John Hendricks is an American entrepreneur best known as the founder of the Discovery Channel. He established the channel in 1985, aiming to provide educational and entertaining content about nature, science, and culture. Under his leadership, the channel grew significantly, becoming a major player in the cable television industry. In addition to his work with the Discovery Channel, Hendricks has been involved in various media ventures and has authored books on topics related to media and education. His contributions have had a lasting impact on how audiences engage with documentary and educational programming.