ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2004--Cox Serves Two Million Digital Cable, Two Million High-Speed Internet and One Million Digital Telephone Customers Nationwide
Cox Communications, Inc. (NYSE:COX), today announced that it surpassed 5 million digital service subscriptions in January by reaching key customer milestones in its digital video, Internet and telephone services.
In 1997, Cox was the first company to deliver a full package of telephone, high-speed Internet and digital cable television over a single broadband network. Today, Cox has 2 million digital cable television subscriptions, 2 million high-speed Internet subscriptions and 1 million digital telephone subscriptions.
"We are thrilled with the continued growth of our suite of digital services in this increasingly competitive environment," said Pat Esser, Chief Operating Officer. "These milestones illustrate that Cox is the provider of choice to our customers in the delivery of a true bundle of video, Internet and telephone services."
Cox Digital Video
Cox continues to enjoy a leading share of the multi-channel video market in all of its service areas. Cox Digital Cable is available to 98 percent of all homes in Cox markets, and more than one-third of Cox's video customers choose digital cable service over traditional analog cable. In 2003, Cox focused on the continued rollout of advanced video offerings such as high definition service, Entertainment on Demand and digital video recorder service.
"Innovative and high-tech advanced video services only increase our customer value proposition," said David Pugliese, Vice President of Product Marketing and Management. "We recognize that high-definition television services, in particular, will be a key purchase criterion for consumers, so we've moved rapidly to make this service available to 85 percent of our customer base."
Cox High Speed Internet
Cox High Speed Internet, the company's fastest-growing service, experienced year-over-year growth of 41 percent in 2003. Cox is the third-largest cable Internet service provider in the country, and Cox High Speed Internet is the only broadband service to be graded "A+" in 2003 by the readers of PC Magazine. Seven out of ten broadband customers in Cox markets have Cox High Speed Internet instead of DSL service, exceeding the 64 percent nationwide penetration of cable modem service.
Cox's flagship level of Internet service - a 3 Mbps download speed service for approximately $40 per month (bundled price) - continues to offer the most speed for the best price, making Cox High Speed Internet the best value in the marketplace today.
Cox Digital Telephone
Cox's successful seven-year history of providing primary line telephone service is key to its bundling strategy and has resulted in more than one million telephone customers. In Cox's most mature markets, one in three homes subscribe to Cox Digital Telephone.
"As the leading provider of cable telephony services, Cox has gained invaluable experience as a primary access line provider, which is a key component to our successful bundling strategy," said Pugliese. "Our competitors are attempting to build a bundle of services through co-marketing agreements or partnerships. Meanwhile, the Cox bundle remains the only truly integrated bundled option in our markets, affording customers enhanced convenience, flexibility and value."
Cox's highly reliable and robust platform, integrated billing system and award-winning customer care have been the keys to both winning and keeping its telephone customers' business. In 2003, the company grew its residential telephone customer base by 38 percent. In addition, the company received the highest honors in the J.D. Power and Associate's 2003 Residential Local Telephone Customer Satisfaction Survey for the Western Region -- over entrenched competitors Qwest, SBC and Verizon.
"We take great pleasure in the achievement of each of our digital subscriber milestones, but the growth of our telephony customer base holds special reward," said Esser. "We've proven that cable providers can successfully be telephone providers and we look forward to continuing our leadership position by offering the service to a broader segment of our customer base in 2004."
"The strong results we achieved in 2003 are testament to the professionalism and dedication of Cox's employees. In the last several years, we've enjoyed many accolades that have validated our strategy and recognized the excellence of our execution. We firmly believe that the quality of our products and the excellence of our service delivery are second to none. This belief is proven by the outstanding growth we continue to see in each of our product categories," said Esser.
Acerca de Cox Communications
Cox Communications (NYSE:COX), a Fortune 500 company, is a multi-service broadband communications company with approximately 6.6 million total customers, including 6.3 million basic cable subscribers. The nation's fourth-largest cable television provider, Cox offers both analog cable television under the Cox Cable brand as well as advanced digital video service under the Cox Digital Cable brand. Cox provides an array of other communications and entertainment services, including local and long distance telephone under the Cox Digital Telephone brand; high-speed Internet access under the Cox High Speed Internet brand; and commercial voice and data services via Cox Business Services. Local cable advertising, promotional opportunities and production services are sold under the Cox Media brand. Cox is an investor in programming networks including Discovery Channel. More information about Cox Communications can be accessed on the Internet at www.cox.com/espanol.
CONTACT: For Cox Communications Bobby Amirshahi, 404-843-7872 Laura Oberhelman, 404-269-7562 SOURCE: Cox Communications, Inc.
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