Charles Dolan, Founder of HBO and Cablevision, Dies at 98; Held Stakes in Madison Square Garden, Knicks, and Rangers

Dec 29, 2024, 05:20 AM

Charles Dolan, the visionary founder of HBO and Cablevision, has died at the age of 98. Dolan, who also launched AMC Networks and held significant stakes in Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks, and the New York Rangers, passed away of natural causes, according to a statement from his family reported by Newsday, which is owned by his son Patrick. His career began in New York City in 1952, and he founded Sterling Manhattan Cable in 1962, which secured exclusive agreements with New York sports teams. Dolan established HBO in 1972 and Cablevision the following year. He also launched News 12, the first 24-hour local news channel in the U.S. His family's net worth is approximately $5.4 billion, and he is survived by five children, 19 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. His wife, Helen Ann Dolan, passed away in 2023.