Exhibit 99.1

        Cox Enterprises, Inc. Proposes to Acquire Public Minority Stake
                          in Cox Communications, Inc.

         o Proposal Price of $32 in Cash per Share for 38% Public Stake
         o Cox Communications, Inc. Would Become Wholly Owned by
                              Cox Enterprises, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia, August 2, 2004. Cox Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) announced today
that it is proposing to acquire the outstanding publicly held minority interest
in Cox Communications, Inc. (CCI) [NYSE:COX] for $32 per share in cash,
representing a 16% premium over Friday's closing price and a 14% premium over
the ten-day average closing price. The aggregate consideration payable under the
proposal for the 38% public stake would be approximately $7.9 billion, including
fees and expenses. CEI currently owns approximately a 62% equity interest in CCI
and has a 73% voting interest. Following the transaction, CCI would become a
wholly owned subsidiary of CEI.

"Our proposal represents an excellent opportunity for CCI shareholders, giving
them the ability to receive a meaningful premium to recent trading values," said
James C. Kennedy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CEI.

"For CEI, this is a chance to make a substantial additional investment in an
asset we know well. An increasingly competitive environment convinces us that
future investments in the cable industry are best made through a private company
structure," he said.

Following the announcement, CEI expects the Board of Directors of CCI to form a
special committee of independent directors to consider the proposal with the
assistance of outside financial and legal advisors and to negotiate the proposal
with CEI. Directors of CCI affiliated with CEI will not participate in the
evaluation of the proposal, which requires the approval of the special
committee.

Following successful conclusion of negotiations with the special committee, CEI
expects to file appropriate materials with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and mail such materials to CCI shareholders. CEI currently
contemplates the transaction would be implemented through a cash tender offer
for the publicly held CCI shares followed by a cash merger at the same per share
price paid in the tender offer.

CEI has advised CCI that CEI's sole interest is in acquiring the remaining
shares of CCI held by the minority shareholders and that it has no interest in a
disposition of its controlling equity and voting stake in CCI.

Citigroup Global Markets and Lehman Brothers, Inc. are serving as CEI's
financial advisors in the transaction and have committed to provide $7.9 billion
to fund the tender offer and merger, as well as related fees and expenses, under
a $10 billion total funding commitment. The remaining $2.1 billion will be used
to refinance existing indebtedness at CEI and for working capital and other
corporate purposes.

CCI shareholders and other interested parties are urged to read CEI's relevant
documents filed with the SEC when they become available because they will
contain important information. CCI shareholders will be able to obtain such
documents free of charge at the SEC's web site: www.sec.gov or from CEI at 6205
Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30328, Attn: Corporate Communications.

About Cox Enterprises (www.coxenterprises.com)

Cox Enterprises is one of the nation's leading media companies and providers of
automotive services, with 2003 revenues of $10.7 billion and 77,000 employees.
Major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications, Inc. ([NYSE: COX] cable
television distribution, telephone, high-speed Internet access and other
advanced broadband services); Cox Newspapers, Inc. (newspapers, local and
national direct mail advertising and customized newsletters); Cox Television
(television and television sales rep firms); Cox Radio, Inc. ([NYSE: CXR]
broadcast radio stations and interactive Web sites); and Manheim Auctions, Inc.
(vehicle auctions, repair and certification services and web-based technology
products). Cox Enterprises also owns an equity stake in AutoTrader.com, the
world's largest and most visited online source of vehicle listings for dealers
and consumers.


CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Statements in this document represent the intentions,
plans, expectations and beliefs of CEI and involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual events to differ materially from the events described in this
document, including risks or uncertainties related to the success of our
negotiations with the special committee, whether the conditions to the tender
offer will be satisfied, and if not, whether the tender offer and merger will be
completed, as well as changes in general economic conditions, stock market
trading conditions, tax law requirements or government regulation, and changes
in the broadband communications industry or the business or prospects of CCI.
CEI wishes to caution the reader that these factors, as well as other factors
described or to be described in CEI's SEC filings with respect to the
transaction, are among the factors that could cause actual events or results to
differ materially from CEI's current expectations described herein.

Media Inquiries: Bob Jimenez, Cox Enterprises, Inc.,
                 (678) 645-0070, bob.jimenez@coxinc.com.


Investor Inquiries: Richard Jacobson, Cox Enterprises, Inc.,
                    (678) 645-0111, richard.jacobson@coxinc.com.