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Fox\u2019s $22 billion plan to buy Roku<\/a> has hit a new hurdle.<\/p>\n The Justice Department sent Fox and Roku what\u2019s known as a \u201csecond request<\/a>\u201d on Tuesday, asking the companies to turn over more data and documents as it takes a closer look at the deal. That\u2019s a fairly standard step in a major antitrust review, but it also means the DOJ has more questions than it could answer from the companies\u2019 initial filings.<\/p>\n Semafor<\/a> was first to report the investigation. We reached out to Fox for comment.<\/p>\n While a second request doesn\u2019t mean the DOJ is preparing to block the deal, it does signal that regulators want a much closer look at how it could affect competition and consumers before deciding whether to clear it.<\/p>\n There\u2019s plenty for them to examine, as it\u2019s believed to be more than just a typical media acquisition. Fox owns a huge collection of news, sports, and entertainment content, as well as Tubi, its free, ad-supported streaming service. Roku, meanwhile, operates one of the biggest platforms sitting between viewers and that content. Its operating system is built into millions of TVs and streaming devices, giving the company significant influence over how consumers discover and watch streaming services.<\/p>\n That raises obvious questions for Roku\u2019s competitors, such as whether a Fox-owned Roku would give Fox\u2019s services more prominent placement, if Fox would use Roku\u2019s data to strengthen its advertising business, and if rival streaming services will be pushed lower on the home screen or otherwise receive less favorable treatment.<\/p>\n Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch has tried to<\/a> reassure competitors, saying he expects the two businesses to operate separately.<\/p>\n The investigation also comes as the DOJ has faced criticism over how it handles major mergers, including questions about political influence. For instance, Paramount\u2019s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery sparked criticism<\/a> because CEO David Ellison\u2019s father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has close ties to President Trump. Critics argued that the deal\u2019s approval has raised questions about political favoritism.<\/p>\n How the DOJ handles the Fox-Roku deal could be an important test of how closely it reviews politically sensitive mergers. Taking a closer look at Fox and Roku could help show that the DOJ isn\u2019t giving politically connected companies a free pass. That\u2019s especially notable given the Murdochs\u2019 ties to President Trump and the DOJ\u2019s scrutiny over other media deals involving Trump allies.<\/p>\n The deal is expected to close sometime in the first half of 2027.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission<\/a>. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n