Quick Answer: The Cox Spectrum merger closed on August 20, 2026, and Cox became Spectrum on September 16, 2026. If you already have Cox TV, nothing changes unless you ask for it. You keep your Contour package, your price, your box and your Cox email. Cox TV plans are no longer sold to new customers, though. New sign-ups get Spectrum plans, starting at $100 a month for the first year for Stream TV Signature.
Last checked October 20, 2026, against Charter’s closing release (August 20, 2026), Spectrum’s launch release (September 16, 2026), the Cox is now Spectrum FAQ on cox.com, Cox’s October 2026 price guides for Phoenix and Tucson, Hampton Roads and Palos Verdes, and Cox’s 2026 surcharge sheet.
What changed, and when?
Charter, the company behind Spectrum, bought Cox for $34.5 billion. The change is rolling out in steps, not all at once.
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2026 | The deal closed. Cox internet customers without Cox Mobile were offered a free mobile line for one year. | Charter and Cox joint release |
| September 16, 2026 | “Spectrum Day.” Spectrum plans and prices went on sale in former Cox markets, and Cox TV plans stopped being sold to new buyers. | Spectrum release, Cox price guides |
| By about August 2027 | Spectrum’s service promises reach Cox customers: 24/7 US-based support, same-day repair visits when you call before 5 PM, and credits for outages longer than two hours. | Charter and Cox joint release |
| By about August 2027 | Charter’s parent company takes the name Cox Communications. The service brand stays Spectrum. | Charter and Cox joint release |
| By about February 2028 | Cox sales and service calls handled overseas move to the US. | Charter and Cox joint release |
Do Cox TV customers have to switch to Spectrum?
No. Cox’s FAQ says current customers have nothing to do. Your plan, price, bill, equipment and email all stay the same. Any promotion or term deal you signed with Cox is honored. If Spectrum ever changes those terms, Cox says it will tell you in advance.
Spectrum has not promised this will last forever. A Spectrum regional vice president told a Virginia paper on October 7 that there are no forced changes and no plans to end Cox packages right now, but that this could change as the two companies combine.
Worth knowing: your Cox account still runs through the Cox app and cox.com for bills, payments and support. Your Cox email address keeps working.
Old Cox prices vs new Spectrum prices
Cox’s October 2026 price guides list both sets of plans side by side. Contour plans are marked for customers who lived in a former Cox area before September 16. Spectrum plans are for everyone from that date. Here are the regular monthly rates in three markets.
| Plan | Phoenix and Tucson | Hampton Roads, VA | Palos Verdes, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contour Starter (Cox) | $80.00 | $80.00 | $80.00 |
| Contour Preferred (Cox) | $140.00 | $140.00 | $145.00 |
| Contour Ultimate (Cox) | $184.00 | $184.00 | $189.00 |
| Spectrum Stream TV Signature | $140.00 | $140.00 | $140.00 |
| Spectrum Stream TV Pro | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 |
| Spectrum Stream TV VIP | $185.00 | $185.00 | $185.00 |
| Spectrum TV Lite | $45.00 | $45.00 | $45.00 |
Those Spectrum rates are what you pay after the first year. For year one, cox.com offers new customers lower prices through December 31, 2026:
| Spectrum plan | Channels | First year | After year one (October 2026 guides) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV Lite (needs Spectrum Internet) | 85+ | $40 | $45 |
| Stream TV Signature | 150+ | $100 | $140 |
| Stream TV Pro | 160+ | $110 | $150 |
| Stream TV VIP | 230+ | $145 | $185 |
Note: the first-year prices are marked for new residential customers with no Spectrum service in the last 30 days. Spectrum has not said in writing whether a current Cox customer who switches gets them. Ask before you agree to anything. The plans themselves are the same ones we compare in our Spectrum Stream TV Signature vs Pro vs VIP guide.
What would your bill look like? A Phoenix example
The plan price is only part of a Cox bill. Cox’s 2026 surcharge sheet adds a $32.00 Broadcast Surcharge in every market, plus a Regional Sports Surcharge that depends on where you live. Here is a Contour Preferred bill in Phoenix next to Spectrum’s Signature plan.
| Line on the bill | Cox Contour Preferred (keep) | Spectrum Stream TV Signature (switch) |
|---|---|---|
| TV plan | $140.00 | $100.00 first year, then $140.00 |
| TV box | $8.50 (Contour Box) | $0 for the first Xumo Stream Box (needs Spectrum Internet 100 Mbps or faster) |
| Broadcast Surcharge | $32.00 | Not listed for Spectrum plans in the guide. Ask. |
| Regional Sports Surcharge | $6.00 in Phoenix | Not listed for Spectrum plans in the guide. Ask. |
| Streaming apps included | None | HBO Max Basic with Ads, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited, Peacock Premium with Ads, Paramount+ Essential and more |
| Known monthly total | $186.50 | $100.00 in year one, $140.00 after, plus any surcharge |
Even if Spectrum adds the same $38 in surcharges after the promo ends, Signature would come to about $178, still a little under the Cox bill. And it includes apps many homes already pay for on their own. Our broadcast TV fee guide explains why these charges exist.
The surcharge hurts more in Southern California. Cox charges $22.00 a month for regional sports in Palos Verdes and Orange County, so a Contour customer there pays $54.00 in surcharges alone. Our regional sports fee guide lists all 22 Cox markets.
Should you stay on Cox or switch to Spectrum?
| If this is you | What to do |
|---|---|
| You pay full price for Contour Preferred and also pay for Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max or Peacock on your own | Ask Spectrum to price Stream TV Signature for your address. Cancel the app plans you no longer need. |
| You are still on a Cox promo price or a term deal | Stay for now. Cox honors those terms. Check again a month before the deal ends. |
| Your local baseball, basketball or hockey team matters most | Look at Stream TV Pro, the lowest Spectrum plan with regional sports networks. |
| You mostly watch ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX | A free antenna may be all you need. If you want a cable box anyway, TV Lite is the cheapest Spectrum plan, but it needs Spectrum Internet. |
| You have Contour Ultimate | Compare it with Stream TV VIP channel by channel. Both cost $184 to $189 a month in these guides. |
For the channel-by-channel list under each plan, see our Spectrum channel lineup. Channel numbers in former Cox areas can differ from other Spectrum markets, so check yours in the TV Channel Finder.
What happens to your Contour box, the apps and your email?
- Contour box: it keeps working. Cox says current equipment stays in place, and booked service visits go ahead.
- Free streaming apps: Cox says eligible Cox TV customers will get apps such as HBO Max, Disney+ and Hulu added at no extra cost. It calls this “coming soon” and gives no date.
- Older boxes: the DTA wall mount, the DTA 1 and the Contour Box 1 cannot run those apps. You would need to call Cox to upgrade.
- Contour Stream Player: the Phoenix guide notes it carries no live TV channels.
- Email and login: both stay the same. Keep using the Cox app or cox.com to pay your bill.
- Cox WiFi hotspot: if you rent a Cox Panoramic gateway, our Cox WiFi hotspot guide shows how to turn the public hotspot off.
Questions to ask before you switch
- Do I qualify for the first-year price as a current Cox customer?
- Will a Broadcast TV Surcharge or a regional sports charge be added to the Spectrum plan at my address?
- What will the plan cost in month 13?
- Do I need a new box, and is the first Xumo Stream Box free with my internet speed?
- If I switch my TV, does my current Cox internet or phone price change?
- Can I go back to my Cox plan if I change my mind? Cox plans are closed to new buyers, so the answer is probably no.
Ask for the full monthly total in writing, with every fee shown. Spectrum’s plans are sold with no contract, so you can switch later if the numbers stop working. Your old Cox plan cannot be bought again once you leave it, so make that call last, not first.
To read the price guide for your own area, open the pricing rate cards page on cox.com and pick your state and market. Cox’s own answers are on its Cox is now Spectrum page.
The author specializes in U.S. cable, satellite, and streaming TV services, with hands-on experience analyzing channel lineups, regional restrictions, equipment requirements, and contract terms. All the content is written with clear, easy-to-understand explanations to help readers compare services accurately and make informed decisions.