Comcast, a recent Barron’s stock pick, is still focused on spinning off assets. A deal between rivals won’t change that.

By Aditya Soni, Jaspreet Singh and Milana Vinn (Reuters) -Charter Communications on Friday agreed to buy privately held rival Cox Communications for $21.9 billion, combining two of the largest U.S. cable and broadband operators in their battle with streaming giants and mobile carriers.

Competition from wireless carriers is surging. Government subsidies are on hold. The onetime fortress of cable TV has all but crumbled. Those forces propelled the $21.9 billion deal Charter Communications struck Friday to buy Cox Communications.