Fox Corporation announced on June 15 that it will acquire Roku in a cash-and-stock deal valuing the company at roughly $22 billion, or $160.00 per share ($96.00 in cash plus 0.9693 Fox Class A shares). The combination pairs Fox's sports, news, and entertainment with Roku's connected-TV platform, which reaches more than 100 million households, and would create the third-largest U.S. television player by viewing share. Fox shareholders would own about 73% of the combined company and Roku holders about 27%, with Roku founder Anthony Wood joining the Fox board. The companies expect about $400 million in run-rate cost synergies and a close in the first half of 2027. For podcasting, the deal tightens the link between premium video distribution and the ad-supported CTV environment where a growing share of podcasts is now watched. "This combination will transform the scope of our company into high-growth verticals and yield a step change in our overall growth profile," said Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch. (Fox Corporation)

Spotify removed more than 57,000 podcast episodes containing drug-related content following an investigation by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee. The committee said Spotify acted only after extensive public reporting and correspondence during the inquiry, and that the company did not report any of the removed content to law enforcement during the six-month period the committee examined. A full investigative report is posted on the committee's site. (Joint Economic Committee)

Digital audio accounts for about 30% of U.S. adults' media consumption but draws only 3% of annual ad spend, and platform executives told AdExchanger the gap will close only when audio is embedded earlier in agency planning and sold alongside CTV, display, and video rather than as a standalone buy. Spending has grown 5% to 7% annually over the past three years and will top $8 billion in 2026, helped by deeper DSP integrations and agentic AI planning tools. "No digital media earns fewer ad dollars per hour spent than digital audio," said Catie Birmingham of The Trade Desk. (AdExchanger)

Ad Results Media argues podcast consumption is now multi-screen and that advertisers should move to audio-first creative built to work wherever audiences watch or listen. The firm cites that 14% of weekly podcast listeners have consumed podcasts on Netflix and 4% on Tubi. "The assumption that podcast listeners aren't looking at a screen no longer holds," the piece states. (Ad Results Media)

Two deals this week signal that the creator economy is consolidating into enterprise infrastructure. Accenture acquired Whalar's agency division to advise CMOs and CFOs on creator strategy, following the playbook it used in programmatic. Separately, CAA and TPG launched a $250 million joint venture, Compound Creative Holdings, to roll up creator-economy businesses. The moves come as U.S. creator ad spend reaches $43.9 billion in 2026, with social commerce projected to hit $8.5 trillion globally by 2030. "Marketing, and now social-first creator economy, has come to the forefront of what used to be brand creative in the boardroom," said Matthew Lacey of Waypoint Partners. (Digiday / Variety)

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