Charles F. Dolan, the visionary founder of prominent U.S. media companies such as Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has passed away at the age of 98 due to natural causes, as reported by Newsday.
Charles Dolan, a Cleveland native, made significant contributions to the cable broadcasting industry. In 1972, he launched Home Box Office, later known as HBO, followed by the founding of Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. Dolan also pioneered News 12 in New York City, the first 24-hour cable channel for local news in the U.S.
His entrepreneurial endeavors extended beyond media, as he held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and the New York Knicks and New York Rangers sports franchises.
In June 2016, Dolan completed the sale of Cablevision to Altice for $17.7 billion. His son, James L. Dolan, succeeded him as the Cablevision CEO until the sale and currently serves as the executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.
Charles Dolan's legacy is also reflected in his philanthropic efforts. He was a founder and chairman emeritus of The Lustgarten Foundation in Uniondale, New York, dedicated to pancreatic cancer research.
At the time of his passing, Dolan and his family had a net worth of $5.4 billion, according to Forbes. He is survived by six children, 19 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. His wife, Helen Ann Dolan, passed away in 2023.
The impact of Charles Dolan's vision on the media, sports, and entertainment industries is described as immeasurable by MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports, and Sphere Entertainment, companies that he helped shape and guide.
