Charles Dolan, Cable TV Pioneer and Founder of HBO and Cablevision, Dies at 98

Dec 29, 2024, 05:33 PM

Charles Dolan, the pioneering cable television executive who founded Home Box Office (HBO), Cablevision Systems Corp., and SportsChannel, has died at the age of 98. A Cleveland native, Dolan was a titan of the early cable industry, launching HBO in 1972 and Cablevision in 1973, significantly shaping the landscape of American media and entertainment. He also established American Movie Classics (AMC) in 1984 and owned the newspaper Newsday. Over his career, Dolan's media holdings included AMC Networks, Madison Square Garden Co.—including ownership of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers—Radio City Music Hall, and Newsday. In 1968, he purchased the cable rights to the Knicks and Rangers playoff games for $24,000. Dolan died of natural causes on December 28, as confirmed by his family. He is survived by his son, James Dolan.