Charles Dolan, pioneering founder of HBO and Cablevision, dies at 98
Charles Dolan, who helped pioneer pay television with the founding of Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at 98, according to a spokesperson for the Dolan family.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father and patriarch, Charles Dolan, the visionary founder of HBO and Cablevision,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Dolan "passed away peacefully from natural causes, surrounded by his loved ones," the statement said. "Remembered as both a trailblazer in the television industry and a devoted family man, his legacy will live on."
Dolan’s death was first reported by Newsday late Saturday.
Dolan was a Cleveland native who launched Home Box Office, later renamed HBO, in 1972. In 1973, he founded Cablevision, which was sold to the European telecommunications company Altice in 2016. He also founded the American Movie Classics cable channel in 1984.
Cablevision purchased Newsday in 2008, and the paper was part of the 2016 sale to Altice. But Patrick Dolan, one of Charles’ sons, purchased Newsday Media Group back in later years.
Another son, James L. Dolan, served as CEO of Cablevision from 1995 until 2016, when the company was sold. James is currently executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., which owns the New York Knicks basketball team and the New York Rangers, a National Hockey League team.
The family's interest in Madison Square Garden dates back to 1997, when Cablevision took full control of the arena. As the Wall Street Journal reported, that step allowed Cablevision to demand high rates for the regional sports network that broadcast Knicks and Rangers games.
"On behalf of the MSG Family of Companies we mourn the passing of Charles F. Dolan. Mr. Dolan’s vision built the foundation for the companies we are today, and as a member of our Boards he continued to help shape our future," said a spokesperson from MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports and Sphere Entertainment in an email. "The impact he made on the media, sports, and entertainment industries, including as the founder of Cablevision and HBO, is immeasurable."
Dolan’s wife, Helen Ann Dolan, died in 2023. He is survived by six children, 19 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, according to the statement.
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