Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenue declined about 3% year-over-year, primarily due to tough comparisons to last year's Paris Olympics, but excluding that impact, revenue increased nearly 3% [14] - EBITDA and adjusted EPS were consistent with last year, while free cash flow increased 45% to $4.9 billion [14][24] - Connectivity and platforms EBITDA declined by 3.7% this quarter, with expectations for continued pressure over the next several quarters due to ongoing investments [11][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Broadband subscribers declined by 104,000 in the quarter, with a seasonal benefit from back-to-school activity offset by intense competition [17] - Convergence revenue grew by 2.5%, supported by mid-teens growth in wireless, with wireless net additions hitting a record of 414,000 [19] - Business services revenue was up 6%, with EBITDA growth of nearly 5%, driven by advanced services adoption [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Broadband-only customers averaged 800 GB of usage per month in Q3, up 9% year-over-year [6] - The competitive environment for broadband remains intense, with a focus on two multi-gig symmetrical providers dominating the market [5][16] - The media segment, excluding last year's Olympics, saw a healthy revenue increase of 4%, with Peacock revenue growing at a mid-teens rate [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on three strategic pillars: network, product, and customer experience, with significant investments in AI to optimize performance [6][10] - A new pricing model has been introduced, simplifying customer choices and enhancing transparency [10][16] - The company aims to leverage its sports portfolio to drive viewership and advertising revenue, with a strong focus on integrating linear and streaming media [12][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, highlighting the importance of the leadership transition and the ongoing pivot to meet market demands [29][30] - The company anticipates continued pressure on ARPU in early 2026 but is confident in returning to growth as customer migrations to new pricing plans progress [41][48] - Management acknowledged the challenges posed by competition but emphasized the long-term benefits of their strategic investments [16][19] Other Important Information - The company returned $2.8 billion to shareholders this quarter, including $1.5 billion in share repurchases and $1.2 billion in dividends [14][26] - The company is maintaining a healthy balance sheet with net leverage at 2.3x, despite increased capital expenditures of $3.1 billion [24][26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Context around ARPU evolution and customer migration to new plans - Management indicated that ARPU growth is unlikely in 2026 due to ongoing investments and customer migrations to new pricing plans [41][42] Question: Trajectory of CMP EBITDA next year and OpEx investments - Management discussed aggressive investments in marketing and customer experience to support the transition, with a focus on cost rationalization [51][55] Question: Speculation about Warner Bros. Discovery and implications for Verizon relationship - Management expressed confidence in the relationship with Verizon and emphasized the high bar for pursuing M&A transactions [59][62] Question: Conversion of free wireless lines to pay and ensuring customer quality - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining quality connections and proactive strategies for converting free lines to paid status [70][72] Question: Business market trends and competition outlook - Management acknowledged increased competition in the business market but expressed confidence in their strong portfolio and growth potential [95][96]