Cox, Charter merging?

[MartyDe]

Looks like these two are maybe merging.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-cable-giants-charter-cox-111216275.html

 

[Bruce]

Looks like these two are maybe merging.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-cable-giants-charter-cox-111216275.html

Yes they are, $34.5 Billion to purchase Cox.

 

[Don in CT]

They will take the Cox name after the merger.

 

[osu1991]

Kind of expected Comcast to eventually make a bid for Cox as close as they've been the past decade on equipment and such.

 

[Don in CT]

Kind of expected Comcast to eventually make a bid for Cox as close as they've been the past decade on equipment and such.

Comcast is too big and I think there is too much overlap in franchise areas.

 

[Bruce]

Kind of expected Comcast to eventually make a bid for Cox as close as they've been the past decade on equipment and such.

Comcast and Charter are both carrying a lot of debt right now, so I was surprised at the deal-

Comcast long term debt for the quarter ending March 31, 2025 was $92.274B
Charter Communications long term debt for the quarter ending March 31, 2025 was $93.164B

Charter Communications Long Term Debt 2010-2025 | CHTR

Charter Communications long term debt from 2010 to 2025. Long term debt can be defined as the sum of all long term debt fields. <ul style='margin-top:10px;'> <li>Charter Communications long term debt for the quarter ending March 31, 2025 was <strong>$93.164B</strong>, a...

www.macrotrends.net

Comcast Long Term Debt 2010-2025 | CMCSA

Comcast long term debt from 2010 to 2025. Long term debt can be defined as the sum of all long term debt fields. <ul style='margin-top:10px;'> <li>Comcast long term debt for the quarter ending March 31, 2025 was <strong>$92.274B</strong>, a <strong>1.91% decline</strong>...

www.macrotrends.net

 

[comfortably_numb]

New day, new merger. Still waiting for NBC Universal Comcast Taco Bell Mountain Dew Budweiser to happen!

 

[Don in CT]

New day, new merger. Still waiting for NBC Universal Comcast Taco Bell Mountain Dew Budweiser to happen!

Nothing can fix Budweiser.

 

[navychop]

New day, new merger. Still waiting for NBC Universal Comcast Taco Bell Mountain Dew Budweiser to happen!

"All restaurants are Taco Bell!"

 

[harshness]

They will take the Cox name after the merger.

Hindsight on the Spectrum name wasn't kind. I'm not sure Cox commands any more blue sky than Spectrum.

 

[glrush]

From the WSJ:

https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/charter-communications-to-merge-with-rival-cox-in-21-9-billion-deal-c70dcff9?st=TENFvA&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

 

[comfortably_numb]

Hindsight on the Spectrum name wasn't kind. I'm not sure Cox commands any more blue sky than Spectrum.

They're going to brand themselves as Spectrum:

"Within a year after the Charter-Cox deal closes, the combined company, which will be headquartered in Stamford, Conn., plans to change its name to Cox Communications. Spectrum will be the consumer-facing brand."

 

[harshness]

The $21.9 billion number omits around $12 billion in debt that Charter is assuming.

 

[mikew]

Could this mean the end of data caps for Cox customers? Would be nice.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Could this mean the end of data caps for Cox customers? Would be nice.

Or the beginning of data caps for Spectrum customers..

 

[harshness]

Could this mean the end of data caps for Cox customers? Would be nice.

That may (or may not) come as part of any regulatory requirements applied to the merger.

While the term "data cap" is toxic in the marketplace, cable can still claim that they don't throttle or "deprioritize" like wireless or satellite does.

 

[ncted]

Or the beginning of data caps for Spectrum customers..

I was wondering about this. Spectrum is still operating under the terms of a deal with NY state where they got tons of money to build out service to rural areas that included a provision about no data caps AFAIK. However, if it technically becomes a new company, then they may try to get out of that deal. So glad I don't have to use Spectrum. Not that I use that much data, but I have used over 5TB in the past when working on a particular project.

 

[primestar31]

I have Charter/Spectrum internet only, and it just went up to $83 a month. 400 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload. IMO, it should be 1/2 that price.

There's no competition here except for TDS Telecom DSL and that's a scumbag company I would never deal with again.

 

[Bruce]

I have Charter/Spectrum internet only, and it just went up to $83 a month. 400 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload. IMO, it should be 1/2 that price.

It is $148 for Spectrum Gigabit here.

But, they are about to have competition, Quantum Fiber, cable is in the ground, waiting for the hook up to the house ( very delayed due to workers shortage).

As soon as it is available, switching, but I expect Charter to then lower the prices.

There's no competition here except for TDS Telecom DSL and that's a scumbag company I would never deal with again.

No 5G options?

Or do you live in a rural area like myself?

 

[primestar31]

No 5G options?

Or do you live in a rural area like myself?

No 5G options as of yet. Yes, rural area, though close to Midland, Mi that has at least 5-6 different internet options, if not more. They haven't bothered to roll any of them our way as of yet, and Spectrum is ruthless in not giving any discounts in that sort of no competition area.