Charles Dolan, who helped pioneer pay television, is dead at 98, his family confirms. He founded HBO and Cablevision, among other ventures.

The Cablevision founder helped usher in a new era for television. He also acquired sports and entertainment properties including MSG and the New York Knicks.

Charles Dolan, a cable pioneer and patriarch of the Dolan media family, died Dec. 28 of natural causes, Newsday reported. He was 98.