The Aquatic Life screensaver that has filled idle Roku screens for a decade is being switched off, and the decision came from the artist who made it rather than from Roku. Jim Sachs, the creator and copyright holder of the animation sold commercially as Marine Aquarium, told Ars Technica he declined to renew Roku’s license after learning that Fox Corporation planned to buy the streaming company. Roku users began receiving device notices this week warning that the screensaver will no longer be available after this month, with the cutoff set for December 1, 2026.
Fox completed its purchase of Roku on November 6, 2026, in a transaction valued at roughly $22 billion. The screensaver notices were first reported by Cord Cutters News and the creator’s reasoning was detailed by Ars Technica.
Why Jim Sachs Pulled the Aquatic Life Screensaver
Sachs developed the animation through his company SereneScreen, and Roku licensed it through Prolific Publishing, shipping it to users under the name Aquatic Life. Sachs told Ars Technica that the agreement comes up for renewal every October and can be canceled by either party for any reason. A day after learning that Fox intended to buy Roku, he told Prolific that he would not renew.
“I can’t be part of the Fox world,” Sachs told Ars Technica, pointing to Fox News’ style of news and entertainment.
Asked what concerned him most about the Fox acquisition of Roku, Sachs said:
It seems that Fox simply wants another venue for spreading their philosophy, which I consider repugnant. I can’t stand the idea of my artwork being used to lure even one person down that rabbit hole.
An $80,000 Annual License Renewed Every October
The money involved was modest by streaming-industry standards but significant for an independent creator. According to Sachs, the licensing “agreement was $80,000 per year for exclusive rights to all set-top devices, or $60,000 per year for non-exclusive. They have always opted for exclusive.” Ars Technica said it asked Roku to confirm the terms but did not hear back before publication.
Sachs told the outlet that the Roku arrangement was his primary form of income, noting low sales of the desktop versions of the screensaver. He said ending the contract has “major financial consequences.”
“Our needs are very small, with a high property tax bill being the only significant expense,” he said. “We’ll be okay but can’t start any of the projects I had planned.”
Marine Aquarium remains on sale for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, though Ars Technica reported that a return to Roku’s platform appears unlikely.
Roku City Takes Over on December 1
Roku’s user notice says devices still set to Aquatic Life will be switched automatically to the Roku City screensaver, a second long-running animation that includes subtle advertisements. The Aquatic Life screensaver had offered an ad-free alternative for years, which is part of why some users objected to the swap.
The change is limited to that one animation. Streaming apps, channels and the Roku home screen are unaffected, since the license covered the artwork rather than any platform function. Devices will keep displaying the aquarium until the December 1 cutoff.
Advertising and data practices on connected televisions have drawn scrutiny before, including the case of Vizio SmartCast sending viewing data after users opted out.
Users Mourn an Ad-Free Idle Screen
Ars Technica reported that numerous people online lamented the impending loss. One commenter quoted by the outlet wrote: “When my head is in overdrive (very often with my ADHD), this screensaver grounds me and lets me exhale and become focused with myself again. It may sound over the top, but it’s true. It takes a lot for me to chill and relax, but this Aquatic Life [screensaver] is my go to. Totally gutted 😢.”
Another user quoted by Ars Technica tied the removal to broader complaints about the platform: “One of the best reasons to buy Roku was the themes and less ads than competitors. But they haven’t added any new themes in years aside from sponsored ones, and they increased the amount of ads.”
The technology site Shattered noted that the arrangement has a confusing double name in search results: the product is officially called Marine Aquarium, while Roku’s licensed version was called Aquatic Life. Both labels describe the same animation.
What Is Confirmed and What Is Not
Shattered, which published its own breakdown of the timeline, flagged two points where it parts company with other coverage. The outlet said Roku’s user notice reportedly did not explain why Aquatic Life was ending, and that no report quotes Roku or Fox linking the removal to the acquisition; the connection comes from Sachs’ own account to Ars Technica. Shattered also wrote that Ars Technica’s description of the deal as “lucrative” is the outlet’s framing, with no confirmation from Roku or Fox that anyone characterized the contract that way.
Shattered added that nothing in the confirmed record suggests Roku misused the work or breached the license, since the contract allowed either party to leave for any reason. It cited the Los Angeles Times for the roughly $22 billion valuation of the Fox acquisition of Roku and said the paper reported the deal closed ahead of schedule, with an SEC exhibit filing among the primary documents tied to the completion.
Licensing and ownership fights over creative work have become a recurring theme in technology, from platform contracts to the New York Times’ legal action against Brave’s paywall blocker.
Sachs Leaves the Door Open, With Conditions
Sachs told Ars Technica that Roku has asked him to restore the license and that he is interested in placating fans of the Marine Aquarium. He said he has “no delusions” that pulling the license will have any meaningful impact, but he hopes another streaming company will pick up the animation.
He set out one condition for a reversal. “I’m assuming that Fox will not be reversing their whole rage-based business model and take responsibility for all the harm it has caused. I’d be happy to restore the license under those circumstances. They could even have it for free,” he said.
Until then, the Aquatic Life screensaver disappears from Roku devices on December 1, and the Roku City screensaver takes its place automatically.
