DOJ seeks more answers on Fox's $22B Roku acquisition

The U.S. Department of Justice has intensified its oversight of Fox's ambitious plan to acquire Roku in a massive $22 billion deal. The latest development unfolded on Tuesday, September 9, 2026, when antitrust regulators sent the companies what is formally known as a second request, demanding additional data and documents to aid in their ongoing evaluation.

While issuing a second request is a standard procedural step in major antitrust reviews, it clearly indicates that regulatory officials still harbor unresolved questions that initial filings failed to satisfy. Semafor was the first publication to report on the investigation, and TechCrunch reached out directly to Fox seeking an official comment regarding the regulatory hurdle.

A second request does not automatically imply that the DOJ is gearing up to block the transaction outright. However, it strongly signals that regulators intend to conduct a much deeper examination of how the merger could impact market competition and consumer choice before granting clearance.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Regulators have plenty of complex factors to analyze, as the transaction is widely viewed as extending beyond a typical media acquisition. Fox commands a vast portfolio encompassing news, sports, and entertainment content, alongside its free ad-supported streaming service, Tubi. Meanwhile, Roku operates one of the most dominant gatekeeper platforms sitting between viewers and content, with its operating system embedded in millions of televisions and streaming devices, giving the company substantial sway over how consumers discover and consume streaming services.

This dynamic naturally generates pressing concerns for Roku's competitors. Key questions involve whether a Fox-operated Roku would grant preferential placement to Fox's own services, whether Fox might leverage Roku's user data to supercharge its advertising business, and whether competing streaming apps might find themselves relegated to lower positions on the home screen or subjected to unfavorable treatment.

In an effort to calm industry jitters, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch has attempted to reassure competitors by stating his expectation that the two entities will continue to operate independently.

The investigation also arrives as the DOJ faces external criticism regarding its handling of other high-profile corporate mergers, including questions surrounding political influence. For instance, Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery drew sharp criticism because CEO David Ellison's father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, maintains close ties to President Trump, prompting accusations of political favoritism.

"I expect the two businesses to operate separately."

Lachlan Murdoch, Fox CEO

How the DOJ handles the Fox-Roku transaction could serve as a vital stress test for its oversight of politically sensitive media mergers. Taking a meticulous approach to Fox and Roku helps demonstrate that regulators are not granting a free pass to politically connected enterprises—a particularly notable stance given the Murdochs' ties to President Trump and ongoing scrutiny over parallel media deals involving presidential allies.

The transaction is currently anticipated to reach completion sometime during the first half of 2027.

Source: TechCrunch