Charles F. Dolan, Visionary Founder of HBO and Cablevision, Dies at 98

Charles F. Dolan, the trailblazer who pioneered cable television in the United States and founded Home Box Office (HBO), has died at the age of 98. A statement from his family confirmed he passed away from natural causes on Saturday, ending a legacy that shaped everything from premium cable movies to local 24-hour news channels.

Dolan’s penchant for big ideas can be traced back to the 1960s, when he brought wired cable services to certain Manhattan buildings—an ambitious project at a time when cable mostly thrived in rural areas. He experimented with special programming through his Teleguide service, beaming content into hotels before most consumers had even heard of cable TV. Later, he sealed deals to air NBA and NHL playoffs, offering local sports through cable—a move that predated the modern sports network boom.

In 1972, Dolan launched Home Box Office (HBO), which became the flagship of premium television and a cultural mainstay for decades to come. By the early 1970s, he’d also begun building up Cablevision, aiming to give consumers a new way to watch programming from the comfort of home. Over time, Cablevision morphed into a powerhouse delivering internet and television services to millions of households across the northeastern United States. When the Dolan family sold Cablevision to the European telecom giant Altice in 2015 for nearly $18 billion, it cemented Dolan’s status as a billionaire media magnate.

But Dolan wasn’t just about cable boxes and monthly subscriptions. He also founded the American Movie Classics (AMC) channel in 1984 and News 12 in New York City, a 24-hour local cable news station that became the very first of its kind in the United States. This knack for shaping how people consume media carried into sports and live entertainment, especially through his family’s involvement in Madison Square Garden.

In a statement, MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports, and Sphere Entertainment lauded Dolan’s “vision,” which laid the groundwork for the companies they are today. The Dolan family still plays a central role in these organizations, but they’ve clarified that Charles Dolan’s passing won’t alter ownership arrangements.

At the time of his death, Dolan’s net worth was estimated at $5.4 billion, underscoring how profoundly he influenced the media landscape. His son James has long been a prominent figure in New York sports and entertainment, leading the family’s businesses through triumphs and controversies alike—particularly around the Knicks’ performance and occasional battles with content providers.

Despite the ups and downs that accompany such a high-profile career, Charles F. Dolan’s creative spark and business savvy left an indelible mark on American broadcasting. He demonstrated that cable wasn’t just an afterthought to network TV—it could redefine how and when audiences watched content, from local news to blockbuster movies. His work opened doors for future generations of media entrepreneurs, while shaping the daily habits of viewers nationwide. And that’s a pretty remarkable legacy for anyone to leave behind.

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