DOJ issues second request for Fox Roku acquisition review documents

The DOJ's deeper probe suggests that vertical integration between a major content owner and a dominant hardware platform remains a primary regulatory concern. If Fox gains control over the Roku OS, it could theoretically manipulate the streaming gateway to favor Tubi or its linear networks, disrupting the neutral discovery environment that third-party apps rely on for distribution. This scrutiny reflects a broader ecosystem shift where platform ownership is viewed as a significant competitive lever in the advertising market. Industry observers should watch for specific divestiture requirements or behavioral remedies regarding data usage before the deal's projected close in early 2027.

Roku's position as the leading connected-TV operating system in the United States is central to why regulators are scrutinizing the Fox deal. The company's platform accounted for roughly 25% of all connected-TV device hours streamed in the U.S. during the first half of 2026, according to Nielsen's Gauge measurement, making it the single largest gateway for streaming content distribution. That scale gives the Roku OS outsized influence over which apps and services viewers discover, a dynamic the DOJ is examining closely in the context of Fox's ownership of Tubi and its linear broadcast networks.

The DOJ's second request echoes its approach to other vertical mergers in media and technology. In 2025, the agency challenged Live Nation's dominance in concert ticketing by arguing that vertical control over venues and promotion distorted competition, a case that ultimately resulted in a structural remedy. Legal analysts have drawn parallels between that matter and the Fox-Roku situation, noting that both involve a content or service provider acquiring a distribution chokepoint. The DOJ's antitrust division under the current administration has shown willingness to pursue behavioral conditions alongside structural divestitures, and Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch told investors in August 2026 that the company expects to satisfy regulatory concerns without selling off any assets, though the second request suggests the agency is not yet convinced.

Competitive dynamics among rival streaming platforms add urgency to the regulatory review. Amazon's Fire TV and Apple TV both operate their own hardware and content ecosystems, but neither has faced a comparable antitrust challenge because their content arms (Amazon MGM Studios and Apple TV+) hold smaller market shares than Fox's combined portfolio would post-merger. Roku's advertising revenue grew 28% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026, reaching $1.4 billion, underscoring the financial stakes of controlling the platform's ad inventory and data signals. If the DOJ determines that Fox could use Roku's first-party viewing data to give Tubi preferential placement or to disadvantage competing ad-supported services like Pluto TV or Peacock, the agency may impose data-firewall requirements or mandate neutral algorithmic curation as conditions for approval.