Another major acquisition is shaking up the AV industry. This time it is video-streaming specialist Roku that is being acquired by Fox Corporation.
The American media giant Fox, known for its strongly conservative positioning in the United States, has announced plans to acquire Roku. In the US and several other markets—including a limited number of European countries—Roku is one of the leading players in the video streaming sector.
Given the streamer’s market position, it comes as little surprise that the deal carries a substantial price tag. The acquisition is valued at $22 billion.
Roku is not only a provider of video-streaming services but also supplies hardware through partnerships with manufacturers such as TCL, JVC and Sharp Corporation. In addition, it currently operates the largest smart-TV platform in the United States, powering more than a quarter of all internet-connected streaming devices in the country. Worldwide, its services and devices are used in approximately 100 million households.
Whether the “Foxification” of Roku will have any impact on the platform’s content offering remains to be seen. For now, Roku is still not available in the Netherlands—at least not yet.