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DOJ Issues Second Request on Fox-Roku Merger
By Drooid · · How we work
DOJ Issues Second Request on Fox-Roku Merger
On September 8, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a “second request” for additional information from Fox Corp. and Roku as part of its antitrust review of Fox’s proposed $22 billion acquisition of the streaming platform. The request extends the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period by 30 days after the companies substantially comply, preventing the deal from closing during that time. Fox and Roku reiterated that they still expect the transaction to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory clearance and shareholder approval, as noted in filings on September 9.
Deal Background and Market Concerns
Fox announced the acquisition in June, agreeing to pay $160 per Roku share—about $14.2 billion in cash and the balance in Fox Class A common stock. Roku operates a streaming platform with more than 100 million monthly active users, while Fox owns news, sports, entertainment assets and the ad-supported service Tubi. Analysts have questioned whether Fox-owned services could receive preferential placement on Roku’s operating system, advertising business, or content-discovery tools. Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch has said the two services will remain separate, describing them as “incredibly complementary.”
Official Statements & Responses
Fox filed a statement saying the companies will continue cooperating with the DOJ and remain confident the merger will proceed. Murdoch told investors in June, “If you look at Tubi and The Roku Channel together, they are incredibly complementary services.”
Industry Commentary
Ray Seilie, an entertainment attorney at Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir, noted, “It doesn’t mean that their review is going to be more extensive than usual.” He pointed to a similar second request during the DOJ’s review of Paramount Skydance’s purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, which ultimately received approval.
Bryan Sullivan, a partner at Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae, warned, “You never know what Trump is going to seize on and decide he wants to do,” suggesting the president’s recent criticism of Fox’s handling of anchor Maria Bartiromo could influence the agency’s scrutiny.
