Cox Said to Be Mulling Time Warner Cable Deal, Joining Fray

Cox Communications Inc., the third-largest U.S. cable-television provider, is considering a bid for Time Warner Cable Inc., joining a growing field of prospective bidders, a person with knowledge of the deliberations said.

Discussions on a deal, which could take the form of a merger or outright acquisition, are in the early stages, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private. Todd Smith, a spokesman for Atlanta-based Cox, declined to comment, as did Bobby Amirshahi, a spokesman for Time Warner Cable in New York.