Charter-Cox merger closes, expanding Spectrum to 35 million customers
Charter Communications completed its $34.5 billion takeover of Cox Communications, creating the nation’s largest broadband and cable provider with about 35 million customers; Cox customers in many California markets will shift to Spectrum by mid-September and will gain access to Dodgers-owned SportsNet LA after years of a blackout. Regulators approved the merger with conditions, including affordable broadband commitments, network upgrades to 1 Gbps, and outreach initiatives; Charter plans to temporarily retire the Cox name and rebrand to Cox next year, while Spectrum remains the core brand. The deal also includes a year of free Spectrum service for Cox customers who switch their cellphone plan to Spectrum, potential bill credits for outages, and some workforce realignments as overlaps are eliminated.
