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Charles Dolan, Founder of HBO and Cablevision, Dies at 98
By Movieguide® Contributor
Charles Dolan, the founder of HBO and Cablevision, passed away on Dec. 28, 2024. He was 98 years old.
“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,” his family said in a statement given to Newsday.
A spokesperson for the family told The Wall Street Journal that Dolan “passed away peacefully from natural causes, surrounded by his loved ones.”
“Remembered as both a trailblazer in the television industry and a devoted family man, his legacy will live on,” the spokesperson concluded.
Dolan spent decades in the TV business, helping to create the concept of “pay-for-TV” cable channels. He also helped to launch the first regional sports and news networks. Dolan also had a hand in creating AMC and Bravo, both of which are still hugely popular channels today.
Now, many of the entertainment business’ leading voices are expressing their sorrow at Dolan’s passing.
“For over 50 years, I had the privilege of knowing Chuck Dolan as a partner, vendor, co-director, investor, customer and friend,” Liberty Media chairman John Malone told Variety in a statement. “His brilliant entrepreneurship helped build the cable industry and led the creation of great businesses in sports, entertainment and media.”
He continued, “The world needs more people like Chuck who are willing to take risks, to innovate and to do things in their own way — without concern for the way people think it should be done. A better human being does not exist. We will miss him.”
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav called Dolan “a visionary creative, an extraordinary business leader and a great friend whose creation of HBO forever changed the quality and prestige of storytelling on television.”
“His impact continues to be felt today at HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery and across our entire industry,” his statement continued. “He will be deeply missed. We send our condolences to the entire Dolan family.”
Dr. Ted Baehr, Movieguide®’s founder, also shared his memories of Dolan, who lived in Dr. Baehr’s hometown of Oyster Bay and was a devout Catholic.
“When I was head of the TV at Brooklyn College at City University of New York, I arranged for him to license the cable rights that helped him become a major force in the cable industry,” Dr. Baehr explained. “He had a great start and the NYC license made everything profitable.”
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