Charter finalizes $34.5-billion Cox takeover, bringing Spectrum to millions more customers

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Set us as preferred Charter Communications wrapped up its $34.5-billion takeover of Cox Communications early Thursday, picking up millions of new internet and TV customers in Southern California.By mid-September, customers of the Atlanta-based Cox will see their packages shift to Spectrum.

But Charter is giving its new subscribers in Palos Verdes, Orange County, San Diego and Las Vegas a treat beginning this weekend: turning on SportsNet LA, the Dodgers-owned channel and ending one of the longest TV sports blackouts ever.Cox had long refused to carry the TV channel, citing the Dodgers’ high license fees.

So customers with Cox service have been unable to watch most of the team’s regular season baseball games for more than a decade.The company will have more than 6 million customers in California.

Charter pledged to California regulators that it would operate a consumer-friendly service.“Together, we will bring the best products, at the best price, coupled with the highest level of customer service to more customers across our expanded 45-state Spectrum footprint,” Charter Chief Executive Chris Winfrey said in a statement.Hollywood Inc.

More than 6 million customers in California will have Spectrum service.Cox subscribers will be able to opt for their existing pricing or switch to a Spectrum bundle that includes such apps as Disney+, Hulu, ESPN and Paramount+.Charter has also said it would offer Cox subscribers a year of free service when they switch their cellphone carrier to Spectrum.“With expanded scale, we are better positioned to compete and continue investment in our products and service, tools and platforms, and to further the capability and reach of our Spectrum Fiber Broadband Network,” Winfrey said.It’s been more than a year since the companies unveiled their proposed union.Last week, California’s ...