$CHTR Faces Customer-Loss Problem at Cox as Broadband Subscriber Losses Rise After $34.5 Billion Acquisition

$CHTR, which operates Spectrum, has a new customer challenge after closing its $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications in August, according to TheStreet. The combined company serves over 37 million customers across 45 states. Within a year, Charter will change its name to Cox Communications but continue operating as Spectrum in all markets.
According to New Street Research, Cox lost 103,000 broadband customers in the second quarter of 2026, up from 84,000 in the first quarter and 76,000 a year ago. Cox's broadband base declined 5.8% year-over-year, versus a 1.8% decline for legacy Charter, which lost 172,000 broadband customers in the second quarter. New Street analyst Vikash Harlalka said Cox's losses were slightly higher than expected.
Charter COO Nick Jeffery, who took the role on September 1, announced a "simpler, flatter, operating structure" in an October 12 memo, with priorities of returning to core Internet growth and improving customer service.
Competition is also rising: T-Mobile reportedly added about 520,000 broadband customers in the second quarter, AT&T added 646,000 and Verizon about 348,000. Starlink had about 2.7 million U.S. broadband customers in May, according to New Street Research.