News Corp. Buys Stake In Web Video Player Roku

News Corp. is taking a stake in Internet video streaming set-top box maker Roku and putting one of its senior executives on Roku's board of directors as it seeks a greater role in distributing video over the Web. The media giant's investment, along with that of its part-owned subsidiary British Sky Broadcasting, is part of a fifth round of funding for Roku of $45 million. It brings total funding in Roku to $77 million since it was founded in 2002. The capital injection puts off the need for Roku to make an initial public offering of stock.