STOCKS | Fox's $22 Billion Roku Deal Reportedly Poised to Clear U.S. Antitrust Review

On November 3, reports said Fox's proposed $22 billion acquisition of Roku could win U.S. Department of Justice antitrust approval, potentially under a consent decree with specific conditions. According to Sina Finance, the DOJ currently leans toward allowing the deal to proceed, although the conditions have not been determined and regulators could still change their position. The transaction would combine Fox's news and sports content businesses with Roku's smart TV operating system, prompting competitors to raise concerns about market fairness. They worry Fox could use Roku's platform advantage to prioritize its programs and streaming services. Roku's free, ad-supported streaming channel also competes directly with Fox-owned Tubi. Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch previously said he expected the businesses to operate independently while allowing cross-platform ad sales. Chris Ruddy, a Trump ally and major Newsmax shareholder, has publicly opposed the deal. His objections, amid a long-running dispute with Fox over streaming content distribution, have added to regulatory pressure. The DOJ previously broadened its investigation and issued a second request for information to both parties. The review process had raised investor concerns that the deal could be delayed or fail.