $22 billion acquisition, Roku’s role in Fox’s digital business and what the ownership change could mean for the Roku home screen.

What does Fox’s $22 billion Roku acquisition include?

Fox has completed its acquisition of Roku, a deal announced in June that received regulatory clearance after a review. Roku brings a large household reach, streaming relationships, advertising and subscription bundles into Fox’s digital portfolio.

Fox’s acquisition makes Roku part of the company’s digital portfolio.

The deal closed about five months after it was announced, a short timeline for a merger of this size. Roku reaches more than 100 million households globally and serves as a gateway to platforms including Netflix, YouTube TV and Disney+.

Streaming access: Roku connects viewers with services including Netflix, YouTube TV and Disney+.
Advertising and bundles: Roku sells ads and subscription bundles.
Owned streaming service: Roku also owns Tubi.

Roku’s advertising, subscription bundles and streaming service give the platform several roles beyond connecting viewers to other services. Fox sold its Roku shares in 2020 to help fund its acquisition of Tubi.

How will Fox manage Roku and its digital brands?

Roku founder Anthony Wood will join Fox’s board and co-lead a newly formed division, Fox Digital Platforms. The division will oversee Roku, Tubi, Fox One and other digital brands.

Fox Digital Platforms will oversee Roku, Tubi, Fox One and other digital brands.

The leadership structure places Roku under a group responsible for several Fox digital businesses. Wood’s board role and co-leadership position connect Roku’s founder with the management of that portfolio.

What could the ownership change mean for Roku users?

The effect on Roku owners is not yet clear. Fox says Roku will remain an “open platform” for every content partner, but the article raises questions about which services or programs may receive more visibility on the home screen.

Roku’s stated open-platform policy leaves the question of home-screen promotion unresolved.

The concern described in the article is less about whether Roku will remove services and more about whether ownership could affect what the platform promotes. That distinction separates access to content from its prominence in Roku’s interface.

How did Fox News viewership compare with other networks?

Fox News viewership fell 27 percent year over year in October, while CNN grew by 3 percent and MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) rose by 16 percent. Despite those changes, Fox News still had more viewers than CNN and MS NOW combined.

Fox News retained a larger audience than CNN and MS NOW combined despite its reported year-over-year decline.

The figures offer context for the article’s discussion of Fox’s media business, but they do not establish how the Roku acquisition will affect audience numbers or platform decisions.

Does Fox own Roku now?

Yes. Fox completed its $22 billion acquisition of Roku after announcing the deal in June.

Fox completed the Roku acquisition for $22 billion.

Will Roku remain an open platform under Fox?

Fox says Roku will remain an open platform for every content partner. The article notes that questions remain about the prominence of content on Roku’s home screen.

Fox says Roku will stay open to every content partner.

How many households does Roku reach?

Roku reaches more than 100 million households globally, according to the article.

Roku serves over 100 million households worldwide.

What role will Anthony Wood have at Fox?

Roku founder Anthony Wood will join Fox’s board and co-lead Fox Digital Platforms, the division overseeing Roku, Tubi, Fox One and other digital brands.

Anthony Wood will help lead Fox’s digital platforms division.