Roku owners have lost two streaming apps within about a week. iQIYI and TCLtv+ both disappeared from the Roku Streaming Store, and the timing overlaps with Fox closing its $22 billion purchase of Roku. Neither company has said the two events connect, so treat any link as unproven for now.
Why iQIYI Is Missing From Roku and Where to Watch It Instead
iQIYI, the Chinese streaming platform known for Asian dramas, vanished from Roku devices in late October. The app had run on Roku players and Roku TVs in the United States and Canada since March 2022.
Subscribers who open the channel now see a message saying it is unavailable. Searching the store returns nothing, and Roku does not allow reinstalls once a provider pulls its app. Reports say the two companies failed to agree on a new commercial deal.
People who paid through Roku billing felt the loss most. Roku has told them to take billing and account questions to iQIYI directly. iQIYI support confirmed the app is missing and said it is working on the issue, but it has not shared a restoration date.
The service carries Chinese historical, romance, and fantasy dramas, plus Korean and Thai series, anime, variety shows, and films. Paid plans have typically cost around $9 to $11 a month, and some episodes play free. You can still watch on the web, on iOS and Android, and on supported Samsung, LG, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV devices.
TCLtv+ Is Gone From Roku Too: Where It Still Works
TCLtv+ left Roku days earlier. TCL brought the free ad-supported service to the Roku store in mid 2024, after launching it on its Google TV sets in 2023. It offered hundreds of live FAST channels and a large on-demand library at no cost.
Users now report the app is gone from both TCL-branded Roku TVs and standalone Roku players. Roku's standard reply says providers sometimes choose to remove their apps. TCL has not explained the removal or given any timeline for a return.
TCLtv+ still works on the web, on Google TV devices, and on Apple devices. It does not install on Android phones.
Fox Closes Its $22 Billion Roku Takeover: Deal Terms and New Leadership
Fox completed its acquisition of Roku on Friday, November 6. The deal came months ahead of the first-half 2027 target. Roku shares stopped trading on Nasdaq the same day.
Roku stockholders received $95.30 in cash plus 0.9799 shares of Fox Class A stock for each share they held. Former Roku holders now own about 26% of Fox, and existing Fox holders own about 74%.
Roku now sits inside a new division called Fox Digital Platforms, alongside Tubi, Fox One, and Red Seat Ventures. Paul Cheesbrough leads the division with Roku founder Anthony Wood as co-chair. Mustafa Ozgen takes over as Roku CEO. Fox expects about $400 million in annual cost savings within two years.
The combined business reaches more than 100 million households. It also gives Fox control of both Tubi and The Roku Channel, two of the biggest free streaming services in the US.
DOJ Conditions: What Fox Must Do to Keep Roku Open
The Department of Justice closed its antitrust review on the same day as the deal. It concluded the merger is unlikely to harm competition, but Fox made several commitments first:
- Fox will keep carrying non-Fox content on Roku for at least three years.
- Fox will not discriminate against rival content in search results, and users can still rearrange apps on the home screen.
- Fox will keep offering Roku data products to third parties on commercially reasonable terms.
- Fox will keep firewalls in place for at least three years to protect partners' sensitive data, including click, search, view, and voice data.
The DOJ said it will keep watching the industry and can act if conditions change. Fox says Roku will stay an open platform for every content partner.
Can Roku Stay Neutral Under Fox Ownership?
Roku built its business as a neutral middleman. It treated every streaming service the same, which pushed it to the top of the connected TV market. Fox now owns a content library, an ad sales business, and the platform that distributes rivals' apps.
Analysts see a tension. Fox wants tighter control over audiences and advertising, while Roku needs every app maker to trust it. If partners start to feel sidelined, they could push viewers toward Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, or Samsung TV Plus.
One caution applies to this story. Nothing so far shows Fox caused either app removal. Streaming apps leave Roku after contract disputes all the time, and both companies gave different signals about their own situations. Watch whether more apps follow.
What Roku Owners Should Do About the Missing Apps
You do not need to replace your device or change your account. No price changes or account migrations have been announced. Here are practical steps:
- iQIYI subscribers: Watch on a phone, tablet, web browser, or another supported TV platform. Contact iQIYI about any Roku-billed subscription.
- TCLtv+ fans: Use the web, Google TV, or an Apple device, or switch to The Roku Channel, Tubi, or another free service on your Roku.
- Everyone: Keep your Roku software updated, check your subscriptions list for apps you no longer see, and remove apps from Roku that you never open.
- Privacy: Fox now controls Roku's ad business, so review your settings and turn off smart TV tracking if you want less data collected.
Roku has not announced a merger of Tubi and The Roku Channel. Both stay separate services for now. If an app that still works starts throwing playback problems, follow this fix for Roku Error 004.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Fox buy Roku?
Yes. Fox completed the $22 billion acquisition on November 6, and Roku shares stopped trading on Nasdaq that day.
Is iQIYI gone from Roku for good?
Not confirmed. The app disappeared in late October after the sides reportedly failed to renew their agreement. iQIYI says it is working on the issue but has given no date.
Can I still use iQIYI on other devices?
Yes. It works on web browsers, iOS and Android, and on supported Samsung, LG, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV devices.
Is TCLtv+ still available anywhere?
Yes. It still runs on the web, Google TV devices, and Apple devices. It does not install on Android phones.
Did Fox remove these apps?
No source says so. Neither company has explained the removals, and no link to the acquisition has been confirmed.
Will Netflix or YouTube TV leave Roku because of Fox?
Nothing suggests that. Fox committed to the DOJ to keep carrying non-Fox content for at least three years.
Will my Roku stop working?
No. Your device and account keep working, and no changes have been announced.
