Collins held senior exec posts at Time Warner Cable, Comcast and other foundational players in the cable ecosystem. In 1984, he was appointed president of HBO. Later, as chairman and CEO of American Television and Communications, Collins shepherded a merger with Time Warner Cable, serving as CEO of the combined entity. He had been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AOL Time Warner Interactive Video from August 2001 until December 2003. From 1989 to August 2001, Mr. Collins served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Time Warner Cable. Collins died in April 2026 at his home in Weekapaug, RI. He was 81.