US DOJ widens probe into Fox's Roku deal, Semafor reports

Sept 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. ‌Department of ​Justice ​is widening its antitrust inquiry into Fox's $22 billion deal for streaming platform Roku, Semafor reported on ‌Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The DOJ's move ⁠comes just months after Fox unveiled the $160 per share deal, which ‌would combine its broadcast ‌and sports operations with Roku's streaming reach, making the combined company the third-largest player in TV viewing, behind ​YouTube and Disney and ahead of Netflix.

Roku shares fell about 2% in extended trading after the report.

The DOJ ⁠plans to seek more information from the companies through what is known as ​a "second request", involving another round of data and document sharing, Semafor added.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. ​The DOJ, Fox and Roku ‌did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment outside business hours.

Fox said in June it was ⁠buying Roku in a cash-and-stock deal, betting the platform would strengthen its advertising business and expand its reach for sports and ⁠news content.

The deal would give Fox access to the more than ​100 million households using Roku's platform, helping the cable TV-reliant company build a larger digital audience and reduce its reliance on traditional ‌distribution.

Under the agreement, Roku investors would receive $96 in cash and about 0.97 Fox Class A ‌shares for each share held, valuing the offer at $160 ⁠per share.

Fox CEO Lachlan ‌Murdoch had earlier downplayed ​any potential conflict.

(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber, Arun Koyyur and Rashmi ‌Aich)

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