9/102 sources · 2 publishersUpdated Nov 7, 05:00 UTC
Roku ends Aquatic Life screensaver after Fox’s $22 B acquisition
Artist Jim Sachs, creator of the Marine Aquarium animation, will not renew Roku’s license for the Aquatic Life screensaver following Fox Corporation’s purchase of Roku. The licensing agreement, worth $80,000 per year for exclusive rights, expires on December 1, 2026, when the screensaver will be replaced by the ad‑supported Roku City theme. Sachs cited Fox’s news content as the reason for ending the deal.
Why it matters
Roku users will automatically switch to the Roku City screensaver on December 1, removing a long‑standing ad‑free feature. The change has no reported impact on Roku’s financials or Fox’s operations.
Key facts
- 1Fox Corporation completed its acquisition of Roku on November 6, 2026 for approximately $22 billion. arstechnica.com
- 2The Aquatic Life screensaver will stop being available on Roku devices on December 1, 2026. shattered.io
- 3Jim Sachs, through his company SereneScreen, decided not to renew the licensing agreement after learning of the Fox deal. arstechnica.com
- 4The exclusive licensing fee for the screensaver was $80,000 per year. shattered.io
- 5Roku will automatically replace the Aquatic Life screensaver with the Roku City screensaver on affected devices. arstechnica.com
Summary written by AlphAI AI Desk from 2 of 2 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.