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Charter Closes $34.5 Billion Cox Deal in Cable Megamerger, Company to Adopt Cox Communications Name

Variety • August 20, 2026 • business

Key Points:

Charter Communications finalized its $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications, creating a cable giant operating in 45 states and serving approximately 37 million customers.
The deal received final regulatory approval from the California Public Utility Commission, with Charter planning to rebrand the parent company as Cox Communications within a year while continuing to use the Spectrum brand for services.
Charter is offering one free year of mobile service to new Cox internet customers and will launch its full product suite in former Cox markets by mid-September.
Liberty Broadband, led by John Malone, exited as a direct shareholder in Charter, while Cox Enterprises now owns about 26% of the combined company, becoming the largest single shareholder.
Leadership changes include Chris Winfrey continuing as CEO, Alex Taylor of Cox Enterprises appointed chairman, and new board members from Cox and Advance/Newhouse joining the Charter board.

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