At the age of 98, Charles F. Dolan, a pioneering internet entrepreneur who founded Cablevision Systems Corp. and Home Box Office, passed ahead. His family released a statement on Saturday, according to Newsday, that confirmed his death was caused by natural reasons.
” It is with deep pain that we announce the departure of our dearest father and father, Charles Dolan, the visionary leader of HBO and Cablevision”, the statement read.
Dolan revolutionized the television business with ground-breaking advancements. In 1972, he launched HBO, the initial premium cable network, offering promotional material to paying members. A year later, he founded Cablevision, which grew into a big player in the cable business.
In 1984, Dolan introduced the American Movie Classics ( AMC) network, and he later launched News 12, the first 24-hour local news channel in the United States, according to Newsday.
Dolan began his career producing activities film in Cleveland, Ohio, before relocating to New York City in 1952. He forged the foundation for his groundbreaking contributions to the media landscape by entering into professional filmmaking and cable television it.
Expanding a multimedia kingdom
Dolan’s control extended beyond cable broadcast. His family-controlled companies owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and sports companies like the New York Knicks and Rangers.
In 2016, Dolan sold Cablevision to Altice, a German telecommunications firm, for$ 17.7 billion. The price also included Newsday, which Dolan had purchased in 2008.
Dolan’s home legacy continues through his babies, including James Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., and Patrick Dolan, who repurchased Newsday Media Group after the sale to Altice.
Private living and generosity
Dolan was seriously committed to generosity. He served as The Lustgarten Foundation, the largest personal foundation that funds ovarian cancer study, as chairman emeritus. He is survived by six babies, 19 children, and five great-grandchildren. His family, Helen Ann Dolan, passed away earlier this year.
At the time of his death, Dolan and his family had an estimated net worth of$ 5.4 billion, according to Forbes. His pioneering work in advertising continues to have an impact on the television and pleasure sectors, cementing his position as a pivotal figure in British television history.
