After sketching his idea for an “electric television” on his highschool chalkboard, Philo Farnsworth dedicates his life to gaining the knowledge necessary to make his dream a reality
When RCA tries to buy his patent (and the riches that come with it), Farnsworth and the RCA founder David Sarnoff face off; the results of their confrontation will forever change the way we experience the world.
David Sarnoff is the ultimate rags-to-riches, American success story. One of the first to recognize the potential that radio has to offer, he rises up the ranks to become an executive at RCA. Within a few short years he’s the immensely wealthy and powerful head of the company.
His goal: to change the world, using media.
Though it’s hard to imagine, Sarnoff’s archrival is a farm boy from the Midwest. Philo Farnsworth, a brilliant, humble geek, believes in a machine that could someday broadcast pictures, like radio does with sound.
One day, looking at the rows of a field he’s plowed, Farnsworth has a vision – of how a picture tube’s electronic lines could scan an image. He shows his high school teacher his plan for television, and persuades some investors to fund his idea. Before long, he has the backing of a leading company in the field, Philco.