The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has requested additional information from Fox and Roku as part of its antitrust review of Fox’s proposed $22 billion acquisition of the streaming platform, according to a regulatory filing published this week.
On Wednesday, Fox disclosed both companies received what is known as a “second request” from the DOJ on September 8, requiring them to provide additional documents and information tied to the transaction.
The request extends the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act until 30 days after Fox and Roku substantially comply with the government’s demands, preventing the companies from closing the deal during that period.
Fox said the companies will continue cooperating with the Justice Department and still expect the transaction to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory clearance and shareholder approval.
The review is expected to focus in part on how Fox would operate Roku’s streaming platform alongside its own digital businesses, including Tubi.
Roku operates one of the largest streaming television platforms in the United States, with more than 100 million monthly active users, while Fox owns a broad portfolio of news, sports and entertainment assets along with Tubi, its free, ad-supported streaming service.
That combination has raised questions among competitors and analysts about whether Fox-owned services could receive preferential placement or other advantages within Roku’s operating system, advertising business or content discovery tools.
Fox Chief Executive Officer Lachlan Murdoch has previously said he expects Tubi and The Roku Channel to remain separate after the merger.
“If you look at Tubi and The Roku Channel together, they are incredibly complementary services,” Murdoch told investors in June. “It’s too early to say, but our expectation is fully that you keep the services separate. They serve consumers and our viewers in different ways.”
Fox agreed in June to acquire Roku for $160 per share, with approximately $14.2 billion of the purchase price to be paid in cash and the remainder in Fox Class A common stock.
The deal would significantly expand Fox’s streaming and digital advertising footprint while giving the company control of Roku’s operating system, connected television advertising business and subscription distribution platform.
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