The battle between Verizon and Cox to win cable customers in Rhode Island includes Cox representatives going door to door to drum up business and a big marketing push by Verizon.

Verizon sent five aspiring models to Manhattan this weekend to shoot ads to promote its cable TV and Internet services. The five — Alisha El-Machiah, 19, of Providence, Kevin Kenny, 20, of Providence, Lillie O’Connell, 16, of Cumberland, Ryan Plonka, 24, of Cumberland, and Kristina Wilkicki, 22, of West Warwick, were selected from 850 people who auditioned. The five attended modeling and acting classes this summer to prepare for the photo shoot. Verizon started to offer cable service in some parts of Rhode Island this year. Cox has long been the dominant cable provider in Rhode Island.