US cable giants Charter and Cox pursue 34.5 billion dollar merger

A charter communications van in St Louis, US (Jeff Roberson/AP)

Charter Communications has offered to acquire Cox Communications, a 34.5 billion dollar (£26.3 billion) merger that would combine two of the largest cable companies in the US.

Cox is the third largest cable television company in the country, with more than 6.5 million digital cable, internet, telephone, and home security customers.