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Roku will remove its long-running Aquatic Life fish tank screensaver on December 1, automatically switching affected users to the ad-supported Roku City animation instead. Artist Jim Sachs, who licensed the Marine Aquarium screensaver to Roku for a decade through his company SereneScreen, says he declined to renew the deal after learning Roku was being sold to Fox, a sale that has since closed.
Artist Jim Sachs, creator of the Marine Aquarium animation licensed to Roku as the 'Aquatic Life' screensaver, has declined to renew his licensing deal, ending availability on Roku OS devices after December 1. Sachs told Ars Technica he made the decision the day after learning Fox planned to acquire Roku, a deal that has since closed, citing discomfort with Fox News' approach to content. Roku will automatically replace the screensaver with its ad-supported 'Roku City' animation for affected users.
Fox Corporation has finalized its $22 billion purchase of Roku, first announced in June, after the Justice Department cleared the deal following review. Roku, which reaches more than 100 million households and also owns Tubi, will be folded into a new Fox Digital Platforms division co-led by Roku founder Anthony Wood, who joins Fox's board.
Fox has officially completed its $22 billion purchase of Roku, closing one of the largest media deals in recent years. Fox says the combined company is now the third-largest television business in the U.S. by viewership, with Roku founder Anthony Wood remaining to lead the streaming platform's continued development. The deal closed far ahead of schedule, after the companies had originally projected completion in the first half of 2027.
Fox announced Friday it has completed its $22 billion purchase of Roku, a deal first unveiled in June. The acquisition gives Fox control of a streaming platform used in more than 100 million US households, alongside its existing Fox One and Tubi services. Roku founder Anthony Wood, who joins Fox's board, said the platform will remain open to all content partners.
Roku confirmed its longtime Aquatic Life aquarium screensaver will be removed starting December 1, replaced by the Roku City screensaver, which features a purple skyline with rotating digital billboards and brand sponsorships. Users can still find an unofficial YouTube recording of the Aquatic Life animation or use third-party apps for aquarium-style screensavers.
Roku has announced it will retire its long-running Aquatic Life aquarium screensaver starting December 1, 2026, after which devices using it will automatically switch to the Roku City screensaver. The company confirmed the change via a Reddit reply, acknowledging the screensaver's loyal fanbase and saying it is passing user feedback to its product team.
Roku's current lineup includes the Streaming Stick Plus and 4K, plus two $150 models, the Roku Ultra and Streambar SE. The 4K stick adds Dolby Vision support and longer Wi-Fi range over the Plus, while the Ultra set-top box adds Wi-Fi 6, an Ethernet port and Dolby Atmos support, and the Streambar SE combines a soundbar with streaming but lacks Atmos.
Nielsen's Gauge report found YouTube captured 14.2 percent of total US television viewing time in July 2026, nearly double Netflix's 7.8 percent share. The data also showed ad-supported services The Roku Channel and Tubi outperforming Peacock and Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming offerings, including HBO Max, on TV screens.
Amazon has cut the price of the ELEPHAS Roku TV Smart Projector to $119.99, down from its $184.99 list price, a $65 reduction. The deal marks the lowest price recorded for this model, which includes built-in Roku TV, native 1080p resolution, Bluetooth, Dolby Audio and AirPlay support.
Roku devices and apps are experiencing crashes before streaming begins, a persistent issue despite the platform's generally simple interface. Common fixes include restarting the device, updating software, or clearing app data, though some cases may require more drastic steps like hardware upgrades.
Roku's new Pro Series LX OLED TVs are now on sale at Amazon in 55-inch ($1,300) and 65-inch ($1,600) sizes. They sit above the standard Pro Series OLEDs, which start at $999, and feature a 144Hz refresh rate, brighter picture, wider color range, an anti-reflective polarizer, and a rechargeable remote with hands-free voice control.