HBO, Cablevision Founder Charles Dolan Dies At 98

Charles F. Dolan, a pioneer in the U.S. cable broadcasting industry and the founder of Home Box Office Inc. (HBO) and Cablevision Systems Corp., passed away at age 98, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Dolan's groundbreaking contributions to cable television included launching HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973, and American Movie Classics in 1984. I Photo: Fairfield University Dolan School of Business Facebook

A statement released by Dolan’s family on Saturday confirmed his death from natural causes, as reported by Newsday. “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father and patriarch, Charles Dolan, the visionary founder of HBO and Cablevision,” the statement read.

Dolan's groundbreaking contributions to cable television included launching HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973, and American Movie Classics in 1984.

He also founded News 12, the first 24-hour local news cable channel in the United States, based in New York City. A Cleveland native who left John Carroll University before graduating, Dolan sold Cablevision to Altice, a European telecommunications firm, for $17.7 billion in June 2016.