How I Built This with Guy Raz Discovery Channel and Curiosity Stream: John Hendricks
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Jan 17, 2022 John Hendricks, the visionary behind the Discovery Channel and Curiosity Stream, shares his journey from a curious college student to a pioneer of documentary television. He reveals the creative sparks that ignited iconic programming like 'Shark Week' and discusses the challenging early days of cable TV. With captivating anecdotes, he recounts networking with legends like Walter Cronkite and overcoming financial crises to launch a channel that now educates millions. Hendricks also reflects on the evolution of programming, ensuring an enduring legacy in media.
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Early Inspiration
- In college, John Hendricks worked in the AV center, procuring films for professors.
- This exposed him to documentaries and sparked the idea of a documentary-focused TV channel.
Early Cable Limitations
- Early cable TV acted only as a retransmitter of existing broadcast signals.
- It couldn't produce its own content due to regulations, unlike modern cable channels.
Meeting Maureen
- John Hendricks met his wife, Maureen, at a Washington D.C. disco in 1981.
- Their shared love of documentaries further fueled his ambition to start a documentary-focused channel.
