Fox’s $22 billion Roku deal poised to clear U.S. antitrust review - Semafor

Fox's $22 billion acquisition of streaming giant Roku is on track to clear U.S. antitrust review and advance under a consent decree, according to Semafor. The deal, which would merge Fox's news and sports content with Roku's connected-TV platform, has faced opposition from a pro-Trump ally, Chris Ruddy of Newsmax. Despite this, the Justice Department's stance remains uncertain, with the possibility of a consent decree still being negotiated.

Fox has declined to comment on the transaction, and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward also declined to discuss the matter. However, Woodward's statement confirmed that the department, under the Trump administration, would continue prioritizing affordability for American consumers. The proposed acquisition has raised concerns among competitors, who worry about Fox potentially giving preferential treatment to its own programming.

Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch has, however, maintained that the two businesses will operate separately, with advertising to be sold across both platforms. The transaction has been intensified by antitrust scrutiny, spurred by Newsmax's Chris Ruddy, who has had a long-standing dispute with Fox over streaming access to his media assets.