Roku is one of the most widely used streaming platforms in the world, powering smart TVs and streaming devices.
The platform is different from Netflix or Disney because Roku does not primarily produce content. Instead, it functions as a gateway, bringing together apps like YouTube, Netflix, and other streaming services into a single interface for users.
The company was founded in 2002 and launched its first streaming player in 2008. It has since become a dominant player in the shift from traditional cable television to Internet viewing.
Its devices and operating system are now integrated into a large number of smart TVs, particularly in the United States, making it a key entry point for how audiences consume digital content.
In addition to its hardware, the streaming giant has also built a powerful advertising and data ecosystem that tracks viewing habits, user preferences and engagement patterns across millions of accounts.
This information has made it one of the most important companies in the connected TV advertising space.
Fox Corporation’s reported $22 billion acquisition of Roku has raised questions across the media industry, with many viewers now wondering why the company has become such a valuable target.
Fox Corporation, which owns Fox News, Fox Sports, and its broadcast network, is actively seeking to strengthen its position in the streaming era as traditional television continues to lose viewers.
A potential acquisition of Roku would give Fox access not only to a major distribution platform, but also a direct pipeline to viewer data and advertising infrastructure.
Simply put, Roku functions like the home screen of modern TV, and controlling it would allow Fox to influence how content is discovered, promoted and monetized on connected TVs.
The massive multibillion-dollar valuation reflects Roku’s strategic importance in the ongoing battle between traditional media companies and streaming platforms. If completed, the deal would represent one of the most significant changes in control over television distribution in recent years.
Neither Fox Corp nor Roku have officially confirmed the acquisition.
