Charter Communications

History

Charter Communications, Inc. was founded in 1993, and while the company has grown dramatically over the past two decades, our roots take us back to the pioneering days of cable. What began as mom-and-pop businesses in the late 1940s with cable strung from hilltop to homes has morphed into the advanced, high-tech cable industry that Charter is at the forefront of today.

With a network spanning more than 750,000 miles, Charter serves more than 32 million customers in 41 states through the Spectrum brand. Our vast infrastructure helps fuel innovation and delivers a robust offering of advanced services including faster broadband speeds, better video products, voice service, and a mobile offering to support customers on-the-go. Charter is a leading broadband connectivity company positioned to provide innovative services at a great value to meet customers connectivity needs today and into the future.

1940s

1960s

1948

First U.S. cable systems are founded

1964

Newhouse begins operating cable systems with the purchase of its first system in Alabama, branding it NewChannels

1970s

1973

Warner Communications forms Warner Cable

1979

Newhouse forms second cable company, MetroVision, in partnership with former Cox executives

1980s

1981

Newhouse adds Vision Cable to cable assets, to serve over 500K customers, and later becomes Bright House Networks

1989

Time Warner Inc. forms through merger of Warner Communications and Time Inc., together serving more than 5.5 million subscribers

1990s

1992

Warner Cable and American Television & Communications (ATC) combine to form Time Warner Cable

NY1 News Launches in New York City

1993

Charter Communications, Inc. is founded in St. Louis. Acquisitions of cable systems across the country begin

1994

Time Warner Entertainment and Advance/Newhouse form cable partnership

1998

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen buys a controlling interest in Charter, which he kept until 2009

1999

Charter begins trading publicly on the NASDAQ stock exchange under symbol CHTR

2000s

2001

Charter earns a spot on Fortune 500

2003

Advance/Newhouse begins operating Bright House Networks with approximately 2.2 million customers in Alabama, California, Florida, Indiana and Michigan

2007

Time Warner Inc. spins off Time Warner Cable. Time Warner Cable begins trading publicly on the NYSE

2009

Charter completes financial restructuring under chapter 11, emerging as a stronger company under new equity ownership

2010s

2012

Thomas M. Rutledge is appointed President & CEO. Headquarters moves to Stamford, Conn

2013

Charter debuts the Spectrum brand for products and services

Spectrum completes acquisition of Optimum West

2015

Charter Launches Spectrum TV App on Roku Platform

2016

Charter closes transactions with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks to become the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., serving more than 25 million customers

Charter launches Spectrum Internet Assist, a new standalone low-cost, high-speed broadband service.

2017

Charter announced plan to make $25 billion investment in broadband infrastructure and technology over four years

McAllen, Texas Bilingual Call Center opens, as part of larger commitment to bring all offshore, overseas call center jobs back to the U.S.

Spectrum Completes All-Digital, upgrading the network across the footprint.

2018

Spectrum Internet Gig Rollout is Completed

Spectrum Mobile launches

Spectrum Announces Plan to Launch Originals

Spectrum Housing Assist surpasses 25,000 homes improved

Spectrum Networks launches 24-hour news network in L.A., the company’s 26th local news channel.

Wifi 6 Router debuts. Spectrum becomes first U.S.-based broadband provider to introduce the next generation wireless standard, using 802.11ax technology which improves WiFi coverage in the home.

2019