Charter completes $34.5 billion Cox acquisition, expanding Spectrum footprint

Charter Communications finalized its $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications on Thursday, August 20, 2026, merging the two companies to form the nation's largest internet and cable television provider by subscriber base. The completed deal immediately expands Charter's Spectrum brand footprint to include millions of Cox customers in markets such as Southern California, Orange County, and Las Vegas. As part of the initial transition, Charter announced it would activate the Dodgers-owned SportsNet LA channel for new customers in Cox markets beginning this weekend. This ends a more than decade-long regional sports blackout, as Cox had previously declined to carry the channel over licensing fee disputes. Cox customers in those areas will now be able to watch the majority of the team's regular season games. By mid-September, customers will see their service packages transition to Spectrum branding and pricing. According to the companies, subscribers will have the option to retain their current pricing or switch to a Spectrum bundle. Charter has also pledged to offer Cox subscribers a year of free service if they switch their mobile phone carrier to Spectrum.