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What to expect now that Fox owns Roku
Jared Newman | 
Fox and Roku left a lot of questions unanswered when they announced their merger plans back in June. Now that Fox has completed the acquisition, it’s time to start filling in the blanks.
While Roku users shouldn’t expect sweeping changes, the platform will likely become a bit more biased towards Fox streaming services. Some of the companies’ streaming services may also undergo changes as they move under one roof, and at least a couple of Roku offerings are disappearing entirely.
If you have a Roku TV or streaming player, here’s what to expect under Fox’s ownership …
Weekly rewind
Roku exits the smart home: I mention this in the column as well, but worth surfacing here that Roku is getting out of the smart home business. It will continue to support existing products, but current inventory is mostly sold out and won’t be replenished. From the column:
The smart home endeavor was always half-hearted, relying on a Wyze partnership that was barely a step beyond white-labeling. Fox’s acquisition announcement didn’t mention the smart home products at all, and in September, Roku open-sourced the underlying operating system, foreshadowing its plan to walk away.
Still, those who invested in Roku’s smart home vision are getting a raw deal. Even with ongoing support, they won’t be able to replace failing products or expand their systems over time.
For a time it seemed like Roku had ambitions beyond the television, with a smart home platform (now dying), a foray into home audio products (which stalled out), and even a home entertainment voice assistant (which never materialized). Instead, Roku sharped its focus on TV, and the Fox acquisition closes the door on much else.
Disney-Hulu app merger delay: Business Insider’s James Faris has been getting some great scoops lately, including a leaked presentation of Disney’s streaming roadmap. Most notably, it shows that the company is behind on its plan to merge Disney+ and Hulu into a single app. Disney was aiming to get it done this year, but is reportedly now targeting the final quarter of its current fiscal year (which runs from July through October 2027) for unspecified “Milestones.”
It’s been widely misreported that Disney had concrete plans to kill off the Hulu app. The company has always said that it would listen to subscribers before determining a timeline, and it still has a lot of work to do, particularly on porting over Hulu’s live TV service. While Disney really doesn’t want you paying for Hulu on its own, you can keep using whatever app you prefer.
HBO Max-Paramount+ bundle timing: Skydance CEO David Ellison has told shareholders to expect a discounted bundle of HBO Max and Paramount+ in early 2027, but provided no other details. Still no word on what it’ll cost, how it’ll affect other bundles (like Disney+/Hulu/HBO Max), and how much pricier its standalone options will become. Ellison also wants to combine the two services eventually, but there’s no timeline for that.
More catch-up
- Don’t buy a Roku player right now; they’ll be cheaper in a week.
- Apple TV starts adding sign language interpretation to select titles.
- Have an HDHomeRun 4K? Its maker wants you to help check whether emergency broadcasts are DRM-encrypted.
- Tablo will soon cut off automatic commercial skip for anyone who still has it.
- The Verge asks 17 TV makers how they spy on you, gets a lot of boilerplate answers. (Gift link)
Save more money
This part of the newsletter has some affiliate links, which earn me a commission if you wind up buying or subscribing to something.
With Black Friday coming up, just a reminder that you can get $7 per month back on Disney streaming services with an AmEx Blue Cash Everyday card, or $10 per month back with AmEx Blue Cash Preferred card. The former has no annual fee, while the latter has a $95 annual fee after the first year.
Last Black Friday, Disney offered 12 months of Disney+ and Hulu for $5 per month. I paired that offer with the AmEx card to bring the cost down to $0. Hopefully a similar deal will be available later this month.
Other notable deals:
- Paramount+: Still 50% off for one year with code SAVEANNUAL50 for new and returning subscribers.
- MS Now: $56 for the first year (saves $24). Ends Nov. 17.
- Fox One: The code IRRAQ4KT still shows as valid on my end for half-off your first year. If you’re planning to sign up, please let me know if it works.
As always, I maintain a full list of active streaming deals on this page.
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Thanks for reading!
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Until next week,
Jared