Fox Completes Roku Acquisition: Smart Home Devices Axed and App Changes Ahead

Fox has officially finalized its acquisition of Roku following initial merger announcements back in June. While current Roku TV and streaming player owners will not face an overnight overhaul of their devices, the platform is set to pivot toward Fox properties. According to Justice Department conditions, Roku will maintain some home screen customization and neutral search results, but co-chair Anthony Wood confirmed that Fox apps and content will receive increased visibility and promotional placement on the main interface.

Behind the scenes, streaming services are undergoing structural shifts under the new ownership. Ad-supported platforms Tubi and the Roku Channel will remain under separate management structures for now, with Tubi falling under Fox’s Direct-To-Consumer division led by Pete Distad, while the Roku Channel stays under Mustafa Ozgen. Meanwhile, budget-friendly pay-TV bundle Frndly TV—acquired by Roku last year—will now be managed directly by Fox alongside Tubi, hinting at future content cross-pollination and bundle opportunities.

On the hardware front, Roku is officially stepping away from the smart home market it entered in back in 2022. Having relied heavily on a Wyze partnership for security cameras and connected devices, Roku has decided to halt new hardware development. While existing products will continue to receive software support, current inventory is nearly depleted, leaving smart home early adopters with limited options for future system expansions. Additionally, software changes are rolling out, including the discontinuation of the popular Aquatic Life screensaver on December 1 due to licensing changes tied to the merger.