Charles Dolan, the Cablevision and HBO founder, dies at 98
A statement from his family announced on Saturday that Charles Dolan, the cable television pioneer, has passed away at the age of 98 due to natural causes. Dolan was the founder of Home Box Office, later known as HBO, and Cablevision, as well as the American Movie Classics television station. He was also the founder of News 12 in New York City, the first 24-hour cable channel for local news in the US.
Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting dates back to 1972, when he launched HBO, and 1973, when he founded Cablevision. He also launched American Movie Classics in 1984. His vision transformed television and American society, according to an appreciation by Thomas Maier in Newsday.
Dolan held a controlling stake in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks, and the New York Rangers. His son, James L. Dolan, was the CEO of Cablevision from 1995 until the 2016 sale to Altice. James now serves as the executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.
Dolan’s net worth, along with his family, was estimated to be $5.4 billion at the time of his death, according to Forbes. He is survived by six children, 19 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. His wife, Helen Ann Dolan, passed away in 2023.