James L. Dolan

As chairman of Madison Square Garden, James L. Dolan presides over MSG’s many entities, including the world-famous arena complex, renowned professional sports teams, regional sports networks, New York’s historic Radio City Music Hall and the Hartford Civic Center. Mr. Dolan also serves as president and chief executive officer of Cablevision Systems Corporation, one of the nation’s leading media and entertainment companies, and MSG’s corporate parent.

In his leadership role at MSG, Mr. Dolan is responsible for the company’s overall growth strategy, and oversees its day-to-day operations. Among his most significant accomplishments as MSG chairman, Mr. Dolan spearheaded a multimillion-dollar restoration of Radio City Music Hall, returning the national landmark to its original splendor. He also has been actively working with senior management to increase the range and depth of offerings available to MSG patrons.

An ardent fan of the Garden’s teams, the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty, Mr. Dolan is a frequent presence at games. He also serves as governor to the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League on behalf of the Knicks and Rangers.

Dedicated to helping those in need, Mr. Dolan is the force behind MSG’s response to local and national tragedies. He took a lead role in organizing the star-studded October 2001 “The Concert For New York City,” which generated more than $35 million in aid for September 11th victims and heroes, and the unprecedented September 2005 “From The Big Apple to The Big Easy,” same-night dual benefit concerts at MSG and Radio City that raised nearly $9 million for Hurricane Katrina relief. He also strongly supports MSG’s ongoing commitment to the community, particularly “Garden of Dreams,” the non-profit charity that partners with the Garden to help children in crisis throughout the New York metropolitan area.

As Cablevision president and chief executive officer, Mr. Dolan oversees the company’s comprehensive portfolio of telecommunications services, which includes iO: Interactive Optimum digital video, Optimum Online high-speed Internet access, Optimum Voice digital voice-over-cable and Optimum Lightpath, the company’s integrated business communications division. Rainbow Media’s national and regional television programming networks, comprised of AMC, IFC, WE tv, fuse and News 12 Networks, also fall under his purview. In addition, Mr. Dolan is responsible for overseeing Cablevision’s other entertainment businesses, including Clearview Cinemas, one of the tri-state area's leading motion picture exhibitors.

Prior to assuming his present posts at Cablevision and MSG, in the early 1990s, Mr. Dolan served for three years as chief executive officer of Rainbow Programming Holdings, Inc. (now Rainbow Media Holdings LLC). He oversaw all facets of the business, which today operates a wide range of compelling program networks reaching hundreds of millions of households in the United States and abroad.

Throughout the 1980s, Mr. Dolan was instrumental in the creation and management of Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, a division of Rainbow Media and one of the nation’s first cable advertising sales companies. The business grew dramatically under his stewardship and is now the leading regional and national spot cable sales organization in the country. Mr. Dolan began his career with Cablevision in the 1970s.

Mr. Dolan is a member of Cablevision Systems Corporation’s board of directors and serves on its executive committee. He sits on the board of trustees of television station WNET and is a member of the board of directors of The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, an organization he helped found in 1998 that has since become the nation’s largest private not-for-profit advocate in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

An avid musician, Mr. Dolan enjoys sailing and resides on Long Island with his wife, Kristin.