DOJ Expands Antitrust Review of Fox's $22 Billion Roku Acquisition
The U.S. Justice Department has issued a second request for information as it deepens its antitrust probe of Fox Corp.'s planned purchase of Roku, amid concerns rivals may face preferential treatment.
The Justice Department announced it will issue a “second request” for additional data and documents from Fox Corp. and Roku as part of its ongoing antitrust review of Fox’s $22 billion acquisition of the streaming platform. The request, a routine step in merger investigations, signals the agency’s skepticism about the deal’s impact on consumer access to streaming content.
Industry observers have warned that combining Fox’s news and sports assets with Roku’s widely used connected-TV operating system could give Fox an advantage in promoting its own programming over rival services. Roku’s free, ad-supported channel competes directly with Fox-owned streaming service Tubi.
Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said his “expectation” is to keep the two businesses separate while selling advertising across both platforms. A Fox spokesperson declined to comment, and the DOJ also declined to provide details.
The review comes as the DOJ’s antitrust division faces criticism over its handling of high-profile mergers. Scrutinizing deals that affect consumer costs may help address some of that criticism.
The acquisition would give Fox access to Roku’s audience of roughly 100 million households and its viewing data, potentially allowing the company to tailor its programming more precisely. Fox’s cable news division continues to generate strong cash flow, though it faces challenges attracting younger viewers amid an aging core audience.