If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. Charter Communications, the second-biggest cable operator in the US, has signed a deal to buy the third-largest cable company,

The combination, which must pass muster with antitrust authorities, would create one of the biggest TV and internet providers in the United States.

Charter agreed to acquire privately held Cox in a deal valued at $34.5 billion as cable companies confront multiple challenges.