Ep 1. Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio

Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio is a fascinating three-part documentary series that explores the pioneers of radio, their inventions and the story of how radio transformed the world as we know it.

The first episode sets the stage for the series by introducing the three main characters of this story: Lee De Forest, Edwin Howard Armstrong, and David Sarnoff. These men were the inventors, engineers, and businessmen who shaped the direction of radio broadcasting, allowing us to go from Morse code to FM stereo, satellite, and streaming radio.

The episode begins by showing us the early days of radio before these men revolutionized it. We see how scientists and hobbyists were experimenting with wireless communication, and how they were able to send telegraph messages over long distances. However, transmitting sound was considered impossible until Lee De Forest made an innovation that would change everything. De Forest's invention, which he called the Audion tube, allowed him to amplify weak radio signals, making voice communication possible. De Forest was happy to show off his invention, but he did not have a clear vision of what he wanted to do with it.

The next character introduced is Edwin Howard Armstrong, who had an insatiable curiosity about radio technology and the dream of creating a "perfect" radio receiver that could pull in long-distance signals without static or noise. Armstrong took De Forest's invention and improved upon it, creating the regenerative circuit, which made it possible to receive signals from hundreds of miles away. The regenerative circuit was a breakthrough, and Armstrong received multiple patents for his innovation, but he was still not a businessman and had trouble getting his invention recognized by the public because he lacked financial backing.

The third character introduced is David Sarnoff, a poor Jewish immigrant who worked his way up the corporate ladder of the newly formed Radio Corporation of America (RCA). Sarnoff was a marketing genius who saw the potential of radio and knew how to sell it to the masses. He was convinced that radio would be the next big thing in mass communication, even though the public had not yet embraced the new technology. Sarnoff's goal was to bring radio into every home in America, and he was willing to do whatever it took to make it happen.

Throughout the episode, the three men's stories intersect as they compete, collaborate, and fight over the future of radio. We see how their conflicting personalities and aims lead to a series of lawsuits, betrayals, and breakthroughs that push the development of radio technology forward. At the end of the episode, we see each man at a turning point in his life – De Forest experiencing financial troubles, Armstrong determined to finish his perfect receiver, and Sarnoff lobbying for RCA to embrace radio as a mode of entertainment.

Overall, the first episode of Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio is a fascinating look at the early history of radio, the people who shaped it, and the forces that drove it forward. The episode is well-researched and engaging, with a mix of archival footage, interviews, and reenactments that bring the story to life. Viewers will come away with a newfound appreciation for the men who made radio possible and the power of technology to transform society.