Latest news with #JamesCox
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Is Charter-Cox Merger The Last Big Cable Deal?
The announcement that Charter Communications, the largest cable operator in the U.S., is merging with Cox Communications, one of the last of the cable pioneer old guard, gave me a weird The Last of Us vibe. In a sea of traumatic challenges from Big Tech, direct to consumer streaming platforms, ever-empowered consumers, and the grand designs of Elon Musk, the cable video world has been reeling. Is the merger of Charter and Cox a last gasp to fend off their ravenous competitors and avoid the business equivalent of viral collapse? The combined entity of Charter and Cox (assuming regulatory approvals) will become the largest multi-system operator (MSO) in the U.S., serving 37 million broadband subscribers and over 15 million multichannel video subscribers in 48 states in the U.S., with revenues totaling $80 billion. Remember when the ire of legislators was trained on 'big cable?' That term needs a bit of adjustment given that the digital giants Amazon, Apple and Alphabet have revenues of $638 billion, $391 billion, and $350 billion, respectively. But the Charter-Cox combination carries significant implications nevertheless for a variety of media industry players. Content is not King here. It is true that the combined entity will by dint of its grander scale be able to cut the wholesale programming costs for the former Cox subscribers, and for all the networks delivered to the combined subscribers those revenues remain irreplaceable today. The companies have also announced an 'efficiency' target of $500 million. But this deal is all about broadband. The traditional multichannel video business is never going to be the same, on a faster downward spiral than anyone could have predicted (I'm sure a blogger will now tell me he predicted this precisely in 2008, but I have yet to see it). Over 50% of the revenues for the combined company will be from its broadband business, and although Charter, Cox and the U.S. broadband business has also suffered subscriber losses in the last two years, as well as growing threats from wireless broadband and perhaps Elon Musk's Starlink, broadband often seems pretty close to electricity and water among consumer desires. There just aren't a lot of great substitutes. As to content, this deal will likely yield at least a decent boost for some of the media industry's streaming services. Today Charter's 'Spectrum TV Select' customers get free access to a host of streaming apps through their owners' affiliation agreements with Charter, including Disney's Disney+ and ESPN+; NBC Universal's Peacock; Paramount Plus, Warner Bros. Discovery's Max (I mean HBO Max), AMC+, Univision's ViX and Sinclair's Tennis Channel Plus. I would expect that the former Cox subscribers will ultimately be folded into Charter's deals and expand the streaming apps' distribution. One of the fascinating aspects of the Charter-Cox combination is the echo of legendary names in the cable industry. James Cox founded Cox Enterprises back in 1898 and its cable business was long a part of a group of family-founded cable companies such as Continental Cablevision (Amos Hostetter, Jr.), Cablevision (Charles Dolan) and Comcast (Ralph then Brian Roberts). Collectively this group was once known as the 'Killer Cs.' John Malone may not have been a cable industry founder per se but might as well have been given his oversized presence for nearly 5 decades. As of today, Malone is the largest shareholder of Liberty Broadband, which owns 26% of Cox. The Charter merger will bring an end to Malone's ownership and board seat – although as usual with a massively successful return on investment for Malone. If the tone here seems a bit wistful of the past, you can add big cable dealmaking to the list. Who is left in cable – especially cable-delivered video - to put together a big deal? AT&T and Verizon are significant players in broadband, but they are wireless-driven businesses that are never likely to merge even under the most generous of regulatory treatments. Altice – the former Cablevision now operating under the Optimum consumer brand - is the next largest legacy cable provider after Cox. But the day the Charter-Cox deal, Altice's stock dropped nearly 15%. And this is a company that has lost over 90% of its market cap in the last 3 years. Investors have clearly lost faith in a white knight coming along for Altice. More deals may or may not emerge – old-timer Mediacom is still operating independently - but none may ever again represent a real realignment in the cable world. Yeah, Charter-Cox really does sound the last of them – if not The Last of Us.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘What comes from the heart touches the heart': Livestock donated to raise funds for family of James Cox
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — After community icon and owner of Premier Martial Arts, James Cox, suddenly passed away, members of his martial arts school came together to help raise money for the Cox family. We can never know the effects that we have had on others after we're gone, but the sudden passing of Premier Martial Arts owner, James Cox, has sent a wave of bereavement that stretches across the Big Country. While many are still mourning the loss of Cox, they recently received a little bit of relief from their grief when livestock was donated for the purpose of being sold at the Abilene Livestock Auction, with the proceeds from the sale going towards relief funding for the Cox family. School Manager and Program Director for Premier Martial Arts, Vanassa Russell, was present for the auction and spoke about how the last moment she spent with James as she left the martial arts school one night is forever embedded in her memory. 'My last memory, I'm glad, will be the one that sticks with me. When I left that night… I left with him in front of the classroom doing what he loved… and I loved seeing that.' Abilene community starts memorial at Premier Martial Arts to honor Grand Master James Cox Another whose life was forever changed by Cox and who was present at the auction was Aaron Cerda, who studied martial arts under James Cox since he was 10 years old. Now 35, Cerda has maintained his martial arts career and is even one of the instructors for Premier Martial Arts. He spoke about the inspiring words that James shared with him after Aaron received a life-altering diagnosis. 'I was diagnosed with bone cancer, and I told him, and he said, 'It's just another fight. You got this.' I used to be one of his pro fighters, and so it was the same thing. It's just another fight. You got this. That memory in that office with him… has changed everything.' Cerda went on to explain that the connection between him and James went beyond the student/master dynamic and that he will carry with him the many lessons that Cox taught him over the years. 'He was like a father figure to me. I've been with him for 25 years. I didn't really know my dad, so he stepped in and took that role. He used to say, 'What comes from the heart touches heart.' So, if his words can still flow through me to other people, then he's never really gone.' James Cox's loved ones raised $1,000 to help out the Cox family during the auction. For more information on how you can support the Cox family, call Premiere Martial Arts at (325) 676-2696 or visit their website. Information for Venmo donations that go directly to the family can be found on James Cox's Facebook page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Abilene community starts memorial at Premier Martial Arts to honor Grand Master James Cox
ABILENE, Texas () – The Abilene community has started a memorial outside Premier Martial Arts to honor the life to Grand Master James Cox. Grand Master Cox died unexpectedly last week, leaving behind not only friends and family, but also students, peers, and mentees who he encountered and made a huge impact on in the Martial Arts world. Flowers, photos, candles, and other mementos are now starting to decorate Premier Partial Arts locations on S 14th Street and Buffalo Gap Road, where he owned the business and taught many his deep knowledge of the craft. Anyone who wants to help Grand Master Cox's family can also attend the Abilene Livestock Auction Tuesday, May 13, where a donated calf will be auctioned off at 11:00 a.m. All proceeds will go to his family to help with funeral expenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dorset Spring Show set to returns for a second year this May
The Dorset Spring Show will return for a second year in May 2025. After a successful debut welcoming more than 10,000 visitors in April 2024, the show will return with a bigger venue and new activities. The event will take place on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4, at Birch Lane Showground, near Puddletown. As part of the show, a range of animals will perform in the Spring Arena, sponsored by Handelsbanken. READ MORE: Street parties to be held to mark VE Day 80th anniversary Dorset Spring Show to feature animal performances, races and displays in May (Image: Dorset Spring Show) From Shetland ponies to heavy horses, visitors will be able to watch a variety of acts. There will also be Shetland pony racing and heavy horse logging displays. Visitors can also see lambs, piglets, chicks and calves, as well as a BMX bike display. The event will feature floral and cookery demonstrations, a sheep show, axemen and steam engine trailer rides. Event organiser James Cox said: "This May bank holiday, we welcome in the new season with a spring get-together for Dorset. "We open the farm gates with a new enlarged venue and an enhanced offering to provide a great family day out. "The show has already sold out for stands in our shopping pavilion and the 50-metre-long food hall, providing a great place to buy local."
