Charles Dolan, founder of some of America’s largest media companies, including Home Box Office, Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at the age of 98.
A statement released Saturday by his family said Dolan died of natural causes, reported Newsday Saturday evening.
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father and patriarch, Charles Dolan, the visionary founder of HBO and Cablevision.
Newsday owned by Dolan’s son, Patrick Dolan, after purchase by Cablevision of Newsday Media Group in 2008, the newspaper recalled.
Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes the 1972 launch of Home Box Officecommonly called HBOand the founding of Cablevision in 1973 as well as the television channel American Movie Classics in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York, the leading 24-hour cable channel for local news in the United States, the article says Newsday.
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Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (left) and Cablevision Systems Chairman Charles Dolan (right) flip a symbolic switch to launch the formation of Fox Sports Net, a national sports programming network, on January 28 2024 in New York.
Photo : AFP / Getty Images/Stan Honda
Dolan, whose primary residence was in Cove Neck, has Long Island, in the State of New York, also held the majority of shares of companies which owned the Madison Square Gardenthe Radio City Music HallTHE Knicks of New York and the Rangers from New York, reported Newsday.
James Dolan, another of Charles Dolan’s sons, is director of the Madison Square Garden Companywhich now controls sports teams and facilities.
Dolan leaves behind 6 children, 19 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. His wife, Helen Ann Dolan, died in 2023, reported Newsday.
