Charter Communications has closed its $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications, creating the largest cable operator in the United States by footprint and one of the country’s biggest broadband and video providers.
The combined company will serve about 37 million to 38 million customers across 45 states, with about 70 million homes and businesses passed.
The transaction closed days after the California Public Utilities Commission approved the deal with conditions, clearing the final state-level regulatory hurdle. Federal regulators had previously approved the acquisition. The Desk reported on Wednesday that the Charter-Cox combination would be made official on Thursday.
Charter also completed its acquisition of Liberty Broadband, a separate transaction that included Liberty’s 26 percent stake in Charter. Liberty Broadband, led by longtime cable investor John Malone, spun off Alaska cable operator GCI in July 2025, leaving it outside the Charter transaction.
“The combination of Charter and Cox creates a stronger, more competitive company to further invest and innovate, while giving Liberty Broadband shareholders a direct interest in its future,” Malone, Chairman of Liberty Broadband, said.
Cox Enterprises and its subsidiaries now own about 26 percent of the combined company’s fully diluted shares. Around $12 billion of Cox debt and finance leases will remain outstanding at Charter subsidiaries as a result of the deal.
Within a year, the combined company will adopt Cox Communications as its corporate name while continuing to operate under the Spectrum brand in all markets. The company will remain headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut and retain a significant presence in Atlanta, Cox’s longtime home market.
Charter President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Winfrey will lead the combined company and serve on its board. Alex Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cox Enterprises, has been named Chairman of the combined company. Eric Zinterhofer, who previously served as Chairman of Charter’s board, will serve as lead independent director.
Cox Enterprises appointed Dallas Clement, President and Chief Operating Officer of Cox Enterprises, and Mark Greatrex, former President of Cox Communications, to the 13-member board. Advance/Newhouse will retain its two board seats, held by Steve Miron and Michael Newhouse. Liberty Broadband will no longer designate directors because it is no longer a direct Charter shareholder.
Winfrey said the addition of Cox to Spectrum’s footprint comes as regional cable operators compete against national and global connectivity and entertainment companies.
“The addition of Cox to the Spectrum footprint is one that can be celebrated by customers, employees and investors alike,” Winfrey said.
Spectrum plans to extend Charter’s pricing and packaging to former Cox markets by mid-September. As part of the transition, Cox home Internet customers who do not already subscribe to Cox Mobile will be offered one free year of mobile service.
Cox customers will also gain access to Charter-developed video products, including the Xumo Stream Box, the Spectrum TV app and a pay-TV offering that includes several ad-supported streaming services at no additional cost. Those services include Disney Plus, Hulu, discovery Plus, HBO Max, Fox One, Paramount Plus and Peacock.
The company also said Cox customers will gain access to a fully U.S.-based customer service team, outage credits for service interruptions lasting longer than two hours and Spectrum’s broader sales and service workforce model. Charter said Cox sales and service work now handled offshore will transition to the U.S. within 18 months.
