| (1891
- 1971) |
| Inducted: |
1975 |
| Region: |
Northeast |
| Industry: |
Communications
Entertainment |
|
David Sarnoff, a young radio operator for the Marconi Company, picked up the distress signal sent by the S.S. Titanic. Four years later, he picked up a different signal and wrote a memo to his superiors proposing to make “radio music boxes” as common as phonographs. The Radio Corporation of America (RCA) bought Marconi Company, and Sarnoff became its general manager. He created the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) to supply radio with news and entertainment. NBC was the first national radio network. Sarnoff also was a leader in the development of television and color television. |
