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 as Roku does not primarily produce content. Instead, it acts as a gateway that brings 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. Since then, it has become a dominant player in the shift from traditional cable TV to Internet-based viewing.
Its devices and operating system are now embedded in a large number of smart TVs, especially in the United States (US), making it an important 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 move to acquire Roku has raised questions throughout the media industry, with many viewers now asking why it has become such a valuable target.
Fox Corporation, as owner Fox News, Fox Sports, and its broadcast networks, has actively sought 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 larger distribution platform, but also to a direct pipeline to viewership data and advertising infrastructure.
Simply put, Roku serves as the home screen for modern TV, and controlling it would allow Fox to influence how content is discovered, promoted and monetized across connected TVs.
The massive multi-billion 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 shifts in control of television distribution in recent years.
Neither Fox Corp nor Roku has officially confirmed the purchase.
