Charter Communications Reports Subscriber Losses Amid Growing Competition

STAMFORD, Conn. — Charter Communications experienced significant losses in its broadband and pay TV subscribers during the third quarter of 2025, as competition from streaming services continues to escalate.

The company, led by CEO Chris Winfrey, reported a loss of 70,000 pay TV subscribers in the third quarter, a notable improvement from the 294,000 customers lost in the same period last year. Charter also lost 109,000 broadband subscribers, nearly matching the 110,000 losses recorded in the previous year.

During a conference call with analysts, Winfrey highlighted that, despite the losses, “Sales are up, churn is down, relative to prior periods.” He emphasized that new entertainment offerings bundled for mobile subscribers helped retain customers.

“When that occurs, and it’s meaningful, the churn benefit is pretty significant,” Winfrey said. However, he acknowledged that the company still faces heightened competition and an ongoing difficult economic environment.

At the end of the quarter, Charter had 12.56 million total pay TV subscribers, down 3.5 percent from 13 million a year earlier. The company reported third-quarter revenue of $13.67 billion, a 1 percent decline from $13.79 billion in 2024, primarily due to reduced revenues from residential video and advertising sales.

Despite these setbacks, the company remains focused on strategic growth. In May, Charter announced a $34.5 billion deal with Cox Communications aimed at creating a larger cable entity to enhance its competitive edge in broadband and video services. Winfrey confirmed that the deal is still on track for completion in mid-2026, pending regulatory approvals.

The latest subscriber losses underscore the continuing challenges faced by traditional cable providers as they navigate a rapidly changing media landscape increasingly dominated by streaming services like YouTube and Hulu.